The Prospective Professional

MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:

Mrs. Lisa Ramirez, Instructor

Elizabeth Reimer
April 24, 2015
Professional Introduction

As I am in the last stages of my studies, I wanted to explore the idea of

becoming an auditor before entering in the workforce. I am currently
pursuing a Bachelors degree in Accounting and I am aiming to continue the
path of higher achievement, looking forward to further my studies in earning
a Masters degree and go for CPA, Certified Public Accountant. The
organizations here in Belize where I could apply for an auditor position would
be those located in Belize City, these organizations are Crowe Horwath Belize
LLP, Castillo Sanchez & Burrell LLP, and Moore Stephens Magaa.
Having a profession in auditing, one can either be an internal or external
auditor. I am targeting more for an external auditor.
External Auditor:
Work with firms of chartered and certified accountants,
Carry out obligatory audits of the public sector and government bodies,
and
May be called to examine the finances of private businesses (Auditor,
n.d.).
Whereas,
Internal Auditor:
Work for professional firms, private companies, organizations or
charities, and
Work in-house as part of an organizations accounting team (Auditor,
n.d.).
As an external auditor, working for an auditing firm, I believe that I will be
able to gain a variety of experience and knowledge in regards to public
sector and private businesses. Having an exposure to all of these
environments will enable me to develop my skills and shape my personality.

Mrs. Lisa Ramirez

April 24, 2015

In addition, these kind of exposure will also help me to start up and manage
my own business.
As I was examining a profession as an auditor I came across the duties and
responsibilities that constitutes an auditor, the personality traits and skills
that are important for an auditor to possess, and the educational and training
requirements to apply for an auditor position.
Duties of an Auditor
According to Career Planner, Auditor: Job Description Part 1 (2013), an
auditors duties are to:
Collect and analyse data to detect:
o Deficient controls,
o Duplicated effort,
o Non-compliance with laws,
o Fraud, etc.
Examine and evaluate financial and information system,
Report to management about asset utilization and audit results, and
Recommend changes in operations, financial activities, and controls
(Auditor Job Description, 2013).
Responsibilities of an Auditor
To ensure that a companys transactions are recorded and processed
correctly and its accounts validity and legality, an auditor should:
Review, analyse, and evaluate processes, products, services, systems,
organizations, and employees;
Assess the accuracy, validity, reliability, verifiability, and timeliness of
the organizations information, and also the sources and processes by
which the information is produced; and
Inspect an organizations internal controls, to which extent these
controls manage the organizations risk exposure (Examining a Career,
2015).
Personalities Traits and Skills
There are some personal characteristics that are important for an auditor to
possess:
Strong ethical framework
Strong interpersonal skills
o Interpersonal skills include good communication skillsverbal
and nonverbaland team player. Auditors will be dealing with a
variety of employees, managers, and directors; therefore, it is
essential to develop good communication skills in order to have a

Mrs. Lisa Ramirez

April 24, 2015

greater understanding between the auditor and the employees,

mangers, and/or directors. Being able to work in a team and to
communicate effectively with colleagues is desirable skill in
auditors. Other interpersonal skills would include listening skills,
problem solving, and decision making (What are Interpersonal,
2015).
Time Management
o The ability to manage time between work and study.
Active Learning
o Understanding the implications of new information for both
current and future problem-solving and decision-making
(Auditor Job Description, 2013).
Critical Thinking
o Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and
weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches
to problems (Auditor Job Description, 2013).
Good Coordination
Good judgement and decision making
o Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions
to choose the most appropriate one (Auditor Job Description,
2013).
Ability to work to deadlines, under pressure
Numeracy and a strong aptitude for mathematics
Meticulous attention to detail

Educational and Training Requirements

According to TARGETjobs, Auditor: Job Description (n.d.), auditors can come
from any degree background but an accounting degree will give you a strong
advantage. Examining a Career as an Auditor (2015) in Investopedia, states
that internal and external auditors usually have a degree in business related
majors, such as accounting, finance, and economics. As I have stated earlier,
I will be completing my Bachelors degree in accounting soon, and this is
what will set me one step ahead with my goal to work as an auditor.
In addition, according to CareerPlanner.com, Auditor Job Description
(2013), an auditor should be knowledgeable in economic and accounting
principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and
reporting of financial data. Also, in business and management principles
involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources
modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of
people and resources (Auditor Job Description, 2013).

Mrs. Lisa Ramirez

April 24, 2015

Examining a Career as an Auditor (2015) states that accounting firms would

typically want their auditors to possess certifications such as:
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
I will continue my studies and obtain Masters degree in order to take the
CPA examinations, meanwhile I am still a Junior Auditor in one of the firms in
Belize City. Earning a CPA exam will help me in achieving a higher position in
the auditing firm. Therefore, in five years from now, I would be able to put
CPA right after my name, and I will be a recognized auditor.
Conclusion
I consider myself to be a beginning professional, I have no experience in the
auditing field. However, I can say that I have been developing my
communications skills and time management. I am under a working
scholarship at Galen University, and I do my hours at the front desk. Working
there has been a challenge because at that time, I got nervous when talking
to people and taking queries, I was afraid to make mistakes. However, I
learned that making mistakes is part of learning and that making a mistake
once, is acceptable, in a way. Also, presenting in front of many people was
one of my weaknesses, the incorporation of peer teaching and presentations
as part of the class is really recommendable. This a part of my experience in
the University that has made a great impact in my life, I learned to confront
my fears.
The skills needed to be a successful auditor cannot be easily achieved, it
takes time and perseverance. There is always room for improvements, and I
believe that being an auditor is the right path for me. Learning many
different things can lead you to many possibilities, and the different
challenges make you grow and polish your skills.

Mrs. Lisa Ramirez

April 24, 2015

References
Auditor job description. (2013). Retrieved January 28, 2015, from http://jobdescriptions.careerplanner.com/auditors.cfm
Audit [Def. 1]. (2015). In Investopedia, Retrieved January 28, 2015, from
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/audit.asp
Auditor: Job description. (n.d.). Retrieved January 28, 2015, from
https://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/job-descriptions/277719auditor-job-description
Examining a career as an auditor. (2015). Retrieved January 29, 2015, from
http://www.investopedia.com/articles/financial-careers/08/careerauditor-auditing.asp
What are interpersonal skills? (2015). Retrieved January 29, 2015, from
http://www.skillsyouneed.com/interpersonal-skills.html