Describing the Audit Profession

The auditor’s journey represents a lifelong commitment to research, training, and learning, not only about risk areas, regulatory areas, job grade level, technology changes/ innovations, industry standards, or company policy but about a true passion for new knowledge and skills that make you more effective as a professional and a human being.

Audit is often referred to as a job, sometimes as a career, or even a profession, a systematic and independent examination of books, accounts, statutory records, documents, and vouchers of an organization to ascertain how far the financial statements, as well as non-financial disclosures, present a true, fair view of the concern or an evaluation and improvement of the effectiveness of a?system. Yes, all these activities are reviewed by auditors but I must say it is far more than that because I consider audit as the choice to a way of life.

We all became or are becoming auditors in the first place because we want to make a difference in business operations by aligning processes with best industry practices and as time goes on, we thrive on learning continuously not only for ourselves but also for the organizations we are privileged to work for or serve in.

It is amazing when you consider that the auditor’s journey is one of exploration because each year we encounter new risks and they become a part of our work throughout. We review as much as we learn.

Auditors are witnesses to whatever happens in the organization. We do our best to give assurance to management on the adequacy of controls, we enable all units to succeed with our recommendations, as well as through our actions, we model/re-engineer business processes to what is possible and what is achievable.

It is undoubtedly through our skills, knowledge, expertise, and our very presence, that we demonstrate our objectivity in all capabilities.

Regardless of whether you are new to the audit profession, or on the verge of retirement, we are all moved by similar instances. We are challenged in ways that test our professional independence and commitment that pushes us beyond what we know and understand, beyond what is familiar and comfortable, and yet that provides a sense of fulfillment that borders on ecstasy.

Reality check:

• Audit is an amazing experience but also an exhausting one in which we barely socialize apart from meeting our fellows during professional events.
• No audit can be successful without the right information that meets a specific standard.
• Auditors should have a clear idea and ultimate understanding of what they want their clients to do to achieve business objectives.
• Verify the ethical monitoring of controls implemented.

The joy of an auditor is;

• Seeing audit clients implementing your recommendations hence creating efficiency in the business processes i.e. seeing your audit clients take corrective action on audit concerns.
• Being able to collaborate with other managers, senior leadership, and board members.
• Ability to both work as a team and independently.
• Being an agent of growth, positive change, and transformation in the organization.

“Together, We Work Smart”

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