Ode to an auditor

I’ve often wondered what it is that makes somebody decide they want to train to become an auditor. Let’s be honest, I don’t think many children have been overheard to say excitedly to their parent or teacher: “I want to be an auditor when I grow up!” I certainly didn’t. My dream was to travel the world, discover different cultures and meet fascinating people along the way, and I believed pursuing a career as an airline attendant was the best way to achieve that – boy was I wrong!

At age six, I believed a career as cabin crew might propel me to new heights - but I landed into auditing instead!

What I didn’t know then, and what many don’t realise until they get a little older, is that to be an auditor is to possess a certain remarkable way of thinking and seeing the world. Being an auditor amounts to much more than simply reviewing the accuracy of a company’s financial records (although that is, of course, an essential component of what auditors do within their day job).

Let me tell you what I mean...

Auditors have a knack of understanding how the world really ticks. It’s not quite a sixth sense, but it’s a talent that only comes after years of professional training and experience. To see the world through the lens of an auditor is to see a world that is ‘critique-driven’.

Auditors assess, they measure, they weigh outcomes. A good audit requires critical thinking – and a healthy touch of scepticism at all times.

In their heart, auditors understand process. They’re fascinated by the journey itself as much as the outcome, financial or otherwise. Solid professional training and relevant experience is essential here. It takes years to develop the critical thinking skills which lie at the heart of our profession. The training an auditor receives demands an absolute attention to (perhaps even a love of) detail. And at the back of every good auditor’s mind should always be the question: “have I missed something?”?

Of course, that aptitude for critical assessment can kick in at any time.

For example, any auditor could likely tell you whether a food order you’ve just made in a busy restaurant will arrive correctly and on time. It’s not just about the attitude of the waiters, but the way the entire restaurant is run, from the moment the ma?tre d’ greets you, to the moment your order passes through the kitchen doors. It’s not (entirely) rocket science, but it’s about simply recognising some of the operational traits that make the world tick. You could say, it also makes auditors invaluable members of any dining party.

On a more serious note, that skill and rigour for auditing is ultimately about delivering good outcomes for the businesses we work with. A successful audit helps build value. It ensures financial integrity; it supports a company’s purpose and ultimately it can enhance reputation and build trust. And this has to be good for everyone.

I travel the world as much as I can in my current role as Chief Executive of RSM International. Today, our global Network comprises advisors across many disciplines, from auditing to consulting, across 123 countries. Every day I meet and talk to some of the most talented people in our business - Professionals who also have an aptitude for seeing the world differently.

Here I am at the 2017 RSM World Conference in Berlin – just one of the many opportunities I have had over the years to meet and collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the world.

When I look back, I consider myself fortunate to have achieved that childhood dream of travelling the world. And the rigorous training I’ve received over my career as an auditor has helped shape the way I see our global and increasingly connected world. What’s remarkable about a critical thinking mindset is just how valuable and adaptable a skill it is.

According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report, analytical thinking and complex problem-solving, as well as critical thinking and analysis, are some of the most important skills that need to be developed over the next three years in order for us to overcome the economic impact of COVID-19, and to keep pace with digitalisation.

In this increasingly volatile and unpredictable age, scrutiny and attention to detail matter. Auditors possess a unique way of thinking - a way of making sense of things – and this is more important now than ever.