What Does an IT Auditor Do? And How Do I Become One?

Explaining some jobs can be challenging, particularly those in IT. This article outlines the fundamentals of what IT auditors do, the necessary skills, and how to become an auditor. If you’re looking for a dynamic, interesting, increasingly relevant and ever-changing career, read on to learn more.

Responsibilities

Key duties of an IT auditor include:

• Scoping the audit plan

• Interviewing process owners to understand their control environment

• Collecting evidence

• Selecting an appropriate population of samples

• Performing testing on the selected samples

• Documenting test results

There are two types of auditors, and their specific duties differ:

An internal IT auditor assesses the organization’s internal controls to help strengthen the control environment.

An external auditor works for a consulting firm and assesses the control environments of other organizations, usually public companies that have regulatory reporting requirements. Internal auditors report findings and issues to their organization’s management, while external auditors report to the client who hired the consulting firm.

Qualifications

When recruiters look to fill junior IT audit roles, there are a few main qualifiers:

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Information Systems, Information Technology, or a related major

• A technical understanding of IT environments

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office

• Experience with an auditing tool such as Audit Command Language (ACL) or an audit documentation application

Beyond these basics, recruiters prefer candidates with relevant work experience such as an internship or a few years in an entry-level technology role, and industry-recognized certifications such as ISACA’s Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) or Certified Information Systems Manager (CISM).

Professional development organizations are a great way to learn about IT environments, auditing tools, and to prepare for certification tests.

Excellent Communication Makes a Great Auditor

As with many people facing technology jobs, great auditors need excellent communication skills. It’s not always easy for process owners to hear and accept that their process needs changes. Auditors need the ability to communicate complex IT issues to non-technical management and to present audit issues to an executive audience.

Here are a few essential groups that IT auditors interact with daily:

• Business, operational, and financial auditors: Many companies perform “integrated audits,” where IT auditors partner with business auditors to evaluate an area or process end-to-end, including IT controls and business controls.

• External auditors: It benefits companies to have an internal audit team that can communicate well with external auditors to reduce overall costs. Internal IT auditors can perform and document work that external auditors rely upon, reducing their workload and the associated billable hours.

• Information technology/information security departments: These are the primary groups being audited. To make an audit experience as smooth as possible, IT auditors should learn as much as possible in advance about the area they are auditing. Effective communication with stakeholders and partners is a crucial skill that sets great auditors apart.

Should You Become an IT Auditor?

IT auditing can be a great career move. There has been a consistent demand for auditors, especially in the technology and cybersecurity space. Regulatory requirements continue to increase, leading to a growing need for auditors. Auditing skills are applicable across various industries, including financial services, manufacturing, consumer goods, and insurance.

It's also easy to move between internal and external auditing. In the IT audit profession, there is always something new to learn due to the rapid pace of technology development. Successful IT auditors stay on top of technology trends to ensure they’re mitigating IT risk responsibly. IT auditors often gain a comprehensive view of their organization, and management often offers job rotations or internal transfers to other risk-based functions, such as compliance, IT risk, or cybersecurity. These transfers let auditors diversify their skill set and improve job security.

Lastly, IT auditors can make a meaningful difference to an organization. Both public and private companies need to focus on a robust control environment that reduces risk. Control failures can damage customer trust, be expensive, and disrupt operational processes. Auditors form a crucial line of defense.

How To Become an Auditor

Most companies have a minimum requirement of a four-year degree. Relevant work experience is essential—either holding a summer internship while completing a degree or spending time in an entry-level IT role can help. Lastly, obtaining a professional certification demonstrates expertise and validates the appropriate knowledge needed to succeed in the role.

A professional learning company like ACI Learning can help plan the path to IT audit success with classes and professional recruiting services. Explore courses and programs designed to provide the skills and credentials needed to thrive in this exciting field.