Tighter Regulations Boost Auditing Careers

Advanced technology and tighter regulations continue to change the face of business. As a result, the need for greater controls and stringent internal audits has risen significantly in the business industry.

The growing overall economy and an increasingly complex tax and regulatory environment have led to a strong demand for internal auditors.  As the economy grows, auditors are needed to examine financial records, evaluate internal or external controls, identify potential control weaknesses and assess risk.  According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, accounting and auditing jobs are projected to increase by 11% between 2014 and 2024.

Stricter laws and regulations, particularly in the financial sector, have increased the demand for auditing and accounting services, as organizations seek to comply with new standards. In addition, tighter lending standards are expected to increase the importance of audits, as this is an important way for organizations to demonstrate their creditworthiness.

Auditors are often responsible for monitoring internal controls and ensuring that they are designed to achieve operational objectives.  In addition, internal auditors oversee the effectiveness and efficiency of operations; ensure accurate and reliable financial reports; and ensure compliance with industry-related laws and regulations.

Internal auditors may be employed as part of an organization’s compliance department; however auditors often work to support various areas of a business including finance, legal, risk management, fraud and operations.  They are often relied upon to identify weaknesses and recommend process enhancements for business units.  “As an internal bank auditor, I learned the importance of determining which internal controls should be in place to safeguard assets, and how to monitor those controls and make recommendations,” says Susan Maddox, Controller and Director of Accounting at The Country Music Hall of Fame.

If you are considering a career as an auditor, education and accounting experience are required. Most auditor positions require at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. Employers often prefer to hire applicants who have a master’s degree, either in accounting, finance, or business administration. Candidates who have earned a CPA certification are also often preferred.

For over four decades The Forum Group has successfully placed thousands of individuals in meaningful and rewarding positions. Contact The Forum Group, an experienced staffing and recruiting company, to help you secure the career you have been pursuing.

Your resume is important, because every piece of paper or profile that is associated with you helps to make you more marketable. If you can master a good resume and how to sell yourself on paper, you can sell yourself in your side hustle, for speaking engagements and other opportunities. Job seeker or entrepreneur, your resume is not to be ignored. By now you should know that whatever you learned about creating a resume design is probably outdated, especially if you’re in a creative industry. It is the one piece of paper that we obsess over the most and the hardest one to get right it seems. Microsoft Word templates are just not going to give you the wow-factor that you need to stand out in a pile, and the contents on it is probably a lazy collection of copy-and-paste from past job descriptions. Your resume is your introduction and speaks for you. What does your resume say about you? While a resume is just one part of the job search process, it is what can get you in the door.

A RESUME ALONE WON’T GET YOU A JOB, BUT A BAD ONE CAN ELIMINATE YOUR CHANCES. 

Recruiters spend a measly few seconds reviewing your resume. A quick scan by them or a digital application management system is your only chance to be considered for an interview. How annoying is that? You spend hours working on a resume and cover letter that most people don’t fully read. If you want to improve your chances, keep reading to learn 3 quick things you can do to upgrade your resume before 2017.

I know I’ve thrown shade at Microsoft Word resumes many times, but most make my eyes glaze over and want to go play in traffic. I know that you can do better while still remaining professional, because my students do it all the time. Take a look at this example below.

Giving advice to millennials is extremely important to me because I am one of them and even though the economy was better back in 2006, it took me eight months to find a marketing job. I succeeded because I started six months before graduation, collected eight internships, seven leadership positions on campus and graduated with honors. I failed because I didn’t know how to build and leverage relationships. Either way, I learned a lot about what it takes to build a successful career over the years. Good career choices are extremely important early in your career because you can set yourself up for success later on. Even though you might end up in a completely different career, the skills you acquire and the people you meet, are what will open the doors for you. The following are ten things that all millennials should do to get ahead in their careers:

Think of your career as a series of experiences. The most optimistic and intelligent way to look at your career isn’t how long you stay with one employer or that you focus on what you majored in at college. You need to collect experiences throughout your careers, whether that be with five employers or ten, with one business function or five or in one country or three. The idea is that you need to be a lifelong learner if you want to make an impact, succeed and feel accomplished. The experiences you have expand your world view, give you new perspectives and make you a more interesting person.

Don’t settle for a job you’re not passionate about. A lot of people are pushing college graduates to just get a job to pay the bills and that isn’t the greatest advice because research shows that you won’t last long there if you do. Furthermore, no smart company is going to have someone who is only there to make money because there’s always someone else who wants it more. When you’re passionate about your job, you’re excited, you work longer hours and end up accomplishing much more. Life is too short to settle for a career that you hate!

Focus on making a big impact immediately. The quicker you make an impact in a company the more attention and support you will get. Millennials understand this well because they won’t want to wait five years to get on a project where they can make this type of impact. Starting on day one, you have to learn as much as possible and start mastering your job so you can latch on to the bigger projects faster and prove yourself. By doing this, you will explode your career and become more valuable in your company, which will increase your pay, title and you’ll get to work on better projects.

Take risks early and often in your career. One of the important lessons this economy has taught us is that not taking risks is risky. There is so much out of our control and if we just keep doing what we did yesterday, we can’t get ahead. By taking a risk, you are putting yourself in a position to learn, whether you succeed or fail. You’re also showing to your management that you’re willing to put your reputation on the line to make things happen. As we become an ever more entrepreneurial society, those that take risks, both inside and outside of the corporate walls, will become more successful.

Top-notch job advice can help you make smart decisions, advance your career and keep your spirits high when work gets tough.

We tapped seasoned career experts, including college career counselors, authors and CEOs, for the  best career advice they’ve ever received. Their edited responses are below.

Debra Lybyer, director of career and advising services, Lewis-Clark State College in Idaho

Treat everyone you meet as a potential employer, every task you complete as part of your interview and keep every door open. You’ll never know what is out there for you if you don’t allow every possible opportunity to come your way.

Jude Miller Burke, author of “The Millionaire Mystique: How Working Women Become Wealthy – And How You Can, Too!”

The best career advice I received was to be persistent and resilient and to not let detours or failures derail my career. Successful men and women frequently have failures and detours in their careers, but do not let those bumps dissuade them. In fact, for successful people, failures are seen as a part of success and detours are seen as opportunities to push your career further ahead.

Rob VanDorin, associate director of career services and employer relations, Central Michigan University

Do your research. You should know the ins and outs of every company that you apply to before you even submit an application or resume. If you don’t know them, then you don’t know how to make yourself fit.

Bob LaBombard, CEO of GradStaff

Don’t let your college major, previous jobs or money define your career choices. Focus on the skills you possess, the business ideas you are most passionate about and your ability to make positive things happen. This advice is based on input from a variety of people over the years that repeated a lot of the same themes, but I would attribute the most significant influence to my dad, who was a very strong believer in a liberal arts education and the importance of adding value or doing your very best at everything you do.

Keri Burns, director of career services, University of West Georgia

The best career advice I ever received was to ‘always leave a position or department better than you found it.’ Whenever I take on a new role, my goal is to make a positive impact and leave a legacy, either through process improvements, innovative programming, organizational structure or any area that might need attention. I always want my involvement in any position I have held to have made a difference.

Walter L. Tarver, III, director of the career center, Stockton University in New Jersey

The best piece of career advice I ever received was to take advantage of every single opportunity that an employer presents to you. Though you may be hired into one position with a specific set of responsibilities, do not be afraid to move outside of those areas of responsibility. Volunteer for special projects, volunteer to be on committees and always look for ways to expand your skill set. This will serve you well as you look to move forward and advance in your career.

Jan Jones, author of “The CEO’s Secret Weapon: How Great Leaders and Their Assistants Maximize Productivity and Effectiveness”

My dad told me, “Don’t worry about what people say about you. When you’re on top, they’re talking about you, when you’re down, they’re talking about you, so just go ahead and live your life.” His advice gave me confidence to be myself and fortified me throughout my career. I keep my own counsel and honor my values without feeling intimidated by anyone, regardless of their position.

Beth Ricca, director of the Cahill Career Development Center, Ramapo College of New Jersey

The best career advice I ever received was from my very first boss 30 years ago. She told me, “Show, don’t tell.” At your job, on your resume or even in your personal life, don’t waste time telling others what you can offer. Instead, do your job very well to show your skills. On your resume, don’t list that you have excellent communication skills. Instead, include specific examples that demonstrate your excellent communication. Let your work speak for itself.

Caren Merrick, founder and CEO of Pocket Mentor

Invest in your communication skills. My first manager after college offered to send me to a communications seminar. I leapt at the opportunity and gained so much out of it that I was soon on the fast track. Periodically throughout my career, I have continued to invest in improving my communication skills – including workshops, online courses and books. Poor communication breeds problems, and good communication often solves them.

Leah Goldson, coordinator of alumni career services, University of Central Florida

The best career advice I received was to find a mentor. I’ve had a few in my life, and they’ve been instrumental in my career growth and have assisted me with gaining employment and providing valuable advice to keep me motivated in tough times.