If you are an organized person who is great with numbers, auditing might be the best career for you. Do you have a sense of justice and want people and business to operate fairly? Even better. A career in auditing involves working with government organizations or private businesses to make sure that income and spending are appropriate and legal. Auditors need to have a strong knowledge of the U.S. tax code and be skilled bookkeepers, great organizers and have an eye for detail.

Breaking into a job in auditing often takes a bachelor’s degree, and auditing jobs with the federal government almost always require four-year degrees. However, working in the field at an entry-level position can sometimes elevate a potential auditor to the same level as those who have completed school programs. Internships at business or accounting firms are a great first step to a career in auditing, and many schools offer help and guidance for landing those types of starter jobs.

A strong knowledge of computers is a helpful skill for all auditors, and one that potential employers almost always look for. A good score on the Uniform CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Exam can also give you a leg up over the competition for jobs in auditing.

Keep ‘Em Honest!
A career in auditing largely involves double-checking businesses and government organizations to make sure they are paying taxes, and paying them correctly. It also involves bookkeeping, analyzing facts and numbers and having a sense of the rules of business and accounting. It is important for auditors to not only be skilled at math, but also have strong communication skills, which will allow them to communicate their findings to clients. They will spend a lot of time collaborating with managers and clients, as well as working independently on computers. They need to have excellent computer skills and people skills.  Auditors also need a strong work ethic and a sense of honesty and of right and wrong; major decisions will be made based on their judgments and findings.

Growth of the auditing field is in-line with growth of other businesses. As new businesses develop, auditors need to be involved in order to keep them in check and help manage their finances and taxes. Auditing as a field is growing, though enrollment in auditing and accounting programs is also growing, and thus the competition can be stiff. CPAs have a definite advantage in this field, and attending an auditing school or program can be the best thing for an aspiring auditor to do. A career in auditing can be very rewarding, and according to Payscale.com the typical yearly salary for an auditor ranges from $40,000 to $60,000 a year, depending on how many years of experience they have.

There is a lot of flexibility involving jobs for auditors, and there are many routes to take to achieve a top-notch job. Many aspiring auditors take entry-level jobs as assistants to accountants or bookkeepers for small businesses. It typically takes about a year or two of working these types of jobs and acquiring the appropriate auditing training before moving up the career ladder. A few years of experience can lead auditors to jobs such as managers and executives in private firms specializing in internal auditing.

Attending a four-year auditing program and passing the CPA exam are steps that can help secure an auditing career. However, advancement can definitely be made based on attending auditing programs at junior colleges or business schools. Experience bookkeeping can also lead a less-educated potential auditor to a successful career.

So get to it: Find out more about auditing programs, schools and training opportunities, and launch your career!