Explore Jobs
Find Specific Jobs
Explore Careers
Explore Professions
Best Companies
Explore Companies
This article is focused on common auditor interview questions, along with example answers for 20 of them. Of course, there’s rarely one right answer for a question – unless it’s highly technical – which means that the examples are guidelines for what to look for in a good candidate or how to answer a question properly.
Key Takeaways:
Polish up your auditing skills, as well as prepare answers for common interview questions. It’s important not to be too scripted, but having a general idea of what to say when asked a basic question makes you look much more professional and polished.
Decide what you want to prioritize in a candidate. Is it expertise? Cultural fit? Make sure that the candidate is qualified, of course, but base the majority of your questions on what the company most wants in its ideal candidate.
Here are some common questions for auditors: behavioral interview questions, technical interview questions, and general interview questions.
Tell me about yourself
This is a common interview question to assess personality and cultural fit. It can also help determine how interested the candidate is in the profession and how long they’re likely to stay with the company. As a candidate, it’s best to emphasize your commitment to the field as well as your deep interest in it.
Example Answer:
I’ve been working in bookkeeping for a while and decided to go back and get a four-year degree in accounting. Auditing has always interested me because it’s much more in-depth than what I’ve been doing, and I feel that it has tremendous benefits to both organizations and those who work for them.
Outside of work, I like to thrift and sew, so a lot of my outfits have been picked up at a secondhand store and altered. I also have a bearded dragon that I spoil.
How do you maintain motivation in your work?
Everyone has days when they don’t want to be at work. Interviewers want to know that potential employees are able to keep themselves motivated and involved in their careers, even when it’s difficult. It helps if the tactic the candidate uses meshes well with the industry they work in.
Example Answer:
I’ve always been the type of person that is driven to do a good job. I rarely struggle with being motivated to work. But when I do, I just remind myself how important what I do is. It isn’t just a matter of catching errors, malfeasance, or helping out the company. I can protect people with what I do, and I can also catch bad actors.
In order to be sure that I’m always motivated to do my very best, I remind myself that mistakes can have serious consequences. If I accuse someone of wrongdoing who’s innocent, it can adversely affect their career – badly. And if I miss risky or illicit behavior, I can be hurting not only the client but everyone who works there.
What would you do if someone asked you to do something unethical?
The nature of auditors’ responsibilities makes it a position of trust. To be a successful auditor, they have to be above reproach. Asking questions about how they would handle a situation where they’re asked to do something unethical doesn’t guarantee that that’s how they’ll actually behave, but the candidate’s response can still be revealing.
Example Answer:
Exactly what I would do would depend on the nature of the request, of course. But as a rule, I do my utmost to behave in an ethical manner. My job is all about accuracy, truth, and objectivity. That means that I need to be absolutely sure to make sure that every audit report I put my name on is above reproach.
So, of course, I wouldn’t compromise my report just because someone asked me to. How exactly I’d handle the situation at the moment would depend on what I was asked to do and how safe I felt. I’d certainly document it and report the behavior afterward, though, to the proper authorities.
Why do you think you’re best suited for the position?
Not everything can fit in the candidate’s resume or cover letter. Chances are, most interviewees will reiterate a lot of what is on their resume in answer to a question like this. But it also gives candidates the opportunity to include other skills or qualifications that, for various reasons, they may not have added to their resume.
Example Answer:
It’s a bit hard for me to sit here and say that I’m unequivocally the best choice. But I did receive a lot of praise at my previous job for how quickly I absorbed the training. I’ve been an auditor for about a year now, and while I liked my other job, I’d like to spread my wings a bit now. I know it’s cliche, but I want to challenge myself.
I’m looking for a long-term career at a company. My previous company didn’t have a lot of room for advancement – they already had a lot of excellent auditors. What I learned there was invaluable, but I’m hoping that I can really make a difference here, and I intend to do my level best to make that happen.
Why should we hire you?
Interviewers are impressed by interviewees who have done their research on the position they’re interviewing for. That means that candidates should emphasize traits that were mentioned in the job description. It’s also another way to assess personality and find out if the candidate is a good fit for the company culture.
Example Answer:
While I'm relatively new to auditing, I’ve always been extremely precise and detail-oriented. I’m at an early point in my career, so I’m determined to do my best and keep improving as fast as I can. I’m excellent with technology, so I’m working on becoming an expert at auditing software, such as iAuditor and Gensuite.
Why do you want to work here?
While the majority of people have a job for the paycheck, it’s nice to know that the candidate is actually interested in working at the particular organization.
Changing jobs is disruptive for both employers and employers, so it’s best for workers to prioritize applying to places where they actually want to work and employers hiring people who actually want to work there.
Example Answer:
This is a newer company, which means that there should be a lot of opportunities for me to grow with the business. I really liked my old job, but there just wasn’t a lot of chance for me to move up anytime soon – they already had a lot of really skilled auditors.
Working in a new place with new people also gives me a chance to challenge myself. I want to really use my learned skills and be sure that it’s my work that’s making a difference to the company. I always had so many experienced people to help me out and check my work – which was wonderful – but I felt like I never really had to push myself.
What are your hobbies outside of work?
With a few exceptions, what an employee does outside of work shouldn’t affect their chances of getting the job. This question is an excellent icebreaker and can help to get candidates talking, as well as being less nervous. It can also be used to help determine cultural fit.
Example Answer:
I’m an amateur seamstress. I love to sew. I’ve made some of my own clothes, but mainly what I do is browse thrift stores and pick out clothes that I can really bring to life with a bit of alteration and additions. So, I guess you can say that I’m a thrifter and a sewer.
I also have a pet bearded dragon. I spent a lot of time taking care of him – he loves riding around on my shoulder when I’m at home. I’ve always been partial to reptiles in general, and I’m hoping that I can get another one. But my apartment’s really tiny, and they need a lot of space.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
It’s important to know that the candidate’s goals are reasonable and align with the employer’s. As a rule, interviewers want a sense that the person they’re interviewing has looked ahead to the future and has some ambition.
Example Answer:
In five years? Well, I've more or less just started out as an auditor, so I feel like I still have so much to learn. But it’d be amazing if I could get to a senior auditor position. Should be able to make that within five years. So, yeah, that’s where I’d like to see myself.
What’s the aspect you find most rewarding as an auditor?
While a career is a steady paycheck, employers are hoping to hire people who view it as more than that. If the candidate finds the career rewarding and worthwhile, they’re much more likely to stick with it and produce better work, not to mention the fact that it’s better for people’s well-being to find their work rewarding.
Example Answer:
I know it might sound weird, but I like going over everything and making sure everything is as it should be. It’s like there’s this balance to it. So, I actually enjoy doing audits. But what I really find rewarding is the fact that I can help make sure that everything is running the way it should be.
Making a suggestion and getting management to agree to it can also be wonderfully rewarding, especially as you see the thing you recommended be put into practice and make the company better. I know that doing that also helps my coworkers, so it’s a happy feeling.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Self-awareness is something that many interviewers look for. A candidate that’s practiced at doing interviews will likely answer the weakness question with a trait that can also be a strength.
Example Answer:
I suppose I’d say that my greatest strength is that I’m really good with numbers. I always have been. It’s helped me tremendously with my degree, as well as in my life in general.
So, when I’m going through a company’s financials, I can usually tell quickly if the numbers aren’t lining up right. I always double-check my work, of course, but it makes my job go much faster.
As for my weakness, I sometimes assume that everyone knows the same things I do. It’s like, this a super basic accounting concept; how can you not get it? I’m really working on it. It’s not just a matter of explaining to people who may not be experts in my field; it’s about recognizing others' areas of expertise.
What do you think are the qualities that an auditor needs to be successful?
Asking a question like this is a combination of a personality question and a work style question. There isn’t necessarily a “right” answer; however, there are likely certain qualities that the interviewer will be looking for. It’s important to see if the qualities that the candidate prioritizes are similar to the ones the interviewer does.
Example Answer:
Well, the qualities that have helped me in my career are being good with numbers, being precise, and being heavily in the habit of double-checking my work. I look over everything multiple times.
Auditing is all about precision, just like accounting, and even small mistakes can have a big impact. So, checking my work is paramount to me.
What’s your favorite auditing tool?
Auditing, as with the majority of work in modern times, has software tools that help make the job easier and faster. Knowing that the candidate is familiar with different software and tools used to do the job properly is important, as they’ll likely be working with it regularly. It also helps if they’re familiar with the tool the hiring organization employs.
Example Answer:
So far, I’m partial to iAuditor. That’s primarily what I used at my previous job. Gensuite has some good features, too – parts of the interface are more intuitive to me. But I've always been technically proficient, so I’m able to pick up new systems quickly.
How would you convince a skeptical manager to promote an internal audit?
Audits are an important way to make sure that the company is performing properly and not taking unnecessary risks. Some managers can feel as if the audit process may threaten them or expose them to criticism, so they’ll resist one being done. It’s important for the hiring manager to know that the auditor can advocate for themselves.
Example Answer:
I'm sort of an unintimidating person, so I feel like that helps in situations like these. My first tactic would be to try to find out what the manager's objection to doing an audit actually is. Then I'll do my best to assuage whatever their worries are, usually by explaining what the auditing process actually involves.
If I can’t get them to open up to me, then I’ll usually start going over the benefits of audits. Such as catching any potential errors – and that everyone makes them, it doesn’t have to reflect badly on the manager. And streamlining processes and improving efficiency. Everyone tends to assume that audits only take place when something's wrong, but that isn’t true.
How do you ensure accuracy when auditing data or documents?
The processing of auditing is, by its nature, extremely detail-oriented and dependent on accuracy. That means that hiring managers want to be sure that whoever they hire is going to make sure to adhere to the expected standards. Candidates want to assure the interviewer that they take ensuring accuracy extremely seriously.
Example Answer:
The first thing I always do is just gather data. Your results aren’t going to be accurate if you're starting with inaccurate data. So I check dates, times, and entries to make sure that everything is up to date and filled in properly. From there, I start putting everything together, making sure it all makes sense as I go.
I also document everything. I’m almost compulsive about it. It makes a huge difference when I go back to check my work, and it also helps if I end up working with another auditor or an external auditor is brought in to ensure accuracy. And I always double-check my work.
Explain the concept of root cause analysis and how it applies to quality audits
Root cause analysis is an important aspect of auditing. It focuses on what the actual cause of the problem is rather than just the observable symptoms. Hiring managers want to be sure that the candidate is familiar with the concept, as well as encourage them to make use of it.
Example Answer:
Root cause analysis is looking for what the actual cause of the problem is – you know, the root cause. I’ve often employed it myself. It’s important to actually get to what the initial cause of the problem is. Otherwise, you won't really be fixing it; you'll just be putting band-aids on the other problems the real problem is causing.
What would you do if you found evidence of fraud during an audit?
As this is something that an auditor may well encounter, the interviewer will want to know how they’d react to it. Behavior questions are a good way to try to test the temperament of the candidate, as well as determine their values. Such questions can give some insight into how the candidate may behave as an employee.
Example Answer:
The first thing I’d do is document the discovery. Then I’d double-check my work. Accusations of fraud are very serious, and it’s not the sort of thing I’d want to do if I wasn’t completely sure. Then I’d get all my ducks in a row. I’d document everything. I usually do that anyway, but I’d be even more detailed than usual.
I will also double-check the company guidelines on how to handle and report fraud. I’d get my documents together, covering when, where, and how. I’d notify the necessary parties and get started on any other additional tasks per the company guidelines, such as further investigation or filing reports.
How do you ensure that all relevant information is included in an audit report?
Gathering and analyzing data is what auditors do. It’s extremely important that their reports are accurate and complete. A lot of information is involved in an audit, leaving a lot of room for error. It’s important for hiring managers to make sure that candidates are serious about filing complete reports and including every necessary bit of information.
Example Answer:
I’ve mentioned that I’m a compulsive double-checker, right? Beyond that, I make liberal use of checklists. There are a lot of pieces to a complete report, and it’s easy to forget one without having reminders. I make sure to document the process heavily, too, so even if there’s a mistake on the report, the information is there – meaning I can fix it fast.
What strategies do you use to maintain objectivity when conducting audits?
Being an objective observer is part of the requirement for a position as an auditor. Interviewers want to be sure that candidates are able to look at data in an objective manner so that it’s as accurate and complete as possible. It’s also important that they don’t make assumptions and instead use the data itself to draw conclusions.
Example Answer:
It’s just numbers. The data speaks for itself. My job is to collect and analyze data, and I do my best to divorce it from other aspects.
Of course, I need to consider the industry that it’s from, as it isn’t actually in a vacuum, but I remind myself that the answer will make itself known from the data, and I enter an audit with no assumptions about what I’ll find.
What techniques do you use to ensure consistency between different auditors?
Making sure that reports follow the same guidelines and methods is important. There are general standards for most audits, but it’s also important that different auditors in an organization produce similar reports. That makes them easier to compare and also makes it easier for different auditors to follow up.
Example Answer:
Well, I’m not usually the one enforcing that at this point. But in terms of making sure that my reports are consistent with the other auditors, I follow the guidelines. Any good auditing department has guidelines. There are standardized checklists, layouts, and formats that should be followed.
I always go over that before doing a report, even when I’ve done it before. It’s important to remind myself of how the process should go, what needs to be included, what information I need to gather, and how the final report should look and what it must include.
How do you explain complex auditing results to non-technical stakeholders?
Part of an auditor’s job is being able to explain the contents of their report to stakeholders – usually in management. That means that they’ll be dealing with people who aren’t experts in their field and have to be able to explain it in a way that makes sense to non-technical observers.
Example Answer:
This has been something I've struggled a bit with. To compensate for it, I always draw up a detailed presentation. Then I pare it down. What needs to be explained here? What doesn’t need to be explained?
I’m the expert here, so I don't need others to also be experts in my field. They just have to understand it’s enough for me to convey what needs to be changed.
I encourage questions, too. Sometimes I skip over basic concepts – basic to me, at any rate – and I want to encourage people to let me know when I’ve done that so that they can understand the results of my report. Patience is also important, as accounting can be a bit arcane at times.
Here are some additional questions to ask in an auditor interview. As auditing is a technical profession, it’s important to include enough questions of that nature to ensure that the candidate is qualified for the role.
How do you develop an audit plan?
Are you familiar with IFRS?
How do you keep up to date with changes in regulations and laws?
In what ways do you believe that internal auditing adds value to a company?
Have any of your suggestions been successfully implemented?
How would you approach giving a client negative feedback?
What steps do you take to fix an auditing mistake?
How do you go about gathering data?
How do you stay calm in stressful situations?
Describe your career goals.
Why are you leaving your current role?
How did you become interested in auditing?
What are your salary expectations?
How would a colleague describe you?
Explain how you assess a company’s risk.
As a Candidate:
Many interview questions for auditors will be technical in nature. That means that it’s very important to brush up on technical aspects of the job, such as terminology, proper ways to collate reports, and laws and regulations related to the industry.
Double-check your resume and the job description. Many interviewers will ask questions directly from the resume, and you want to be sure you remember everything that’s on it. It also helps to be able to reference skills or traits that are listed in the job description.
If you can, look into some reports about the company you’re being interviewed by. Being able to comment on their auditing process will make you look highly prepared and interested in the company.
As an Interviewer:
Know the typical interview questions auditors are asked. The candidate should respond well to these, as they should have prepared. It helps to throw the occasional curve ball in there as well to see how they react on their feet.
Be sure to have an expert on auditing in the room with you if you aren’t one yourself. This assures that not only will you ask intelligent questions, but you’ll also understand whether or not the answers are correct.
Check over both the candidate’s resume and the job description. You want to be sure to reference it if their answers differ from the information on the resume, as well as being able to ask direct questions about their experience.