IT Auditor Qualifications & Skills

What Is an IT Auditor?

An IT Auditor is a vital part of an enterprise’s Internal Controls team, whose responsibility is to analyse, test, assess and report on IT systems, infrastructure, compliance, and due diligence. They must interpret the effectiveness of these controls concerning governmental regulations, laws and statutes and company policies, provide a detailed report on guidance to improve regulatory oversight of IT systems and amend any IT discrepancies.

IT Auditors can either be internal and work as part of an enterprise’s Internal Controls team or an external auditing team brought into enterprises to conduct IT Audits.

The importance of an IT Auditor cannot be overstated, especially in our digitally transformed new normal, IT Auditors sit at the junction between the human and the digital, driving systemic improvements and change to meet demand, shoring up vulnerabilities, training IT staff to improve their service, and making assessments of overall IT effectiveness and compliance.

As we discuss below, IT Auditors have to be a mix of tech-savvy IT professionals and confident communicators who can straddle two worlds: that of IT systems administration, improvement and diligence, and c-suite decision making, funding, and security.

Academic Qualifications

IT Auditors can come from various working backgrounds, but the foundational academic qualities needed to become a talented IT Auditor require a solid understanding of science, tech, maths, IT or business management.

As IT Auditors advise c-suite level stakeholders and provide guidance and training to IT teams, they require a mature understanding of the industry of IT security, governance and compliance. They need academic qualifications at a degree level in information technology, computer science, or equivalent to get to that position.

Further academic studies in business management or risk assessment are advantageous, as is a genuine passion for IT trends and understanding the changing environment of IT security and the digital landscape.

Certifications

Essential Certifications

• Degree level qualification (Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Information Systems, Information Technology, or similar)
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

Follow-on Certifications

• Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT)
• Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)

Work Experience

The essential qualities of the role mean work experience is necessary to secure a position as an IT Auditor, and taking the CISA exam is the first step on your path. However, in your capacity in another IT or compliance role, we recommend contacting internal or external auditing teams and seeking out affiliated jobs around IT Auditing, such as compliance, testing or mini-audits of other sections of your company.

We also suggest looking at volunteering with community projects or places that need extra audit care, such as charities. Candidates will be highly respected by employers who observe them proactively using their expanding skill set.

Internships

Similar in scope and responsibility to a financial audit intern, IT Audit interns will be leaned on to do some essential roles of a fully-fledged IT Auditor, like conducting file gathering, requesting and organising meetings and compliance testing, and working on administrative and clerical duties. However, internships are vital stages on your path to becoming an IT Auditor, and the experience gained is essential in understanding the crucial step-by-step development pathways of a career in IT Auditing.

What Skills Are Needed To Succeed as an IT Auditor?

Communication

IT Auditors must be fastidious communicators to multiple parties, including non-IT senior management. As such, concise reporting and attention to detail, while being as inclusive as possible to non-specialist c-suite decision-makers, is essential.

Eye for Detail

Auditors need to detail obsessive – they need to apply the skills they have learned to understand critical systems vulnerabilities, the impact of compliance on efficiencies, and factor in human error, training, L&D and investment into systems improvements. This sort of service must be completed on time and cut corners.

IT-Obsessed

IT Auditors are only as effective as their passion for their role. While many of the systems, platforms, networks and servers they analyse are hard-wired for work, the overall impact of that system on an enterprise’s ability to do its job is unparalleled – to do this effectively takes a specific type of talent that gets satisfaction from understanding these systems, how they work, and how they help people and enterprises succeed.

Find out more about life as an IT auditor and other details by following the below links:

Job Description & Profile, Salary & Pay, CV Template & Examples, How To Become An IT Auditor 

Search Jobs to find out about any IT Auditor job roles we currently have available.

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