Finance & accounting

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly
• training with a professional body

University

You could do a degree, then join a graduate scheme to complete further training to become an auditor.

Employers will accept a range of degree subjects. Relevant subjects include:

• accountancy
• economics
• business and finance
• IT and computing

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths
• 3 A levels or equivalent

For more information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
• university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

Apprenticeship

You may be able to complete an apprenticeship to qualify as an internal auditor, while working with a company.

You could do a:

• higher apprenticeship as an internal audit practitioner
• level 7 apprenticeship as an internal audit professional

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

For more information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

Direct application

You can join a company as a trainee auditor, or move into auditing by being seconded to an internal auditing team from another department.

You'll usually need at least A level qualifications or equivalent, and you'll be expected to take further training as your career develops.

Other routes

You can qualify to audit public sector organisations through an apprenticeship or graduate scheme with the National Audit Office.

More information

Professional and industry bodies

To be an external auditor, you'll need to be a qualified chartered accountant and a member of one of the following professional bodies:Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA); Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW); The Association of International Accountants (AIA); Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)

You'll need to be a member of the The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy to carry out audits in the public sector.

If you're qualified as an accountant with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), you can carry out internal audits.

Further information

You can find out more about working in auditing from the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors.

View all vacancies in this region

As an experienced external auditor, you could move into management and then become a partner or finance director. You could also set up your own accountancy practice.

As an experienced internal auditor, you could move into a management role. You could also become a chartered internal auditor, or become a self-employed consultant.