As an internal audit manager, you might struggle with showcasing your ability to handle complex compliance issues and risk management processes on your resume. Our guide offers expert tips and examples to help you articulate your extensive experience and skills, ensuring your resume stands out to potential employers.
- Find different internal audit manager resume examples to serve as inspiration to your professional presentation.
- How to use the summary or objective to highlight your career achievements.
- How to create the experience section to tell your story.
- Must have certificates and what to include in the education section of your resume.
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Enhancing your internal audit manager resume: format and layout tips
"Less is more" - this principle is key for your internal audit manager resume design. It emphasizes the importance of focusing on why you're the ideal candidate. Simultaneously, it's crucial to select a resume design that is both clear and simple, ensuring your qualifications are easily readable.
Four popular formatting rules (and an additional tip) are here to optimize your internal audit manager resume:
- Listing experience in reverse chronological order - start with your most recent job experiences. This layout helps recruiters see your career progression and emphasizes your most relevant roles.
- Including contact details in the header - make sure your contact information is easily accessible at the top of your resume. In the header, you might also include a professional photo.
- Aligning your expertise with the job requirements - this involves adding essential sections such as experience, skills, and education that match the job you're applying for.
- Curating your expertise on a single page - if your experience spans over a decade, a two-page resume is also acceptable.
Bonus tip: Ensure your internal audit manager resume is in PDF format when submitting. This format maintains the integrity of images, icons, and layout, making your resume easier to share.
Finally, concerning your resume format and the Applicant Tracker System (ATS):
- Use simple yet modern fonts like Rubik, Lato, Montserrat, etc.
- All serif and sans-serif fonts are friendly to ATS systems. Avoid script fonts that look like handwriting, however.
- Fonts such as Ariel and Times New Roman are suitable, though commonly used.
- Both single and double-column resumes can perform well with the ATS.
Different markets have specific resume styles – a Canadian resume, for instance, may require a different approach.
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PRO TIP
List your educational qualifications and certifications in reverse chronological order.
Fundamental sections for your internal audit manager resume:
- The header with your name (if your degree or certification is impressive, you can add the title as a follow up to your name), contact details, portfolio link, and headline
- The summary or objective aligning your career and resume achievements with the role
- The experience section to curate neatly organized bullets with your tangible at-work-success
- Skills listed through various sections of your resume and within an exclusive sidebar
- The education and certifications for more credibility and industry-wide expertise
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Demonstrated knowledge of accounting principles, audit standards, and compliance regulations specific to the industry
- Proven experience in managing audit projects, including risk assessments and execution of complex audits
- Strong leadership skills and experience in supervising and developing audit staff
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a keen attention to detail
- Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders, including clearly presenting audit findings and recommendations
What is the resume experience section and how to write one for your past roles
The experience section in a internal audit manager resume is critical for your profile and overall application. It should not only display your work history, but also highlight your achievements in previous roles.
Many candidates either simply list their duties or provide excessive details about past, irrelevant jobs. A more effective approach involves first examining the job advertisement for keywords - specifically, skills essential for the role. Then, demonstrate these key requirements throughout different parts of your resume, using accomplishments from your roles.
Format each bullet point in your experience section by starting with a strong action verb. Follow this with a description of your role and its impact on the team or organization.
Aim to include three to five bullet points for each role.
Finally, gain insights into how professionals have crafted their internal audit manager resume experience sections by exploring some best practice examples.
- Led a team of 12 auditors in conducting operational and compliance audits across global units, identifying risk exposure and recommending mitigation strategies that improved business processes.
- Managed and executed the annual audit plan, ensuring comprehensive coverage of all high-risk areas, enhancing risk assessment models, and completing 30+ audits annually.
- Implemented a new data analytics tool that streamlined the audit process, reducing manual testing efforts by 40% and increasing the detection rate of procedural deviations.
- Coordinated international audit activities that covered financial, IT, and operational audits, reducing identified control weaknesses by 50% over a four-year period.
- Pioneered the adoption of continuous auditing techniques that led to a 15% improvement in audit efficiency and timely reporting of financial risks to the board.
- Developed a comprehensive training program for audit staff, resulting in a 20% increase in internal promotion rates and enhancing the team's analytical and investigative skills.
- Orchestrated a cross-departmental initiative to standardize audit procedures, which led to a consistent approach and improved interdepartmental communication.
- Facilitated a company-wide risk assessment that directly impacted the strategic planning and decision-making process by prioritizing risk response activities.
- Played a pivotal role in the successful integration of an acquired entity's internal control framework, ensuring business continuity and adherence to compliance standards.
- Initiated a fraud detection project that utilized advanced forensic accounting tactics, resulting in the discovery and rectification of $1.2 million in misappropriated funds.
- Drove process improvements in the financial reporting cycle, significantly reducing the time to close books from 10 days to 6 days.
- Collaborated with IT to implement a robust audit software solution that increased the capacity for handling complex data sets and enhanced the integrity of audit findings.
- Conducted an extensive review of the company's international taxation practice, identifying opportunities for cost savings through strategic tax planning and compliance.
- Played a key role in the due diligence process for prospective acquisitions, ensuring a thorough evaluation of financial and operational risks.
- Directed the Sarbanes-Oxley compliance program, achieving a 100% success rate in the passage of external audits over a four-year period.
- Championed the adoption of Agile auditing methodologies, leading to a 30% increase in project completion rates and timely insights for stakeholders.
- Managed the successful transition to a co-sourcing audit model, which expanded the scope of audit coverage and introduced specialist knowledge for complex audit areas.
- Designed and implemented a balanced scorecard for the audit team, aligning performance metrics with strategic objectives and driving a culture of continuous improvement.
- Supervised the evaluation of internal control systems over financial reporting, identifying areas of improvement that led to enhanced control precision and efficiency.
- Led the preparation and presentation of audit findings to C-suite executives, providing actionable insights that informed critical business decisions.
- Established partnerships with business unit leaders to ensure the alignment of audit activities with evolving business strategies and objectives.
- Drove the enhancement of internal audit methodologies by incorporating lean practices, which resulted in a 25% reduction in audit cycle times.
- Facilitated the redesign of risk management framework, improving risk visibility at the board level and driving the alignment of risk appetite with business goals.
- Mentored and developed rising talent within the audit team, successfully promoting five auditors to senior positions within the organization.
- Leveraged data analytics to identify anomalies in vendor payments, uncovering fraudulent activities and saving the company approximately $500,000 annually.
- Streamlined the enterprise risk management process, increasing risk evaluation frequency and enabling proactive management of emerging risks.
- Collaborated with IT to enhance cybersecurity measures within the audit scope, significantly reducing the potential for data breaches and reputational damage.
- Spearheaded a comprehensive review and revamp of the audit charter and policies to adapt to new regulatory requirements, ensuring full compliance and minimizing legal exposure.
- Developed and maintained a dynamic risk assessment model that adaptively prioritizes audit activities in real-time, enhancing the focus on emerging risks and critical areas.
- Cultivated a partnership with external auditors to facilitate knowledge sharing and reduce overlap in audit work, resulting in efficiencies and cost savings for the company.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- Detail the amount of cost savings identified through audit findings and efficiency recommendations.
- Specify the number of audit reports successfully managed and delivered within deadlines.
- Highlight the percentage reduction in non-compliance issues as a result of audit process improvements.
- Mention the size of the teams you have led or mentored, including the number of direct reports.
- Enumerate the number of internal control systems designed, implemented, or improved.
- Report the number of training sessions conducted to enhance staff understanding of compliance and risk management.
- Quantify the extent of risk exposure mitigated by introducing new audit strategies or tools.
- Calculate the growth in audit coverage or the increase in audited business units during tenure.
Action verbs for your internal audit manager resume
Guide for internal audit manager professionals kicking off their career
Who says you can't get that internal audit manager job, even though you may not have that much or any experience? Hiring managers have a tendency to hire the out-of-the-blue candidate if they see role alignment. You can show them why you're the best candidate out there by:
- Selecting the functional skill-based or hybrid formats to spotlight your unique value as a professional
- Tailoring your internal audit manager resume to always include the most important requirements, found towards the top of the job ad
- Substituting the lack of experience with other relevant sections like achievements, projects, and research
- Pinpoint both achievements and how you see yourself within this specific role in the internal audit manager resume objective.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Showcase any ongoing or recent educational efforts to stay updated in your field.
Featuring your hard skills and soft skills on your internal audit manager resume
The skills section of your internal audit manager resume needs to your various capabilities that align with the job requirements. List hard skills (or technical skills) to showcase to potential employers that you're perfectly apt at dealing with technological innovations and niche software. Meanwhile, your soft skills need to detail how you'd thrive within your new, potential environment with personal skills (e.g. resilience, negotiation, organization, etc.) Your internal audit manager resume skills section needs to include both types of skills to promote how you're both technical and cultural fit. Here's how to create your bespoke internal audit manager skills section to help you stand out:
- Focus on skill requirements that are listed toward the top of the job advert.
- Include niche skills that you've worked hard to obtain.
- Select specific soft skills that match the company (or the department) culture.
- Cover some of the basic job requirements by including important skills for the internal audit manager role - ones you haven't been able to list through the rest of your resume.
Get inspired with our internal audit manager sample skill list to list some of the most prominent hard and soft skills across the field.
Top skills for your internal audit manager resume:
Risk Assessment Software
Audit Management Systems
Data Analytics Tools
Financial Reporting Software
Compliance Tracking Tools
Internal Control Frameworks
ERP Systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle)
Microsoft Excel
Continuous Monitoring Tools
Accounting Software (e.g., QuickBooks)
Analytical Thinking
Attention to Detail
Communication Skills
Problem-Solving
Leadership
Time Management
Interpersonal Skills
Adaptability
Ethical Judgement
Team Collaboration
PRO TIP
Mention specific courses or projects that are pertinent to the job you're applying for.
What are the best certificates to add to your internal audit manager resume + how to curate your education section
The education and certification resume sections are the underdogs of your internal audit manager resume.
They showcase to recruiters that you've invested plenty of time to gain valuable and specific know-how, vital for growth.
As far as the resume education section is concerned:
- Detail only advanced education, specifying the institution and timeframe.
- Indicate your forthcoming graduation date if you're in the midst of your studies.
- Consider omitting degrees that don't align with the job's requirements.
- Offer a description of your academic journey if it underscores your notable achievements.
When curating your degrees and certificates on your internal audit manager resume:
- Select only accreditation that matters to the role
- Niche knowledge that could help you stand out as a candidate (as is within the past few years), should be listed towards the top of your resume
- Include any pertinent data for credibility (e.g. institute name, graduation dates, etc.)
- Irrelevant degrees and certifications shouldn't make it on your resume. Those include your high school diploma and any specializations that have nothing to do with the technical or soft skills that are required for the job
As a final note, if you feel tempted to exclude your education or certification from your resume, don't.
These two sections could help you have a better competitive edge over other candidates - hinting that your professional journey in the industry may be for a longer period of time.
Recruiters find all of these internal audit manager credentials impressive:
The top 5 certifications for your internal audit manager resume:
- Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) - Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) - American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) - Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA)
- Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) - Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
- Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP) - Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)
PRO TIP
Bold the names of educational institutions and certifying bodies for emphasis.
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Adding a summary or objective to your internal audit manager resume
One of the most crucial elements of your professional presentation is your resume's top one-third. This most often includes:
- Either a resume summary - your career highlights at a glance. Select the summary if you have plenty of relevant experience (and achievements), you'd like recruiters to remember about your application.
- Or, a resume objective - to showcase your determination for growth. The perfect choice for candidates with less experience, who are looking to grow their career in the field.
If you want to go above and beyond with your internal audit manager resume summary or resume objective, make sure to answer precisely why recruiters need to hire you. What is the additional value you'd provide to the company or organization? Now here are examples from real-life internal audit manager professionals, whose resumes have helped them land their dream jobs:
Resume summaries for a internal audit manager job
- With a solid 12-year track record of leading robust internal audit functions within the financial industry, this seasoned professional has a history of identifying multimillion-dollar savings and improving audit processes. Expert in risk management, compliance, and SOX with a proven ability to leverage data analytics to drive business improvement.
- Diligent internal audit manager with 15 years of experience in the technology sector, recognized for outstanding critical thinking and analytical skills. Successfully led an audit that uncovered a significant process gap, resulting in the recovery of over $3 million in lost revenue for a global tech firm.
- Former forensic accountant with 8 years of experience transitioning into internal audit management, equipped with a deep understanding of financial reporting and investigative procedures that drive transparency and accountability. Eager to apply a forensic eye to internal audits to enhance risk mitigation strategies.
- Accomplished supply chain manager with a decade of operations experience now seeking to transfer skills to internal auditing. Brings a unique perspective on process efficiency and supplier contract compliance, aiming to fortify internal controls and fiscal discipline within auditing practices.
- Goal-oriented professional intent on forging a career in internal audit management, armed with strong analytical skills and a passion for financial optimization. Keen on mastering audit software and regulatory frameworks to deliver insightful audits and contribute to the effective management of organizational risks.
- Eager to embark on an internal audit management career, this upcoming graduate with a Master’s degree in Accounting and Finance is committed to learning best practices in risk assessment and control evaluation. Aspires to proactively address challenges and ensure the integrity of financial operations through meticulous audit oversight.
Optimize your resume summary and objective for ATS
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Other relevant sections for your internal audit manager resume
Apart from the standard internal audit manager resume sections listed in this guide, you have the opportunity to get creative with building your profile. Select additional resume sections that you deem align with the role, department, or company culture. Good choices for your internal audit manager resume include:
- Language skills - always ensure that you have qualified each language you speak according to relevant frameworks;
- Hobbies - you could share more about your favorite books, how you spend your time, etc. ;
- Volunteering - to highlight the causes you care about;
- Awards - for your most prominent internal audit manager professional accolades and achievements.
Make sure that these sections don't take too much away from your experience, but instead build up your internal audit manager professional profile.
Key takeaways
We've reached the end of our internal audit manager resume guide and hope this information has been useful. As a summary of our key points:
- Always assess the job advert for relevant requirements and integrate those buzzwords across various sections of your internal audit manager resume by presenting tangible metrics of success;
- Quantify your hard skills in your certificates and skills section, while your soft skills in your resume achievements section;
- Ensure you've added additional relevant experience items, such as extracurricular activities and projects you've participated in or led;
- Use both your resume experience and summary to focus on what matters the most to the role: including your technical, character, and cultural fit for the company.
