Career Path and Profession of an Auditor

Career Path and Profession of an Auditor

ISO and its related standards are all business management systems. They provide the foundation for which a business can operate. ISO allows a business to manage, improve, and operate a system that focuses on customers (internally/externally), business processes, and product quality. One of the primary benefits of an ISO system is that it allows a 3rd party auditor to observe the business system from an external perspective. In today’s business environment, I think it is imperative that businesses truly understand their position in their respective industries. Over the past 5-10 years we have witnessed some long standing businesses fold under the pressure of emerging technology, emerging markets, and customer loss. ISO, and the related standards, force a business to continually monitor, measure, and improve their processes. Having a 3rd party auditor verify and observe processes allows a business to understand if the systems they have put in place are in fact measuring up to its industry’s standards. As an auditor you could observe processes in a glass factory one day and then observe processes in a multibillion dollar aerospace manufacturer the next. Auditors are bound by confidentiality but imagine being allowed to walk through small, medium, and large businesses across all industries simply because you are qualified to audit. To become an auditor it helps to have the attributes previously mentioned but anyone really can become an auditor provided they believe in the standard they are being certified to. Each auditor is asked to have integrity as one of the requirements to earn your certification. Exemplar Global list the requirements to become an auditor on their website, if you meet the minimum requirements then you have to get the hands on auditing experience. You also have to go through a certified course offered by organizations that are certified through Exemplar Global. Once you pass and receive your certificate, meet the minimum requirements, and get some audits under your belt you are well on your way. After being certified, you can then decide your career path. You could apply to work for one of the certification bodies, you could work for yourself, or you could be getting certified to run your company’s internal ISO system. Since ISO is the foundation to all standards, all auditors take the ISO class so there are many ISO certified auditors. However, if you have expertise in Aerospace, Automotive, Environmental, Food Safety, or Information Security to name a few, you have a better chance of landing a career with a certification body looking for a specialty. So what does it take to be an auditor?

Career Path

To be an effective auditor you must have a couple attributes. The two primaries are being detail oriented and being a processed based thinker. To be an auditor you must also be able to engage the client and be able to communicate through all levels of the organization. Although I believe I possessed these qualities, they were enhanced by my time in the United States Air Force. Before I learned of ISO and before I earned my MBA, I would have never been able to tie my military background and my education together to enhance my knowledge of ISO. I have also taken Green and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Courses to strengthen my knowledge. The ISO standard also includes design (hardware and software), development, and project management, so professionals with PMP certificates, and other professional education would also find value in becoming an auditor. My fellow Veterans have had similar courses like Lean, Six Sigma, and Project Management as a part of their training and would find being an auditor rewarding. Certification to become an auditor could be paid for by Veterans benefits. I mention this because the Veteran unemployment rate is at an all-time high and I believe this career path is an excellent option for many Veterans. Being and auditor a rewarding, energizing, and demanding career field and I would recommend to any professional.