Internal Auditor interview questions and answers
This Internal Auditor interview profile brings together a snapshot of what to look for in candidates with a balanced sample of suitable interview questions. Similar job titles include Staff Auditor, Audit Supervisor, Compliance Auditor, Senior Auditor and Audit Manager.
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10 good internal auditor interview questions
- Have you ever detected a case of fraud? What process did you follow?
- Imagine a situation where you suspect that a company is exposed to a major risk. What risk management procedures would you employ?
- Tell us about a serious operational issue you encountered in the past. How did you discover it and what solutions did you recommend?
- Imagine a situation where you have to deal with uncooperative colleagues. What would you do?
- Have you ever experienced conflict with senior management or within a team? What happened and how did you resolve it?
- Describe a time when you made a suggestion that was successfully implemented. What was the result?
- Have you ever had difficulty persuading others to implement your recommendations? What did you do?
- Imagine that someone asks you to do something unethical like covering up a fraud. What would you do?
- How do you develop an audit plan? What is important to consider?
- What do you think internal auditing can add value to a company?
Here are 10 essential interview questions and sample answers to help identify the best candidates for this role.
1. Have you ever detected a case of fraud? What process did you follow?
This question assesses the candidate’s ability to identify and handle ethical violations.
Sample answer:
“Yes, I discovered a case of financial fraud during a routine audit. I immediately documented the evidence and reported it to senior management, following company protocols.”
2. Imagine a situation where you suspect that a company is exposed to a major risk. What risk management procedures would you employ?
This question evaluates the candidate’s understanding of risk management.
Sample answer:
“I would initiate a comprehensive risk assessment, involving key stakeholders, to identify the nature and extent of the risk. Then, I’d develop a risk mitigation plan.”
3. Tell us about a serious operational issue you encountered in the past. How did you discover it and what solutions did you recommend?
This question probes the candidate’s problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
Sample answer:
“During an audit of the supply chain, I found significant inefficiencies that were costing the company money. I recommended a series of process improvements.”
4. Imagine a situation where you have to deal with uncooperative colleagues. What would you do?
This question tests the candidate’s interpersonal skills and ability to handle resistance.
Sample answer:
“I would first try to understand their concerns and then find a way to collaborate effectively, ensuring that the audit process is not compromised.”
5. Have you ever experienced conflict with senior management or within a team? What happened and how did you resolve it?
This question assesses the candidate’s conflict resolution skills and ability to navigate organizational politics.
Sample answer:
“I had a disagreement with management over the urgency of addressing a compliance issue. We resolved it by having a frank discussion and agreeing on a timeline.”
6. Describe a time when you made a suggestion that was successfully implemented. What was the result?
This question gauges the candidate’s ability to contribute to operational improvements.
Sample answer:
“I suggested implementing a new audit software that streamlined our processes, saving the company both time and resources.”
7. Have you ever had difficulty persuading others to implement your recommendations? What did you do?
This question evaluates the candidate’s persuasion and negotiation skills.
Sample answer:
“I faced resistance when recommending a change in data storage protocols. I presented a strong business case, and eventually, the team agreed to implement the changes.”
8. Imagine that someone asks you to do something unethical like covering up a fraud. What would you do?
This question tests the candidate’s ethical integrity and professional standards.
Sample answer:
“I would absolutely refuse to engage in any unethical behavior and would report the incident to the appropriate authorities within the organization.”
9. How do you develop an audit plan? What is important to consider?
This question assesses the candidate’s planning and organizational skills.
Sample answer:
“When developing an audit plan, it’s crucial to consider the scope, objectives, and available resources. I also prioritize areas with higher risk.”
10. What do you think internal auditing can add value to a company?
This question gauges the candidate’s understanding of the role and value of internal auditing within an organization.
Sample answer:
“Internal auditing provides an independent, objective assurance on the effectiveness of a company’s risk management, control, and governance processes.”
What does a good Internal Auditor candidate look like?
A strong internal auditor candidate will have a keen eye for detail, excellent analytical skills, and a deep understanding of compliance and risk management. They should also possess strong interpersonal skills for effective communication and conflict resolution.
Internal Auditor Interview Questions
Internal auditing typically calls for a degree in accounting, finance or a related business discipline. For senior positions, you may want to hire someone who also holds a formal certification, such as CIA, CRMA etc. In general, they must have knowledge of risk management, compliance audit, corporate governance, control principles, and audit planning.
Proven experience is vital. The candidate should have a solid background in accounting or operations roles, if not specifically in internal audit. During these interviews, use auditing interview questions to evaluate how thoroughly they understand auditing procedures or operations.
Internal auditors are organized and possess strong critical thinking skills. Businesses rely on them to effectively communicate their insights and give sound advice. It is also important for internal auditors to have negotiating skills since reporting discrepancies often call for a delicate approach. Delve into this by asking operational or situational questions. This will also help you determine important qualities such as ethics, thoroughness and attention to detail. When asking internal auditing interview questions, look for proof that the candidate understands the importance of the job and is able to do it ethically and effectively.
Let’s summarize some of the questions and add a few more divided into specific types.
Operational and Situational questions
- Have you ever detected a case of fraud? What process did you follow?
- Imagine a situation where you suspect that a company is exposed to a major risk. What risk management procedures would you employ?
- Tell us about a serious operational issue you encountered in the past. How did you discover it and what solutions did you recommend?
- Imagine a situation where you have to deal with uncooperative colleagues. What would you do?
- Have you ever experienced conflict with senior management or within a team? What happened and how did you resolve it?
- Describe a time when you made a suggestion that was successfully implemented. What was the result?
- Have you ever had difficulty persuading others to implement your recommendations? What did you do?
- Imagine that someone asks you to do something unethical like covering up a fraud. What would you do?
Role-specific questions
- How has your experience/education prepared you to be an internal auditor?
- How do you develop an audit plan? What is important to consider?
- What do you do after you finish with an audit?
- What are important elements of internal control systems? What process would you follow to review them?
- Do you know any audit software or CAATs (computer assisted audit techniques)? Have you used them before?
- What do you know about information technology controls?
- Where and how do you gather important raw data? How do you analyze them?
- Are you familiar with IFRS?
- How do you keep up with changes in regulations and laws?
- How do you think internal auditing can add value to a company?
- Why are you interested in the audit field? What do you like most about this job?