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Considering starting or progressing your career as an Internal Auditor in Australia? It’s essential that you have a current and compelling resume that stands out from the competition.

With plenty of scope for growth and development, open Internal Audit positions in Australia attract plenty of interest from job seekers. With competition high, to get through the initial vetting stage and secure yourself an interview, your internal audit resume must really shine, sending the right message to the employer that you are highly capable and have the right skills to excel in the role.

To help you do this, in this article we’re sharing our top tips on writing a winning internal audit resume, including how to format your resume, what to include (and what not to include) and a sample template you can use to get started right away.

How to format your resume

Your resume is your first impression, so make it count! In the competitive Australian job market, if you don’t get the layout and look right, you are at a distinct disadvantage from the start. When it comes to choosing a format of your resume, there is no one size fits all approach. The best choice is that which suits your current career situation.

For example, if you are highly experienced with multiple years working in similar roles and have no recent career gaps, a resume that showcases your experience such as a reverse-chronological format is a great choice. This places your work experience front and centre, allowing you to immediately demonstrate to employers that you have what it takes to succeed.

If you are a recent graduate or have minimal experience as an Internal Auditor or related role, a functional skills-based resume is likely a better fit. This resume format puts your skills and character traits in the spotlight first, allowing you to highlight the key attributes you can bring to the role in addition to your work experience. A third resume format is a combination between the two, and this hybrid style allows you a little more scope to be creative in your approach. This can work for job seekers at all stages, and is a great way to sprinkle in more of your personality.

Related: Should I include “references available upon request” in my CV?

What to include (and not include) on your resume

Sanjeevi Visagamoorthy, Senior Consultant and specialised financial services recruiter shares his expertise on what he looks for when reading internal audit resumes, and what makes a candidate stand out.

"When reviewing resumes for internal audit roles, there are several key things that employers look for. First and foremost, they want to see relevant experience and product knowledge in the field, as well as any relevant certifications or credentials. Additionally when interviewing, clients look for candidates who have strong communication and analytical skills, as well as the ability to work well with others and manage a team. A candidate who can demonstrate a track record of identifying and solving complex problems is also highly valued. What makes a candidate stand out is often a combination of all of these factors, along with a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and a passion for the field."

Whichever format you choose, an internal audit manager resume should be professional and include the following key sections. We’ve included our top tips and dos and don’ts to help you get it right.

Header

Your header must include your key contact information, and be clear and easy to read. Your first and last name should be at the top in larger font so it stands out, with your phone number, email and address below. You should also include a link to your online profile (e.g. LinkedIn), making sure it is up to date. If you have a portfolio, include a link to that too.

Professional summary

Although only small in size, your professional summary provides you with an excellent opportunity to showcase your talents and suitability for the role, so put some thought into this and make it shine.

The ideal summary will be one or two sentences long and will demonstrate your experience, skills, strengths and top achievement.

Use keywords from the position description if possible, and refine your sentences so that you effectively communicate your suitability, elaborating on specifics in the experience and skills sections that follow.

Experience

Your experience section should include three to five positions you have held that are relevant to the Internal Audit role. Starting with your current or most recent role, highlight your results and the skills you have developed, preferably breaking it down into short, impactful bullet points for each job title.

When talking about your achievements include figures to back up your statements and keep the tone positive with action verbs rather than buzzwords. Be sure to focus on what you have accomplished rather than simply listing the responsibilities of the role.

Your potential employer knows what an Internal Auditor does, what they are interested in is what skills and attributes you will bring to the company.

Relevant skills

When it comes to the skills section of your internal audit manager resume, aim to strike a balance between hard skills (e.g. learned abilities and technical competencies) and soft skills (e.g. personal attributes that relate to how you interact with people). Include only those skills relevant to the Internal Audit position you are applying for and when describing them use keywords found in the job advertisement.

This not only shows that you have read the application carefully and have written your resume specifically for the role, it also ensures your resume will pass any software checks, which are often used by organisations who receive a large number of applicants.

Education and certifications

It’s a good idea to keep this section simple, listing your highest level of education alongside the year you graduated and the university or institution attended. You can also include relevant courses or certifications you have completed that have added to your expertise in the internal audit field.

Optional inclusions

In addition to the core sections above, you may wish to include a section or two that adds to your professional profile, allowing you to showcase a little of your personality to help you stand out from the pack. This could include awards, language skills, projects, volunteer work or hobbies and interests.

Whatever you choose to include, it should be a further example of your suitability to the role and the culture of the organisation, rather than an unrelated obscure fact that doesn’t add value.

A good internal audit manager is someone who has a deep understanding of the industry, and a commitment to continuous improvement. They should be able to communicate effectively with all levels of an organization, manage a team of auditors, and have a solid understanding of risk management and control frameworks

- Sanjeevi Visagamoorthy

FIND YOUR NEXT INTERNAL AUDIT MANAGER ROLE

Internal audit resume template

So, now you know the essential components of a winning internal audit manager resume, where do you start? To save you time and help you get it right, we’ve shared this template that can be easily customised to suit your needs.

Resume template - Internal Audit.docx

Related: See what you can earn in our Salary Guide

Take the first steps towards your new career today

At Robert Half, we can help you land your dream Internal Audit role. Talk to our experienced recruitment team today to learn about current opportunities or submit your resume and we’ll be in touch with any suitable roles.