Creating a good job description can make a huge difference in your hiring process. When prospective applicants have an accurate idea of what the job entails, as well as what is required in order to be considered, they can make an informed decision about whether or not they should apply. With this in mind, we have created the Public Auditor job description sample below.
Public Auditor Job Summary
As a Public Auditor with Audit & Audit, LLP, you will be working with a team of professionals dedicated to accuracy and attention to detail. You will perform internal audits for government and other public sector organizations, helping them to improve their financial performance.
Public Auditor Job Responsibilities and Duties:
- Advising government agencies regarding financial management
- Testing current processes and identifying areas for improvement
- Clearly communicating risks and other issues
- Working individually and as part of a team toward concrete goals
Public Auditor Skills and Qualifications
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) certification
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field
- Ability to obtain appropriate security clearance
- Strong written communication skills
- Minimum of 2 to 5 years’ experience preferred
Company Profile
At Audit & Audit, LLP, we are proud to provide comprehensive auditing services to both public and private entities. Our team of auditors is highly qualified and experienced in all types of government and business accounting and other processes. We support our people with the tools and education they need to grow and succeed.
Writing a Job Description Best Practices
- The Public Auditor job description sample above is a very basic idea of what your job ad should look like. To help you craft your own, personalized job description, consider the following best practices:
- Make it easy for your ideal candidate to find your job listing and apply for it. Include all necessary information in the text of the ad, including the name and email address of the hiring manager, a link to an online application form if applicable and instructions about other documentation that should be submitted.
- When listing desired qualifications, do not emphasize skills that can easily be picked up. If you require a particular degree, be sure to mention that, but if everyone in your organization has to learn a certain software program, do not list that program as if it is a prerequisite. If your qualifications list seems intense and unattainable, some well-qualified candidates may shy away from applying.
- Requiring a minimum level of experience is fine, but remember that skills are often more important than a particular number of years of experience. If you are willing to train the right person, mention that in your ad.
- After you have your job description written out, revise it for brevity and clarity. It should not be vague, but it should not be overly detailed, either.
- Use bullet points wherever it makes sense to do so. This format makes the best use of limited space by visually separating each point and making things like qualifications and duties stand out.
- Focus on action words instead of descriptions. This will help you cut back on wordiness and may make the position sound exciting. Try to help the reader imagine him or herself in the position by describing what the new hire will be doing, rather than what he or she will be responsible for.
- Think about what would make you want to apply for the job if you were an applicant. Are people on this career path looking for advancement, benefits or a team environment? Think of phrases that evoke an emotional response and show how your job opening fulfills these desires.
- Create a job opportunities landing page on your website. Using the same page for all of your open positions will help that page rank higher in search results, potentially getting a larger number of qualified applicants introduced to your company.
- Use social media to spread the word about your open positions. This is another area in which having a consistent web address pointing straight to your employment page comes in handy. After you create a shareable link, promote it at different times of day on various social media sites, but don’t spam your followers.
The Public Auditor job description sample above is an example of what your job description should look like if you want to attract and retain the top talent for your company. Taking the time to create a well-written job description now may streamline your interviewing and hiring process, as well as pay off later when you have recruited the industry’s rising stars and have them on your team.
Public Auditor Job Responsibilities
Many recruiting professionals consider the job responsibilities section the most important part of any public auditor job description. It is what tells potential candidates what the expectations are, so it should be the longest section of the posting.
Formatting the public auditor job responsibilities in your job description is vital. It determines how effectively you communicate the information. First, aim for fewer than eight and more than six bullet points. This is the perfect amount to weed out unqualified readers, but not intimidate those who are a good fit for the position. A recommended strategy for strengthening this section is to use an action verb for the first word of every bullet point. This gives your entire public auditor job description a focus on action, as well as clearly communicating what daily tasks will be like.
To help you when writing, here are some examples that include strong verb choices that specifically relate to public auditor positions:
- Inspect tax returns and income documentation in search of errors, inaccuracies or misleading information
- Organize and maintain records carefully
- Calculate amounts owed and refunds, taking all data into consideration accurately
- Examine documentation to ensure it is in compliance with finance law and policy
Public Auditor Job Specifications
At the end of your public auditor job description, do not forget to include a section dedicated to qualifications and skills. Many hiring managers make the mistake of considering this portion an afterthought, but it is another important section despite its short length. The requirements for candidates will directly affect how many choose to submit an application. You are trying to avoid receiving too many or too few, which means this section should strike a delicate balance. To help with this, consider separating qualifications into mandatory and preferred categories. Mandatory requirements might include certain types of degrees, work experiences, spoken languages or software familiarity. Preferred qualifications are usually softer, including skills, work ethics and other attributes. Before writing this section, it is a good idea to do your research or to inquire with the department manager about what is absolutely mandatory and what is less strict.
The following examples of bullet points that outline public auditor job specifications include both preferences and mandatory qualifications. These qualifications commonly appear on public auditor job descriptions:
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance mandatory
- Minimum of two years working in accounting; four years or more preferred
- All candidates must have full auditing certification
- Analytically minded, strong critical thinking and evaluation skills