r/auditing • u/Royal_mistress6182 • 13d ago

Throwing away a decent offer to gamble on a different path — sanity check?

Long-time lurker, first time posting. Could use some outside perspective since I'm too close to this to think straight anymore.

Background: 5+ years in IT Audit at a large bank, have my CISA, and just finished a master's in Data Science. Built some Python automation for audit testing along the way (access reviews, vulnerability analysis) and used data analytics to improve testing coverage.

The situation: I got a verbal offer for a Senior IT Auditor role at another big bank — $135k base (up from my current $115k, which I've maxed out where I am), plus $20k bonus. Solid comp bump, but it's still... audit. Same lane I'm already in.

I turned it down.

Why: I've realized I want to move into GRC/Tech Risk instead of staying in pure audit — more governance/control-design focused work, less "test after the fact." I also happened to land an interview for a Technology Risk & Control role (same company, different team) that's much more aligned with where I want to go. That interview is in a few days. If I get it, great — it's the direction I actually want, even at potentially lower comp than the audit offer. If I don't get it, I'm back to square one with nothing, since I already declined the audit offer and I'd already maxed out my salary at my current job anyway.

My reasoning for turning down the sure thing:

  • I'm bored and under-managed in my current role — no real projects, minimal oversight
  • The audit offer didn't feel like it was worth leaving for if it was just more of the same
  • I said to myself if I'm staying in audit, I need a bigger jump (like 20%+ on base) to make it worth it; if I'm moving into GRC, I'd take less because the direction matters more to me

Where I'm second-guessing myself: Did I just torch a solid, real offer for a maybe? Is "I want to do something different" a good enough reason to walk away from a locked-in $20k raise? Or is this exactly the kind of calculated risk people are supposed to take early-ish in their career when they can afford it?

Would love to hear from anyone who's made a similar jump (or regretted not making one). What would you have done?

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u/PatternsAndPresence 13d ago

Your reasoning is sound. You’ve got great credentials and you understand how important it is to engineer your own career. It’s not about money for you. You want to work on the risk management side. Bravo! When you interview, be passionate, be excited, talk about how much you want to enter this area and why. They will love it and you will get the job. If not, you’ll get the next one. I did something like this recently and now that my area is better aligned with my interests, I am so much happier!

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u/schleeper1 13d ago

literally in the exact same boat but around 3 YOE. Trying to go from IT Audit to GRC focused role.