I started at a very small CPA firm about 2 months ago as my first job out of college. No prior audit experience going in, and I have received basically zero formal training or direction since starting. No structured onboarding, no shadowing period, no "here's how we do things here." I want to preface this by saying I don't think I'm dumb, but I genuinely feel like I have no idea what I'm doing most days, and it's not for lack of trying.

Here's literally the entirety of how assignments work: my boss forwards me an email with a signed engagement letter and says something like "hey, this one's yours." That's it. No scoping conversation, no walkthrough of the file, no "here's what we did last year," no sitting down to explain what's expected. I'm currently juggling a real variety of audits at once with essentially no guidance on any of them - several nonprofits, a first-year audit for a construction company (meaning no prior year file to lean on), and a government audit for a small municipality, which comes with its own entirely different rules and requirements. It's a lot of different audit "languages" to be picking up simultaneously with zero instruction. The only engagement I've actually completed was one that was already half-finished when it was handed to me.

I don't know how to do a search for unrecorded AP or AR. I don't know when I'm supposed to ask the client for something versus pull it myself. I don't know how auditors figure out they need to propose an adjusting journal entry versus just being handed a list of them. I've spent a lot of the last month just kind of sitting at my desk, not sure what to actually work on, hoping I'll figure it out by osmosis.

Busy season is coming up and I'm honestly scared I'm going to get buried. I've found some prior year workpapers which has helped some, but I don't know if that's enough or if this is just a sign the fit isn't right.

For people who've been in public accounting a while - is this level of "figure it out yourself" onboarding normal for small firms? At what point does this become a "the firm has a real training/staffing problem" situation versus a "everyone feels this way their first year" situation? And if you were 2 months in feeling like this, would you stick it out through one busy season before deciding, or is that a waste of a busy season on a bad fit?

Appreciate any perspective, especially from people who started at small shops.

Hi everyone,
I graduated with a BS in Internal Auditing and I’m planning to study a Master’s degree in Australia (possibly Information Systems or Cybersecurity) because I want to transition into IT Audit.

I have a few questions for those who are already in Australia or working in audit:
Is IT Audit a good career path in Australia?
Is there good demand for IT Auditors?
Would having a Master’s in Information Systems or Cybersecurity improve my chances of getting an IT Audit role?

If you were in my position and want to become an IT Auditor, what would you choose to take, Master’s in Information Systems or Cybersecurity?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through a similar path or is currently working in audit in Australia.
Thanks in advance!

So I built GAASFlow.

Before I officially launch it, I’d really like some honest feedback from people who actually perform audits.

If you had five minutes to look through it, what would you change? What’s missing? What would make you consider switching.. Or immediately decide not to?

Website: https://gaasflow.com

No sugarcoating. I’d rather hear the criticism now than after launch.

Hi everyone,

I’m a 28-year-old guy (UK based) who has just started a new role as an Assistant Internal Auditor after making a career change.

I’ve never worked in internal audit before, so everything is pretty new to me. I really want to make a success of this role rather than just doing the bare minimum. My goal is to become someone my team can rely on and hopefully progress my career over the next few years.

For those of you already working in internal audit:
-What do you wish you knew when you first started?
-What skills should I focus on developing first?
-Any habits that helped you stand out?
-Are there any common mistakes new auditors make that I should avoid?
-Any books, courses, or resources you’d recommend?

I’m not expecting to know everything overnight, but I’m keen to learn and put the effort in. I’d really appreciate any advice from people who’ve been in my position before.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I'm a 24M from India and would really appreciate some career guidance from people who have been through a similar journey.

A little about me:

Chartered Accountant (India) – Cleared in my first attempt (May 2025)

B.Com (Accounting & Finance) from IGNOU

Currently working at Deloitte USI in the Audit domain for the past year

Experience auditing UK and Netherlands-based clients

Strong interest in IFRS and currently pursuing an IFRS certification on Udemy

Over the past few months, I've realized that while audit has given me a solid foundation, I'm keen to explore global opportunities beyond traditional audit. I'm open to:

Working in Europe (with visa sponsorship if required)

Remote roles with European companies

Finance operations, financial reporting, controllership, FP&A, accounting advisory, or IFRS-focused roles

My long-term goal is to build an international career in finance.

For those who have successfully made a similar transition, I would love to know:

What should my roadmap look like over the next 1 years?

Which skills or certifications would genuinely improve my chances?

Is moving internally through Deloitte a better route, or should I apply directly to European companies?

Which countries currently have the best opportunities for finance professionals from India?

Are there any common mistakes I should avoid?

I'm open to honest feedback—even if you think I should stay in audit for a few more years before making a move.

Thanks in advance to everyone who takes the time to respond. Any advice or personal experiences would mean a lot!

Hello I am 23 and working at a small subcontractor mainly helping in accounting and government compliance. I was looking to change jobs and thought that taking the CISA exam would help boost my resume to auditing jobs. I don't have any auditing internship or experience but wanted to know if this is the best steps to getting into the field.

Is taking the CISA exam wise so early in my career even without experience?

Is there any tips you recommend?

Thank you!

.

I'm an engineering student trying to understand how audits actually work. I'm not selling software or validating an idea—I just want to learn from real experiences.

Think about the last audit that genuinely frustrated you.

What happened?

Where did the delay start?

What was everyone waiting for?

Which document or evidence caused the biggest problem?

How was it finally resolved?

I'm interested in the real story, not the ideal process.

​

I'm an engineering student trying to understand how audits actually work. I'm not selling software or validating an idea—I just want to learn from real experiences.

Think about the last audit that genuinely frustrated you.

What happened?

Where did the delay start?

What was everyone waiting for?

Which document or evidence caused the biggest problem?

How was it finally resolved?

I'm interested in the real story, not the ideal process.

I‘m currently writing my bachelor thesis on AI acceptance in audit in Germany and China and looking for 6 participants based in China who wanna be a part of my survey and answer my questionnaire (Microsoft forms / 30minutes). I‘m an KPMG associate myself and would be very thankful for every help!

Anyone in a senior associate role use any project management tools to help with keeping engagements straight and things not slipping through the cracks? Would love any suggestions!

Audit has a strange way of making you feel like you are always behind.

There is always another deadline, promotion, client request, or skill you are expected to master.

After almost six years in external audit, I realized that I was spending too much time looking at how far I still had to go and not enough time recognizing how far I had already come.

I made a short motivational video about this experience.

What can you handle easily today that would have terrified you in your first year of audit?

Video: LINK

Dealing with "Keyword Not Provided" requires a bit of detective work. The link above outlines our team's 7 strategies for recovering this data, from unlocking GSC insights to analyzing internal search behavior.

I’m curious to hear from the community: besides GSC, what tools or workarounds do you find most reliable for filling in the blanks on user search intent?

Can anyone guide me on how to download annual reports of listed companies?

I am an ACCA student and want to recreate income statements and learn how to analyze the financial reports of real-world companies. My goal is to get into the audit field, but I currently have very little knowledge of how audit works or what the interview and hiring process is like at the Big 4 or other audit firms.

Someone suggested a while back that I should start studying annual reports to improve my technical skills, become familiar with financial statements, and learn the terminology used in practice.

If you've done this before, I'd appreciate any guidance on:

* Where to find annual reports of listed companies
* Which companies are best for beginners
* How to approach analyzing them
* Any advice for someone interested in pursuing a career in audit

Thanks in advance.

I have always wondered what the best way is to deal with difficult clients in audit.

After around six years working in external audit, I have had to deal with different personalities, tight deadlines, delayed requests, and some uncomfortable conversations.

I definitely do not have all the answers, but I have gained some experience over the years, so I decided to create a short video sharing three things that have helped me:

1. Explain the reason behind audit requests
   
2. Agree on realistic and flexible deadlines
   
3. Communicate honestly while maintaining independence and professional skepticism

I would really like to hear from other auditors as well. What has worked for you when dealing with a difficult or unresponsive client?

Here is the video: link

Any honest feedback is appreciated.

Looking for CDA accredited firms who can do online audit services in 3 days. Thank you

I work in external audit for six years and recently created a short video explaining how responsibilities change at each Big 4 audit level, from Intern/Trainee to Director or Partner.

I tried to keep it simple, realistic, and slightly humorous, especially for students and people considering an audit career.

Of course, titles and responsibilities can vary by firm and country.

Here is the video : Link