What Type Of Person Thrives In Internal Audit, According To An Internal Auditor At Compass Diversified
Macartan highlights the importance of "natural curiosity" and strong communication skills in internal audit, emphasizing the need to build relationships and overcome the perception of auditors as merely "traffic cops." Success in this field requires a positive attitude, a willingness to help, and the ability to adapt to new challenges and people while promoting growth and investment in better systems and personnel.
Communication Skills, Curiosity, Problem-Solving, Positive Attitude, Relationship Building
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Macartan McElroy
Internal Audit
Compass Diversified
Villanove University
N/A
Accounting
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Finance
Video Highlights
1. Strong communication skills are essential for building relationships and extracting information from others.
2. A positive attitude and willingness to help others are crucial for fostering collaboration and overcoming initial resistance.
3. Internal auditors should possess a natural curiosity and enjoy challenges such as meeting new people and working in new environments.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
I think if you have a natural curiosity, it goes a long way because you have to ask questions. You're going to interact with people, you're going to interview people, and you need to draw out information from them. Having solid communication skills is a significant benefit.
Sometimes people think, "I'm a great accountant, I understand accounting theory, practice, and all the updated rules and regulations." That's good. But at the same time, you really have to try your best to make connections with people.
I know some people are shyer. It's kind of funny; some of the folks I work with say they're generally quiet and reserved, but they really open up when they come to work. So, you need to work on those communication skills.
It doesn't matter if you're an internal or external auditor. Some people view us as nothing more than a traffic cop handing out tickets. You want to get past that quickly, work with them, build on that relationship, and have a positive attitude.
When dealing with everyone, I always like to give them the sense that I'm there to help. I'll say, "Let me know what's really going on, and then we can talk it through. If it's not enough, I can help guide you to what you may need to do."
Often, it comes down to who has access to perform certain transactions. People say, "We have a limited staff." I completely understand. But at the same time, we have to be careful; we can't have people with too much access.
If it means we have to grow the business a little, at our company, we're always investing. We're not just looking to cut; we're looking to invest and grow the company, whether that's through better systems or more people. There's a natural progression there.
So, we have to get past the initial hesitation about being the "traffic cop" and realize we're here to help. Again, great communication skills are key. Someone who likes the challenge of going out to new places and meeting new people will go a long way.
Advizer Personal Links
linkedin.com/in/mac-mcelroy