Audit and Assurance Accountants
Overview
Introduction
Audit and assurance accountants are hired by companies to review their financial systems to assure their records are accurate and honest, and to assess and identify where financial risks may exist. Some companies hire these accountants for independent reviews while others may be legally obligated to have audit and assurance accounting work conducted. Audit and assurance accountants work for a wide variety of employers, from international consumer corporations and global public-sector organizations to local accounting firms. There ar...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
The median annual salary for accountants and auditors was $79,880 in May 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The lowest 10 percent earned $50,440 or less, and the highest 10 percent earned $137,280 or more.
GlassDoor.com reported that in June 2024, audit accountants earned an average annual salary of $88,725, with salaries ranging from $74,000 to $106,000. Those with risk ma...
Work Environment
Most audit and assurance accountants work in company offices, and some may work from their home office. Work hours are usually 40 hours per week, with some overtime required in the evenings and weekends to meet deadlines. Accountants work independently as well as with teams. They also spend some time in the workday traveling to clients offices for meetings. The workload can be heavy at times an...
Outlook
Thanks to globalization, an improving economy, and increasingly complex tax regulations, audit and assurance accountants will continue to have good job opportunities. The U.S. Department of Labor predicts 4 percent employment growth, which is as fast as the average, for accountants and auditors through 2032. Audit and assurance accountants will be needed to review financial documents and report...