The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Graduate Scheme / Internship Programme
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Foundational audit methodology, evidence gathering, basic system navigation, professional communication.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivering accurate workpapers with minimal supervision.
- Demonstrating a strong understanding of core audit principles.
- Proactively identifying minor issues and suggesting improvements.
- Successfully completing assigned training and entry-level certifications.
- 2
Junior Analyst / Coordinator in a Regulated Industry
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Process understanding within a specific domain (e.g., quality control, health & safety administration), data entry and verification, adherence to procedures.
You're ready to move on when
- Experience in a role requiring high attention to detail and adherence to strict processes.
- Comfortable working with large datasets and business systems.
- Ability to articulate how a process works and identify potential weaknesses.
- A clear desire to move into an assurance-focused role.
- 3
IT Support / Junior Systems Administrator
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Technical understanding of system configurations, user access management, data logging, troubleshooting, basic SQL.
You're ready to move on when
- Strong technical aptitude and understanding of IT infrastructure.
- Experience with system configurations and security settings.
- Ability to pull and interpret system logs and reports.
- An interest in the 'control' aspect of IT systems rather than just maintenance.