An audit is an independent examination of a company’s accounts and financial records. It leads to the issue of a report on the company’s financial statements to help ensure management, shareholders, investors and others in their use of the financial statements.

Throughout the audit process, you will have opportunities to:

• understand your client’s business, including its critical success factors, business processes, and internal controls
• visit your client’s premises and observe how business operates. You could be visiting banks, power plants, container terminals, mines, department stores, food processing factories, airports, and many other interesting businesses
• meet your client company’s senior management and discuss with them the company’s business strategies and operations, as well as provide feedback based on your audit findings
• analyse the company’s financial performance and financial position
• understand your client’s requirements and manage the project and the professional service team to deliver quality services
• participate in initial public offerings on stock exchanges such as in Hong Kong, mainland China, London, and New York. You will work alongside other professionals such as investment bankers, lawyers and appraisers, and develop a good understanding of the capital markets in different countries
• work as a team with other professionals, locally and overseas, and share knowledge to create value for your clients.

And it is not just about auditing financial statements. You may be involved in analysing and assessing clients’ business processes and internal controls, and recommending areas of improvement to your clients. You may even assist clients in proposed merger and acquisition transactions.

You will be exposed to clients in diverse industries in different geographical locations. You will have opportunities to understand and experience how a broad spectrum of organisations operate and the way companies formulate strategies and monitor performance. Your experience as an audit professional will also equip you with the communication, project management, and other leadership skills which are crucial to succeed in your career.