The transition from an IT auditor to a management role in governance and compliance represents a natural and strategic career progression for experienced professionals. The skills and extensive experience accumulated as an auditor provide a solid foundation for a successful career shift that many individuals might not initially consider.
This article delves into how IT auditors can leverage their unique expertise to excel in governance and compliance roles, outlining the transferable skills, key responsibilities, and the strategic advantages of making this career move.
Information technology (IT) and cybersecurity auditors play a pivotal role in safeguarding the security and integrity of an organization’s IT systems and data. Their core responsibilities include meticulously identifying vulnerabilities, conducting comprehensive risk assessments, and ensuring strict compliance with security policies and regulatory requirements. These tasks demand a deep and intricate understanding of IT systems, emerging cybersecurity threats, and fundamental risk management principles.
A Career Transition
While many auditors might not immediately recognize the potential, their specialized skill set and rich experience are readily applicable to management roles in governance and compliance. The years of knowledge gained from conducting audits, such as understanding an organization’s complex IT infrastructure, pinpointing potential risks, and recommending effective corrective actions, is invaluable in a managerial position within governance.
In a governance role, former auditors can effectively leverage their expertise to develop, implement, and enforce robust policies, procedures, and controls. Similarly, in a compliance role, they can utilize their in-depth knowledge to diligently monitor the organization’s adherence to industry standards and legal regulations. This seamless transition allows auditors to apply their existing skills in a new, strategic capacity.
Role of a Governance or Compliance Manager
A governance and compliance manager plays a critical role in ensuring that an organization’s technology and cybersecurity practices align seamlessly with both internal standards and legal requirements. They act as a vital bridge between technology operations, management and regulators.
Governance and compliance managers have broad responsibilities some of which include developing and implementing policies that address all aspects of technology, cybersecurity and data governance. They oversee compliance and monitoring for ensuring that the organization adheres to relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards.
They promote awareness by educating employees about security policies, best practices, risks and rules. Additionally, they support incident response by developing and managing incident response plans to address security breaches and other incidents. In some organizations, they oversee vendor relationships, ensuring that third-party vendors adhere to security and compliance standards.
Transferable Skills and Experience
IT and cybersecurity auditors possess a diverse array of skills and a wealth of experience that can be effortlessly transferred into a governance and compliance manager role. Ideally, auditors should consider making this career transition before reaching ten years as a senior auditor to avoid becoming pigeonholed and limiting their career growth potential.
Deep Understanding of Cybersecurity Risks and Threats
Auditors have a tested ability to identify, assess, and prioritize potential threats, coupled with extensive knowledge of current attack vectors, vulnerabilities, and emerging trends in the threat landscape. Throughout their careers, they have analyzed these elements countless times during audit planning and execution.
Experience Developing and Implementing Policies and Procedures
Auditors have reviewed and analyzed numerous policies and procedures, giving them a clear understanding of what is involved in creating effective policies that align with industry best practices, regulatory requirements, and organizational goals. They also possess practical knowledge of implementing these policies for ensuring organization-wide adherence.
Knowledge of Relevant Laws and Regulations
Auditors, especially those in highly regulated industries, possess a thorough understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that govern technology, cybersecurity, and data protection. This includes familiarity with industry-specific regulations and international standards.
Experience Conducting Assessments
Auditors have conducted countless assessments of an organization’s security posture, identified areas of weakness, and recommended corrective actions that are easily understandable for non-technical members of management.
Strong Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Auditors possess the ability to effectively communicate complex technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences. They can build relationships and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels of the organization, ensuring clear and concise communication of findings and recommendations.
Expertise in Data Privacy and Protection
Auditors have a deep understanding of data privacy principles and best practices, and are adept at implementing measures to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with data protection regulations.
Familiarity with Incident Response and Business Continuity
Auditors possess knowledge of incident response procedures and the ability to develop and implement business continuity plans. This ensures the organization can minimize the impact of security incidents and maintain continuous operations.
Applying Audit Skills to Governance and Compliance
As industry or regulatory obligations continue to evolve and grow in number for technology leaders, they have to put in place teams that can support this growing need for ongoing monitoring and continuous reporting of technology, cybersecurity and data risk.
Organizations seeking to enhance their governance and compliance functions should strongly consider looking within their audit departments or externally for candidates with strong audit backgrounds. These individuals possess the essential skills, experience, and mindset needed to excel in these critical roles, making them invaluable assets in strengthening an organization’s cybersecurity posture.
For auditors themselves, the skills and experience they possess make them highly suitable for roles in governance and compliance management leveraging their in-depth understanding of audit procedures, risk management, and regulatory compliance. This makes them uniquely qualified to effectively oversee an organization’s governance program and its adherence to relevant laws and regulations.
Furthermore, auditors possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, enabling them to identify and assess potential risks and vulnerabilities within an organization’s systems and processes. Their meticulous attention to detail and ability to interpret complex information allows them to effectively monitor and evaluate the organization’s compliance with internal policies and external regulations.
Additionally, auditors’ extensive experience in communicating audit findings and recommendations to senior management and stakeholders means they can effectively articulate complex compliance technical issues in business language that many technology leaders and teams struggle to do.
They can provide clear understandable guidance on necessary corrective actions, bridging the gap between technical and business requirements within the organization’s overall strategic objectives.
