Universitas Gadjah Mada
Faculty of Economics and Business

Who here wants to become an auditor after graduating? Auditor is one of the professions many college graduates seek, especially those from the Accounting Study Program.

So, what skills should those who want to become auditors possess? Dionesia A.R., Assurance Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Papua New Guinea's leading professional services firm, mentioned several essential skills for college graduates aspiring to pursue a career as auditors. One of them is strong analytical skills. This skill is necessary for evaluating financial data and identifying financial discrepancies. "One of the skills an auditor must have is sharp analytical ability," said this alumna of the Accounting Study Program at FEB UGM, Saturday (6/8) in the Careertopia webinar titled "To Dive is to Know the Depth," organized by the Gadjah Mada Accounting Association (IMAGAMA) FEB UGM. Careertopia is a program by the Career Preparation Department of IMAGAMA that features alums of the Accounting Study Program who work in tax consulting and auditing firms.

Dionesia conveyed that another essential skill for auditors is effective communication. Good communication skills are crucial as auditors must interact with clients and management when reporting audit findings. "Other skills auditors must have include maintaining integrity, meticulousness, intrapersonal skills, legal awareness, adaptability, and good time management," she explained.

Meanwhile, Management Consultant Henri Widiyanto from McKinsey & Company shared his experiences regarding different types of consulting, including management consulting. He explained that a consultant must have problem-solving and communication skills. "Without good communication skills, the answer to the client’s problem will still not be solved," he said.

Senior Tax Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Irhaz Anandia, explained the skills needed to work in taxation. Several skills, especially soft skills, are required in the field of taxation, including good negotiation skills, time management, and effective communication.
"Meanwhile, the hard skills needed include tax certification, tax compliance, and tax software proficiency," he concluded.

Reportage: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum

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