Auditor

Name: Nadine Friedmann
Age: 35
Degree: certified public accountant
Profession: Auditor
Employer: formerly BDO Schweiz

Describe your job in one sentence.

I check whether companies have prepared their financial reports correctly and advise them on economic, tax and legal issues.

What are the three main tasks in your job?

• I audit annual financial statements and financial reports and ensure that they have been prepared correctly and comply with legal requirements.
• I advise companies by identifying financial risks, improvement potential and optimisation opportunities.
• I accompany transformation processes and support companies during reorganisations, mergers or expansions so that they are fit for the future.

What do you think is the best / most exciting thing about this job?

I find it fascinating how deeply I can immerse myself in different companies and industries. Every company has its own history, challenges and its own way of doing business - and I get the opportunity to look behind the scenes and understand these processes.
The combination of analytical work and interpersonal dialogue is particularly exciting for me. I work closely with customers, solve complex issues and help companies to secure their financial stability. This gives me the feeling of creating real added value.
The job also gives me a lot of variety - no two years are the same. New mandates, regulatory changes and economic developments keep me constantly challenged and allow me to develop continuously.

What is the biggest challenge in this job?

• The workload is unevenly distributed - it can be high during the audit period in winter, but I often enjoy more flexibility in summer. Over the years, I've been able to take longer holidays and create a good balance.
• Balancing act between customers and regulations - companies expect efficient processes, while legal requirements demand strict auditing standards. A sure instinct is required here to harmonise quality and customer satisfaction.

What do you need to enter this profession or to be successful in it?

• Analytical thinking and an affinity for numbers - you must be able to understand and correctly interpret financial reports.
• Flexibility and a willingness to learn - every customer has different requirements and every company is different. You must always be able to familiarise yourself with new topics and learn quickly.
• Strong communication skills and diplomacy - you work with customers and authorities and have to communicate complex issues in an understandable way. Sometimes difficult conversations are necessary.

What promotion/further development opportunities are there?

• Your classic career path begins with your diploma as a Swiss certified public accountant, which you complete within the first four years.
• Over time, you can develop internally - from managing your own projects to team leadership and strategic responsibility.
• A switch from auditing to the private sector is also a popular option: Head of Finance, Controlling or CFO are typical positions for experienced auditors.

What would you have liked to have known about this profession as a graduate?

Nobody is perfectly prepared - starting a career is challenging for everyone. Everything is new and you need some time to get used to it, that's ok! With each year you will become more experienced and confident - at some point you will pass on your knowledge to the next juniors yourself.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in this job?

Practical experience counts! Auditing can seem very formal from the outside, but in reality it is extremely varied - especially if you work on mandates that suit you. Your career path is not set in stone - you can focus on different areas. For example, I have specialised in start-ups and NGOs because the dynamic way of working and the personal proximity to clients suit me better than the highly regulated area of listed companies.

In terms of your career, is there anything you would do differently looking back? Why?

No, I would do it again. The insights into large and small auditing firms in particular gave me valuable experience - I can only recommend these perspectives.

Is there anything else you would like to pass on to current students?

Be open to new things, network early on and gain practical experience - not only for your CV, but also to find out what really interests you. The best career path is the one that suits you!
At the same time, don't worry too much, just start with something. It is normal that you only discover what you are passionate about over time. Therefore: try it out, try it out and try it out again.

As of March 2025