A Day in the Life of an Auditor

In the world of finance and business, the role of an auditor is often seen as both pivotal and intriguing.  Read on to hear from Evan, Audit Associate, on what makes our internal audit team unique and equipped to understand the business from the ground up.

What inspired you to pursue a career in audit? Tell us more about your journey within this field.

I was introduced to Internal Audit during an internship in university, and I immediately appreciated how the role blended analytical work with natural curiosity. I enjoy being able to dig into processes, understand how things work, and identify potential opportunities for improvement. My journey  is both challenging and incredibly rewarding. Every audit exposes me to a new part of the business, new stakeholders, and new concepts to learn. I feel like I’m constantly growing—not just technically, but also as a business professional.

Take us through a day in your life as an auditor. What are some of your responsibilities? What projects stand out as rewarding or challenging?

My day varies depending on whether we’re auditing a head office, distribution center, or factory, but the core of my work is always centered on understanding processes, analyzing data, assessing controls, and collaborating with my team and stakeholders. We work in small teams, which creates a dynamic environment where we can support each other and learn together. One of my most challenging but rewarding missions was the Accounting Operations audit for Nestlé USA. Even with a finance background, I’m not an accountant, so I had to quickly learn my testing areas in depth and apply that knowledge right away. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, but it ultimately strengthened my confidence and technical foundation.

What sets Nestlé Internal Audit apart from the rest?

What sets Nestlé Internal Audit apart is the level of exposure we get—both to the business and to the world. We  collaborate with auditors from all over the globe and travel to different markets while reviewing every part of Nestlé’s operations.  Each mission gives us insight into how the company operates across its brands and regions. The breadth of learning and the global team culture make the experience truly unique.

How does your team collaborate with other departments to aid in your success?

During each audit, we partner closely with stakeholders across every area of the business like finance, supply chain, quality, sales, marketing, procurement, production, and HR to understand their processes and identify where risks may exist. These conversations are essential to forming a complete picture of how the business functions. The openness and support from local teams play a major role in our ability to perform meaningful reviews and provide recommendations that are practical and value-adding.

What advice would you give someone considering a career in Audit? Are there specific skills or experiences that would help a new auditor thrive?

Curiosity and a genuine desire to learn are essential. Every mission is different, so being able to quickly absorb new information, ask thoughtful questions, and adapt to various environments is key. Strong analytical skills help, but so do communication and collaboration, as much of our work involves partnering with teams across the business. If you enjoy continuous learning and want to build a broad understanding of how a company operates, Internal Audit is a great place to start.

What’s the most incredible destination you’ve traveled to with Nestlé for an audit? What unforgettable lessons did you gain from that experience?

I haven’t audited outside of North America yet but global exposure is one of the aspects of Internal Audit that I’m most excited about. I’m slated to audit in Switzerland this summer, and last summer I spent time auditing in Chicago, which was a great experience. I’ve had the opportunity to audit both of our Canadian factories—one in Toronto, Ontario and one in London, Ontario—which provided a great look into how Kit Kat and Drumsticks are produced and deepened my understanding of our Canadian operations. While in Canada, I was able to see the final leg of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and saw Yoshinobu Yamamoto throw a complete game in the World Series, which made the audit’s trip even more memorable.

Another unique part of our job is the flexibility to travel on weekends, which gave me the opportunity to explore parts of the United States I had never visited before—and even check off three national parks. The chance to combine meaningful audit work with opportunities to see new places has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my role.

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