Different Types of Auditors | Auditing Course

What are the different types of auditors? This CPA exam (AUD) lecture explains the four main types of auditors — Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), Government Accountability Office (GAO) auditors, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) auditors, and internal auditors — covering their roles, responsibilities, and reporting structures. Ideal for CPA candidates and accounting students studying the demand for audit and assurance services. Try it free at farhatlectures.com — interactive exercises, lectures, simulations, cases, multiple choice, and AI tools for CPA, CMA, EA and students. Video Timeline & Key Concepts: 0:00 Introduction to the types of auditors 0:36 Certified Public Accountants (CPAs): external, independent auditors of financial statements 7:04 Government Accountability Office (GAO) auditors: accountable to Congress 9:05 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) auditors: enforcing federal tax laws through compliance audits 10:28 Internal auditors: assessing performance and supporting corporate governance 14:22 Practice quiz on who governs the CPA license Frequently Asked Questions: What are the four main types of auditors? The four main types are Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), Government Accountability Office (GAO) auditors, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) auditors, and internal auditors. Each has a distinct role, employer, and reporting structure. What do CPAs (external auditors) do? CPAs, also called external or independent auditors, audit financial statements and express an opinion on whether they are fairly presented. Licensing is governed by individual state boards and generally requires about 150 credit hours of education, passing the uniform CPA exam, and relevant experience. What is the role of GAO and IRS auditors? GAO auditors work for the legislative branch and are accountable to Congress, auditing federal agency compliance and program efficiency. IRS auditors, or revenue agents, enforce federal tax laws by performing compliance audits on taxpayer returns. Why are internal auditors considered less independent than external CPAs? Internal auditors are employed directly by the organizations they audit, so the employer-employee relationship limits their independence. To preserve as much objectivity as possible, they typically report to the audit committee or the board of directors rather than to management. Who governs the CPA license? The CPA title and license are granted and regulated by individual state boards of accountancy under state law. They are not issued by the AICPA or the SEC, which is a frequently tested point on the CPA exam. #CPAexam #AUD #typesofauditors #auditing #CPA #internalauditor #assurance #ProfessorFarhat #accountingstudents #CMAexam #enrolledagentexam #accountingcourses #collegecourses #courses