New Documentary on PBS Shines Light on Unique, Rewarding Careers in Auditing

Washington, DC – The Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) is supporting a new career exploration documentary premiering on PBS and public television stations starting June 5 about three young adults as they discover how people of all backgrounds and passions forge their own career paths through the auditing profession. Filmed and produced by Roadtrip Nation, “Making it Balance” is made possible by the CAQ’s Discover Audit Initiative, designed to introduce the next generation of diverse and dynamic talent to the world of public company auditing.

“Making it Balance” follows Sobia, Da’Rell, and Leilani – all students or recent graduates – as they embark on a cross-country journey in a 32-foot RV to learn more about the audit profession, dispelling some of the all-too-common misperceptions about what it means to be an auditor. After conducting inspiring interviews with notable current and former auditors about what initially drew them to the profession and how they’ve been able to build successful careers, each of the roadtrippers sets out on their own journey to find their place in auditing.

“Many people don’t realize the critical role auditors play in enhancing the reliability of information people depend on to make some of the most important financial decisions in their lives,” said Center for Audit Quality Executive Director Julie Bell Lindsay. “In today’s COVID-19 environment, a career that offers stability, career progression and the opportunity to learn the inner workings of business – across all types of industries – is a very attractive proposition for job seekers. We hope the authentic stories presented in ‘Making it Balance’ bring awareness to all of the unique ways the audit profession serves as an incubator for business talent and a training ground for future business leaders.”

Sobia, a first-generation college graduate, said that she thought she wanted to become a doctor, but switched to accounting after determining a career in medicine wasn’t right for her. Twenty-one-year old Da’Rell also didn’t initially see himself pursuing a career in auditing, but knew he wanted a career that would both allow him to provide for his family and have an impact on his community and the world. Leilani left her family in Guam to attend college in hopes of pursuing a career that could one day help her open a business to support them.

Traveling from Austin to Boston, the roadtrippers interviewed experienced auditors and business leaders across music, sports, and auditing, learning how working as an auditor can serve as a stepping-stone for a diverse and varied career, combining business acumen, data analysis, and financial knowledge. Those interviewed include Cathy Engelbert, the first woman to lead a Big Four accounting firm in the U.S. and the current commissioner of the WNBA; Cynthia Boon, the internal audit manager at LiveNation; and Bryan Ford, a former CPA who harnessed the business savvy he learned as an auditor to start his own baking business.

As the roadtrippers learned, public companies look to auditors to instill trust in the capital markets. The need for and contributions of the profession have resulted in a projected six percent growth in auditing jobs through 2028, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This need has become even more pronounced amid the economic crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Early-career professionals like Leilani, Da’Rell, and Sobia who are pursuing initial careers in auditing will be critical in helping businesses navigate current and future challenges.

These jobs aren’t just in demand, they also provide potentially lucrative career paths. On average, auditors at public company accounting firms with roughly two years of experience can earn above average salaries. If they stay in the auditing profession long enough, the career path can lead them to become a partner with healthy compensation packages.

“For years, Roadtrip Nation has used storytelling to help all types of learners shed the noise and find their roads in life,” said Mike Marriner, president of Roadtrip Nation. “Due to the current pandemic, people are looking for career security now more than ever, and we would never want people to sacrifice their individual desires or interests just because they think it’s the safer option. We were happy to partner with the CAQ to show working in a generally stable field like auditing means nothing of the sort. The auditors and accountants we interviewed are all vibrant, inspiring people who’ve found fulfillment in their careers. This is a career path promising both security and the ability to find your unique niche in the workforce.”

The one-hour documentary will air nationally on public television stations across the country starting on June 5, and online starting June 4. Learn more about “Making it Balance” at rtn.is/making-it-balance, or by following @RoadtripNation, @TheCAQ, and @DiscoverAudit on Twitter.

About The Center for Audit Quality
The Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) is an autonomous public policy organization dedicated to enhancing investor confidence and public trust in the global capital markets. The CAQ fosters high-quality performance by public company auditors; convenes and collaborates with other stakeholders to advance the discussion of critical issues that require action and intervention; and advocates policies and standards that promote public company auditors’ objectivity, effectiveness, and responsiveness to dynamic market conditions. Based in Washington, DC, the CAQ is affiliated with the American Institute of CPAs. For more information, visit thecaq.org.

Press Contact:
Ben Edwards
Director of Communications
bedwards@thecaq.org
(202) 609-8048