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65A2 Career Guide

Air Force

65A2: Auditor

Career transition guide for Air Force Auditor (65A2)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 65A2 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Internal Auditor

$75K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) certification

Compliance Officer

$70K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Specific industry regulations (e.g., HIPAA, SOX)Compliance certification (e.g., Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional - CCEP)

Management Analyst

$85K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Consulting skillsProject managementIndustry-specific knowledge

Fraud Examiner

$80K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) certificationForensic accounting knowledge

Financial Analyst

$80K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Financial modelingInvestment analysisChartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification (optional, but helpful)

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 65A2 training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

As an auditor, you examine complex Air Force systems and operations to understand how they function, identifying key components and their interdependencies to assess efficiency and effectiveness.

This ability to understand complex systems translates directly into designing and optimizing business processes, identifying bottlenecks, and improving overall organizational performance.

Adversarial Thinking

Auditing inherently involves questioning assumptions and identifying potential weaknesses or vulnerabilities in existing processes and controls, requiring you to think critically and anticipate potential issues.

This critical thinking and questioning mindset are invaluable in risk management, fraud detection, and strategic planning, where anticipating challenges and mitigating risks are paramount.

Procedural Compliance

You rigorously adhere to established audit procedures, US Comptroller General, Department of Defense, and Air Force directives to ensure accuracy, thoroughness, and consistency in your work.

Your commitment to following established procedures and maintaining meticulous documentation makes you highly valuable in regulated industries where compliance is critical, such as finance, healthcare, or pharmaceuticals.

After-Action Analysis

You analyze audit findings to identify areas for improvement in financial and management policies and procedures, providing recommendations for corrective action and developing training programs.

This ability to learn from past experiences and translate them into actionable improvements is highly sought after in continuous improvement roles, project management, and organizational development.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Business Process Analyst

SOC 13-1111

You've been meticulously examining systems to identify inefficiencies and recommend improvements. As a Business Process Analyst, you'll leverage these skills to analyze and optimize business workflows, leading to increased productivity and cost savings. Your background in compliance also ensures processes are designed with regulatory requirements in mind.

Fraud Investigator

SOC 13-2099

Your adversarial thinking and attention to detail make you a natural fit for fraud investigation. You've been trained to identify vulnerabilities and inconsistencies in systems, skills directly transferable to detecting and preventing fraudulent activities within organizations.

Compliance Officer

SOC 13-1041

You've rigorously adhered to established procedures and directives. As a Compliance Officer, you'll leverage this experience to ensure organizations adhere to relevant laws, regulations, and internal policies, mitigating risk and maintaining ethical standards.

Management Consultant

SOC 13-1111

You've developed skills in analyzing complex problems, formulating solutions, and presenting recommendations to leadership. Your background in auditing provides a unique perspective on organizational efficiency and effectiveness. As a Management Consultant, you'll use these skills to help businesses improve performance and achieve their goals.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Financial Management and Comptroller School, Sheppard AFB

560 training hours14 weeksUp to 9 semester hours recommended in accounting and auditing

Topics Covered

  • Auditing Standards and Procedures
  • Internal Control Frameworks
  • Statistical Sampling Techniques
  • Data Analytics for Auditing
  • Air Force Financial Management Regulations
  • Fraud Detection and Prevention
  • Report Writing and Communication
  • Audit Planning and Execution

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)70% covered

Requires studying the IIA's International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF), including mandatory guidance (Definition of Internal Auditing, Code of Ethics, and the Standards) and recommended guidance (Practice Advisories, Position Papers, and Global Technology Audit Guides). Familiarity with specific industries or regulations not covered in general military auditing may also be needed.

Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP)80% covered

Requires knowledge of government-specific auditing standards and practices, including those related to public sector accountability. Study materials related to governmental accounting standards (GASB) may be needed.

Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)40% covered

Requires significant study of IT governance, systems development, information security, and disaster recovery. The 65A2's general audit experience provides a foundation, but specific IS audit knowledge is crucial.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Project Management Professional (PMP)

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Automated Civil Engineer System (ACES)Asset Management Software (e.g., IBM Maximo, SAP Plant Maintenance)
Defense Travel System (DTS)Travel and Expense Management Software (e.g., Concur, Expensify)
Comprehensive Cost and Requirement System (CCaR)Cost Accounting Software (e.g., Deltek Costpoint, Oracle Financials)
ABIDES (Air Force Business Intelligence Data Enterprise System)Business Intelligence and Data Analytics Platforms (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
Federal Financial Management System (FFMS)ERP Financial Modules (e.g., SAP S/4HANA Finance, Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP)
Air Force Audit Agency Automated System (AFAAAS)Audit Management Software (e.g., TeamMate, Workiva)

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