Environmental Auditor

Environmental auditors assess the management of operations in all types of businesses to ensure corporate and government standards of environmental control are being met. Their objective is to detect any existing or potential environmental compliance problems or management system deficiencies, and make recommendations.

Environmental auditors may conduct compliance audits or management system audits:

• Compliance audits assess how well businesses meet standards set out in environmental legislation and guidelines, and internal company guidelines.
• Management performance audits measure conformance to management system criteria or assess the adequacy and effectiveness of management system controls.

Depending on their areas of specialization, environmental auditors may:

• review the overall operations of the businesses they are assessing
• select and manage an audit team
• gather data using questionnaires, on-site inspections, document reviews or interviews
• examine clients' records for appropriate government permits and requirements, safety standards, maintenance and inventory control measures
• review management systems, emergency preparedness and response procedures, employee training (for compliance with corporate and government standards), environmental monitoring programs and waste management efforts
• write final audit reports and discuss findings and recommendations with clients
• make presentations to directors and management
• assist businesses in developing environmental management plans (policies and procedures)
• follow up to ensure corrective and preventive actions in audit findings have been addressed.

When analyzing data, researching policies and regulations, compiling audit results and preparing presentations, environmental auditors primarily work in offices. However, they visit manufacturing plants to conduct interviews, gather data and assess outdoor operations. Inspecting industrial sites involves travel away from the office. Meeting with clients may also involve travel.

Environmental auditors need to possess:

• impartiality
• open-mindedness
• tact
• observance and perceptiveness
• adaptability
• persistence
• ability to critically analyze information and make logical, timely decisions
• ability to communicate effectively in writing and in person
• ability to work effectively both independently and with others.

They should enjoy having clear rules and guidelines for their work, analyzing data, finding innovative solutions to problems and directing the work of others.

Below-average occupational growth is expected in Alberta for 2016 to 2020. Job openings are a result of employment turnover and newly created positions.

Environmental auditors may be employed by or work on a contract basis for:

• engineering and environmental consulting firms
• government departments
• utility companies
• manufacturing firms
• resource-based companies (agriculture, forestry, mining, oil and gas).

Experienced environmental auditors may advance to supervisory and management positions.

Environmental auditors are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 2263: Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety. In Alberta, 85% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

• Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction (PDF)
• Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (PDF)
• Public Administration (PDF)
• Construction (PDF)
• Manufacturing (PDF)
• Transportation and Warehousing (PDF)
• Health Care and Social Assistance (PDF)

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions)
• size of the occupation.

Over 9,400 Albertans are employed in the Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety occupational group. This group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.0% from 2016 to 2020. As a result, 94 new positions are forecast to be created each year, in addition to job openings created by employment turnover. Note: As environmental auditors form only a part of this larger occupational group, only some of these newly created positions will be for environmental auditors.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Auditing Association of Canada (AAC) website: www.auditingcanada.com

Canadian Environmental Certification Approvals Board (CECAB) website: www.cecab.org

ECO Canada website: www.eco.ca

For more information on career planning, education and jobs, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website, call the Alberta Career Information Hotline toll-free at 1-800-661-3753 or 780-422-4266 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Works Centre near you.