Bermudians seeking an entry point to the corporate business world that dominates the Island's economy can study for, and sit, the required professional qualification without leaving Bermuda.

Remarkably internal auditing, a profession that has countless world-wide opportunities and many within Bermuda's economic corporate powerhouse, has only a handful of Bermudians within its ranks on the Island.

It is estimated less than than one-in-ten of Bermuda's more than 100 internal auditors are Bermudians, yet the career is readily available to Islanders who need not even leave Bermuda to study and sit the internationally recognised professional exam.

Encouraging more Bermudians to consider joining the profession either straight from college and university, or by making a career-switch, is the aim of the Institute of Internal Auditors' Bermuda chapter.

And the institute, which celebrates its fifth anniversary this year, stresses that you don't need to be a "number cruncher" to be an internal auditor because the career covers a spectrum of requirements and areas of speciality.

For example, engineering and law is institute secretary Jasmine Gilpin Edwards' background. An internal audit manager with Government, she entered the profession after working as an attorney who dealt with cases involving white collar crime.

In many ways it was a natural progression as identifying fraud and using internal forensics are all part of the world of internal auditing.

Likewise, other professional types with expertise in other fields can apply their skills to internal auditing if they make the switch.

"People are not aware of what internal auditing is and think you have to be an accountant, but you don't have to be. Because we look at a whole spectrum of risks," she said.

"Internal auditing is different from external auditing. We look at an operation's risks, computer systems, how a company or organisation does its controls, risk governance.

"There are different aspects of internal auditing. There is a variety of work. You might be working with an insurance company or Government. Every kind of business needs to be audited."

That is an important point, said institute treasurer Andrew York. He is head of internal audit at Bank of Bermuda and moved into the world of auditing from a background in accounting.

"There are more than 100 internal auditors in Bermuda. We have about 89 members and of those there are only about ten who are Bermudian," he said.

"The opportunities for those ten and for other Bermudians is great. We want to bring more Bermudians into the profession and tell them what a great opportunity it is to get into now.

"The number of internal auditors in Bermuda has grown in the last few years."

A Bermudian can study for and take the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) exam in Bermuda. The qualification is recognised around the world, a virtual passport to a career in any country of choice.

In an effort to present the career possibilities to Bermuda at large the institute intends to hold an open house event in August.

President of the Bermuda chapter of Institute of Internal Auditors is Owen Martin, who is vice president of Butterfield Bank's group internal audit. He said: "It will entice students coming back to Bermuda from college or high school students who may be going to college.

"Internal auditing is gaining popularity but not enough Bermudians are aware of it, that's what we are hoping to change and for more to look it as a career opportunity."

He said the number of internal auditors required in Bermuda is growing as greater corporate regulations are introduced on the Island.

"There is greater recognition that internal auditing is important. There are increasing career opportunities and professional opportunities for training. We want to get that message to young Bermudians or those who want a career change."

The institute has started offering scholarships as a further incentive to attract Bermudians to the profession.

You don't have to be a "wizard at maths" to be an internal auditor, said Mr. Martin, although some acumen in business or at least a four-year degree (any subject) is a starting point to move towards sitting the CIA exam. Having a flair for attention to detail is another important attribute for potential internal auditors.

During the coming months the institute will be holding a number of courses with experts in the field, starting with "Controls are Everybody's Business course two" in June.

For further details of the Bermuda chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors, visit http://www.theiia.org/chapters/bermuda