Summary: A GAO evaluator spoke on the fact that the career paths for the electronic data processing (EDP) auditor have recently expanded in such a manner as to make this profession one of the most widely publicized and sought after in the Government system. With the advent of new technology, the need for an efficient and speedy method to deal with the voluminous paperwork associated with the Government has been highlighted. The traditional methods of accounting for expenditures and revenues are no longer adequate to deal with the problem. The solution lies in a combination of further technology and the evolution of today's auditor into the information systems auditor of tomorrow. The EDP auditing skills needed by the year 2000 may require extensive knowledge in the following areas: telecommunications; teleprocessing; microcircuitry; firmware; embedded systems technology; and laws involving privacy, security, and fraud, interstate data transfer, and international data transfer. All of this will require an identification of career paths for the EDP auditor and identification of necessary skill levels, training and career development plans, and selection criteria for training courses. The evaluator stated that there must be a concerted effort to ensure that the advanced technology of tomorrow will have the skilled personnel needed to effectively use it.
