Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: PCI DSS • GDPR • FINRA

Control Testing

Term from Compliance industry explained for recruiters

Control Testing is a systematic way of checking if a company's rules and safety measures are working properly. It's like doing a health check-up for a business's procedures and policies. Compliance professionals use Control Testing to make sure the company is following laws, protecting against risks, and maintaining good business practices. This can include checking financial records, reviewing security measures, or verifying that employees are following required procedures. Similar terms include "Internal Controls Assessment," "Compliance Testing," or "Controls Validation."

Examples in Resumes

Conducted quarterly Control Testing for financial reporting processes

Led team of 5 analysts in annual Control Testing and compliance validation

Developed automated Control Testing procedures reducing assessment time by 40%

Performed Controls Assessment of IT security measures

Managed Compliance Testing programs across multiple departments

Typical job title: "Control Testing Specialists"

Also try searching for:

Compliance Analyst Internal Controls Specialist Risk Assessment Specialist Controls Testing Manager Internal Auditor Compliance Officer Risk and Controls Analyst

Where to Find Control Testing Specialists

Professional Associations

• Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)
• ISACA
• Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

Online Communities

Job Resources

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you develop a control testing strategy for a large organization?

Expected Answer: A strong answer should cover creating a risk-based testing plan, prioritizing critical controls, establishing testing schedules, managing resources, and coordinating with different departments. They should mention reporting methods and corrective action procedures.

Q: How do you handle conflicts between business efficiency and control requirements?

Expected Answer: The candidate should discuss balancing business needs with compliance requirements, demonstrate experience in finding practical solutions, and explain how to get buy-in from stakeholders while maintaining necessary controls.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What steps do you take when you find a control failure?

Expected Answer: Should explain the process of documenting the issue, assessing its impact, communicating with stakeholders, developing remediation plans, and following up to ensure problems are fixed.

Q: How do you determine the appropriate sample size for control testing?

Expected Answer: Should discuss risk assessment, population size considerations, company policies, and industry standards that influence sample size decisions. Should mention both statistical and judgmental sampling approaches.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is the difference between preventive and detective controls?

Expected Answer: Should explain that preventive controls stop problems before they happen (like requiring approvals), while detective controls find issues after they occur (like reconciliations or reviews).

Q: What documentation do you need when testing controls?

Expected Answer: Should mention collecting evidence of control performance, maintaining testing worksheets, noting exceptions, and keeping clear records of who performed the control and when.