Auditing plays a pivotal role in economic sustainability by ensuring financial transparency and reinforcing public trust. However, high rates of auditor turnover and retention difficulties seriously threaten the long-term effectiveness of the profession. To address the limitations of prior quantitative research and to gain a deep understanding of the lived experience of leaving the auditing profession, this study adopted an interpretive phenomenological approach. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 20 former auditors possessing 5 to 29 years of professional experience. The interviews were analyzed using a three-stage coding procedure, and rigor was ensured through member checking, triangulation, and peer debriefing. The phenomenological analysis revealed four core themes: (1) entering the profession with hope, (2) gradual erosion of hope, (3) crisis of meaning and the moment of departure, and (4) reconstruction of meaning. The erosion of hope—identified as the primary barrier to retention—emerged from intense psychological pressure, excessive working hours, value conflicts, and structural constraints, ultimately culminating in a profound crisis of meaning and the pursuit of more dynamic career paths. The final phase involved redefining professional identity and achieving renewed satisfaction, underscoring that leaving auditing represents a multidimensional existential process intertwined with identity, psychological, and ethical transformations. The findings demonstrate that auditor turnover extends far beyond a mere occupational decision. Consequently, the study highlights the urgent need for organizational interventions - including psychological support, enhanced work–life balance initiatives, and flexible professional development pathways - to reduce turnover and retain experienced human capital within the auditing profession.