Jobs & employment blog

Here at Hays, we are conscious of the ever-changing working world and the need to provide expert guidance to those on their chosen career paths. One aspect of this ideology is offering support when it comes to interview preparation. In the following article we are going to delve into the world of accounting interview questions and answers. More specifically, we are going to discuss the 10 most common accounting manager interview questions and how best to answer them.

1. Can you tell me a little bit about your background?

This may seem like a generic accounting interview question and candidates often make the mistake of either simply listing their different certificates, places of education and employment, or relaying their whole life story. Rather, this is an opportunity to highlight the soft skills and career achievements that you think are most pertinent to the role you are applying for. If it is an auditing position, then talk about your love for numbers and other posts where keeping highly accurate records was an essential part of the job. If it is a public accounting role, then you need to speak about your experience across different sectors and the interpersonal communication skills needed for that field.

2. In which accounting processes are you proficient?

These types of accounting interview questions are asked by managers to help determine what type of functions you may have performed in past roles. These differ from company to company and department to department, so it’s important that you show as much relevance of these processes to the position you are applying for.

3. Which types of accounting software have you used in a technical capacity before?

Some businesses use company-specific software, whilst others utilise industry standard accounting systems. Obviously, this will differ depending on the company you are interviewing with, so it’s important to research the accounting position in order to be prepared for the questions and answers that may come your way. You should have experience of using some, if not all, of the accounting systems, so it’s recommended you present practical working examples of this knowledge. There may be some accounting software tools that you have not used before, but just show examples of how quickly you were able to pick up and implement other new-to-you systems in your past jobs.

4. Do you have experience of working across different industries?

These kinds of accounting manager interview questions are asked to determine how much of your previous work is pertinent to the role being offered. For this reason, it is essential that you research the relevant information. What type of post are you applying for? If it’s a public accounting position, then you need to highlight your work within different industries. If it’s an internal post, then highlighting your work in that company’s specific sector is more important.

5. Are you a Certified Public Accountant?

Having a current CPA licence shows a level of dedication to the profession, and whilst it is not essential, it can help in obtaining that desired position. However, if you do not have your CPA, not to worry. Explain how you are working towards becoming licensed and your projected timeline. Be sure to mention all the other certifications you have or are currently in the process of obtaining when asked this accounting interview question.

6. Can you tell me about how you handle difficult situations or challenging conversations with others?

One of the common accounting interview questions asked by managers, you should answer it using the situation, action, response technique to provide real-life examples of times where you dealt with discrepancies you found, and how you achieved positive results. Be careful to refrain from any negativity when discussing past colleagues and companies.

7. How do you prioritise your workload and organise your day?

Time management skills are crucial in accounting. Whichever role it may be, you will need to juggle team and client meetings, auditing deadlines, and report facilitation amongst a host of other duties. Here, you need to demonstrate how your flair for great organisation only intensifies when work gets busier. Anything you use to stay up to date and on time can be described – mention every strategy that helps your time management.

8. Can you describe an occasion when you faced difficulties with a tight deadline and how you succeeded?

This is one of the most common accounting interview questions asked and when answering, you should definitely have numerous real-life examples that you can talk about. Use situations, actions and outcomes that most relate to the role.

9. Outside of your client work, what else have you added to your places of work?

This question seeks to discover how you have volunteered your time outside of your normal work remit. Mention anything like work committees and recruitment initiatives you ascribed to, or industry fairs you attended.

10. Why are you interested in working for this company?

By far the most common accounting interview question asked by managers of any firm. Be wary when providing an answer as you need to think about linking your desired career path and the company’s mission. Always check background information about the organisation on their website. Share how your goals align with the company and how your experience best fits their needs.

Ready to kickstart or take the next step in your accounting career, contact us at Hays and we will provide you with all the assistance you need to land your ideal job.