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Preparing For An Accounting Interview

November 26, 2019

In general, people tend to make two devastating mistakes when being interviewed. The first is, failing to listen to the question. The second is attempting to answer questions with nearly no preparation. Practicing and preparing for your interview is a key component in the application process and can either make or break your chances for getting the job you want

It is best to aim to know your details by memory and practice refining your answers to the behavioral questions listed below. Make sure you prepare well ahead of time, so when the time comes for the interview, all you have to do is relax and show off all your experiences.

Preparing For An Accounting Interview

Why do you want to change jobs? This is one of the very first questions interviewers ask. Be ready for it! Answer honestly and explain whether you are currently in a dead-end position or locked out of advancement opportunities. The interviewer will understand if your job has become routine, and void of learning experiences, or if you feel your present employer is losing ground to competition through no fault of yours. Choose your words carefully; instead of saying that you hate your boss, choose to rephrase it as “unfortunately, the culture of our department has changed.”
Describe a time when you helped to reduce costs at a previous accounting job. Accountants should generally be able to reduce costs and this is a major part of why employers hire them. Describe a time when you reduced costs unexpectedly through your personal innovation or diligence. Know the financial details of your success available in case your interviewer asks you to elaborate.
Be able to outline and explain the three financial statements. 1) The balance sheet highlights a company’s assets, liabilities, and shareholders’ equity 2) The income statement outlines the company’s revenues and expenses 3) The cash flow statement outlines the cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities.
Provide an outline of an accounting report that you have prepared in the past. Demonstrate your experience in ensuring the upkeep of different accounting principles, practices, and procedures to assure accurate and high-quality financial statements and reporting.
Describe a time when you’ve made an accounting error and how you handled it. Feature a situation where this occurred at your previous firm, regardless of it was a small or large error, and include the lessons learned and how you took responsibility to resolve the problem.
Describe which accounting applications you are familiar with. There are numerous applications out there but Interviewers are looking to see that you're aware of more than one application and have knowledge of the tools of the profession. As well as discussing your preferences you could also talk about recent developments in relevant software.

The Takeaway

Landing an interview is only half the battle, now you really want to set yourself apart from the other accountants, auditors or finance specialists applying for the job. Some questions you'll get when you're interviewing as an accountant, therefore, are industry-specific. But others are common in any accounting interview, regardless of industry. Actively preparing for your interview, including practicing answers to common accounting interview questions, will help you make a great first impression.

Contact us today, at Cartier CPA's our goal is to provide clients with the highest level of respect and quality of service.

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