Top 50 Accountant Interview Questions and Answers (Examples Included)
When you’re trying to land a new accounting position, the accounting interview questions you’ll face can be doozies. While you’re going to see some classic ones – like the infamous “Tell me about yourself” – you’re also going to have to tackle some surprising ones.
Luckily, preparing for the unexpected isn’t as challenging as you’d think. If you want to bend those accounting interview questions to your will, here’s how to make that happen.
How to Answer Accounting Interview Questions
Before we dig into the actual accountant interview questions you’ll tee off against, let’s spend a moment on something that’s equally important. You need to know how to answer these questions properly, particularly because you could face stiff competition.
Overall, there are 1.32 million people working in accounting jobs in the US, so at least a few of the other candidates likely have strong skills. So, how do you make sure you get these questions right? By embracing a winning strategy.
To begin, consider what the hiring manager is trying to find. Trust us; they have a perfect candidate in mind. What you need to do is position yourself as close to that ideal as possible while ensuring you remain genuine and honest.
MIKE'S TIP: While it may be tempting to hide the fact that you don’t know the answer to an accounting interview question, don’t. If you’re asked to define or describe something, and you have no clue what it is, admit it. Then, pivot the conversation. How do you do that? By discussing how you’d figure out the answer. That demonstrates your resourcefulness, problem-solving skills, agility, and ability to function under pressure. All of that can work in your favor, usually more so than trying to guess, not seeming confident, or being blatantly wrong.
While every accounting role can be a bit different, much of what the hiring managers want to find is the same. They are looking for critical thinkers with superior math skills and strong communicators with prior experience using key pieces of software. Candidates with time management and organizational skills are always going to be favored, as well as those who can work well as part of a team but also handle their responsibilities independently. Having an understanding of relevant laws and regulations is also critical.
IMPORTANT: These are skills and qualities that are usually desirable in an accountant. But as we often discuss on this blog, you need to find out what skills and qualities your specific company/firm is looking for. The best way to do this is by going over your accountant job description with a fine-tooth comb.
Now that you have a solid idea of what the hiring manager is looking for, you have to find a way to convey those details during your interview. Plus, you have to find opportunities that let you stand out from the competition, particularly since most will have credentials similar to yours.
Usually, behavioral interview questions are where you’ll have a chance to shine. But these frequently seem like the trickiest ones to answer. You have to discuss your past experience or how you think you’d act if you encountered various scenarios. Technically, there is no right or wrong answer. However, that doesn’t mean some responses aren’t better than others.
Nailing behavioral interview questions typically requires a two-step approach. First, it’s time for the STAR method. With that approach, you can turn your interview answers into compelling stories, making them tons more engaging than your typical response.
But you can’t stop there. If you want your response to stand out like the north star in the sky, take it up a notch with the Tailoring Method. With that, you can personalize your answers and speak to the company’s or hiring manager’s needs. You are highlighting your capabilities in a way that brings them value, and that’s critical if you want to make a genuine connection.
In fact we we wanted to let you know that we created an amazing free cheat sheet that will give you word-for-word answers for some of the toughest interview questions you are going to face in your upcoming interview. After all, hiring managers will often ask you more generalized interview questions!
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Top 3 Accounting Interview Questions
Now that you have a strategy to answer accounting interview questions, you might be feeling pretty pumped. Having a great approach feels good, no doubt about it. But that doesn’t mean a few examples won’t help.
Here are the top 3 accounting interview questions you’ll probably face and tips for answering them.
1. How do you track incoming accounting legislation and regulatory changes?
Laws and regulations that impact the accounting world change surprisingly often. With this question, the hiring manager is trying to ensure that you do your part to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings.
EXAMPLE ANSWER:
“I’ve found that using a multi-faceted approach allows me to track upcoming accounting legislation and regulatory changes effectively. First, I subscribe to several industry publications and am also a member of a professional organization that sends out newsletters regarding these topics. Second, I follow thought leaders, publications, and specific regulatory bodies on social media, all of which help me stay informed.
“Finally, I created Google Alerts that include keywords relating to these topics. That way, I receive a notification when an article is posted that aligns with the criteria, helping me catch breaking news stories quickly.”
2. How would you explain a complex accounting concept to someone who isn’t as familiar with the field or the terminology?
In many cases, accounting professionals need to convey complex concepts to stakeholders that don’t work in accounting. As a result, the hiring manager wants to know that you can do so effectively.
EXAMPLE ANSWER:
“Generally, I find the best approach is to use analogies if a term isn’t widely used outside of the world of accounting. I try to relate it to a topic that may feel familiar to them. For example, I may describe a ledger as a record-keeping system that’s not unlike a database, as most people are familiar with databases, at least conceptually.
“For topics that don’t translate well into other areas of expertise, I may also use examples. In my past role, I created samples of many common forms and reports that featured descriptions and definitions for various terms. That allowed me to provide handouts to those who could benefit from the information.”
3. Errors can be detrimental in accounting. How do you reduce the chance that you’ll make a mistake?
As the question suggests, making mistakes in an accounting role leads to trouble. Here, the hiring manager wants to know that you are diligent about avoiding mistakes and can check your own work with ease.
EXAMPLE ANSWER:
“I use a multi-step approach to help reduce my chances of making an error when inputting financial information. First, I always double-check any entries. Usually, that only takes a moment, and it allows me to catch the vast majority of typos before I complete the given task.
“Second, many accounting solutions have built-in checks that I make sure to take advantage of when there’s an opportunity. Finally, I always review any outputs caused by the information I added, as incorrect numbers may lead to calculation results that are clearly incorrect, signaling to me that there’s a mistake I need to address immediately.”
47 More Accountant Interview Questions
Here are 47 more interview questions for accountants you’ll likely cross paths with:
- How would you define the role of an accountant?
- Which skills do you think are essential for accountants?
- What accounting software solutions are you familiar with?
- Can you describe an accounting process that you helped develop or improve?
- Tell me about a time you were able to reduce the cost of a critical process or procedure?
- Can you tell me about a time when you had to work with a particularly difficult client? How did you handle the situation?
- Describe a past experience where you were faced with an incredibly tight deadline. What did you do to make sure you could hand over the deliverable on time?
- Tell me about a time when you had to discuss a complex accounting concept with someone who wasn’t familiar with it. How did you make sure they understood?
- Please define and describe the three kinds of financial statements and what they contain.
- If you spot an error in another accounting professional’s work, what do you do?
- Can you tell me about a time when you made a mistake? What did you do once it was spotted?
- What is the difference between public and private accounting?
- What impact do you think AI and automation will have on accounting?
- Do you have prior experience with ERP systems? If so, which ones?
- Describe one of the biggest challenges in the accounting field and how you strive to overcome it.
- Please describe your experience with Microsoft Excel.
- Why did you choose accounting as a career?
- What is the difference between accounts payable and accounts receivable?
- Do you have any certifications? Do you plan to get any in the near future?
- When tax season arrives, are you open to working long hours?
- Which accounting skill do you like using the most? What about the least?
- Describe your experience with developing business metrics.
- Can you tell me about a time you and another accountant did not see eye to eye? How did you handle the situation?
- In your previous positions, what processes have you used to estimate bad debt?
- Describe your auditing and fraud analysis experience.
- What are two types of special journals?
- With double-ledger accounting, what ledger elements need to be equal?
- What is the minimum number of ledgers a company needs if it has four bank accounts for payment processing?
- Why is fraud easier to perpetrate with journal entries instead of ledgers?
- What role do you think blockchain will play in the future of the accounting field?
- Why is compliance vital in accounting?
- Describe your business metrics monitoring experience.
- How does a major equipment purchase impact a company’s financial statements?
- How can accounting professionals benefit from big data knowledge?
- Describe the difference between accounting and auditing.
- How do you determine the reliability of accounting information that’s given to you by an outside party?
- How do you stay on top of emerging trends in accounting?
- Do you believe you work best when you’re on-site, or is remote work a better fit?
- What attracted you to this firm?
- Did you learn anything unexpected while studying accounting in college?
- If you weren’t working in accounting, what field would you pursue instead?
- What about accounting do you enjoy most?
- Do you dislike anything about accounting?
- If you saw a colleague intentionally alter a client’s books to reflect inaccurate information, what would you do?
- What kind of management style helps you stay motivated?
- Which do you prefer, formal training or a mentor/mentee approach to learning?
- If you had a chance to acquire any accounting skill that you don’t currently have, what would it be and why?
5 Good Questions to Ask at the End of an Accounting Interview
As your interview begins to draw to a close, you should get a chance to ask the hiring manager a few questions. Make sure you are ready for this. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the job and if it’s actually right for you.
Plus, as Indeed puts it, “Having your questions prepared shows the interviewer that you researched the company and the position.” That makes you seem more enthusiastic about the role, and that matters.
If you can’t figure out what to ask, here are some questions that can work in most situations.
- Can you describe a typical day in this accounting role?
- How will this accounting job change over the next 12 months? What about three years?
- What trait do you think is essential for those who want to succeed in this accounting role?
- Are there any major accounting projects on the horizon?
- How many accounts/clients will this role support?
Putting It All Together
Ultimately, landing an accountant interview is exciting, but it’s also okay to be a bit nervous about what’s to come. A new job usually means taking a step forward in your career, and that can be a lot of pressure, particularly with the types of interview questions for an accountant you’ll usually face.
But, by making use of the tips above and reviewing the accounting interview questions, you can be ready. You’ll have a strategy that showcases you as an amazing candidate, allowing you to demonstrate to the hiring manager why you’ll be a great addition to their team.
FREE : Job Interview Questions & Answers PDF Cheat Sheet!
Download our "Job Interview Questions & Answers PDF Cheat Sheet" that gives you word-for-word sample answers to some of the most common interview questions including:
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Mike Simpson ( Co-Founder and CEO )
Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com.
His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan, Penn State, Northeastern and others.
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