3 Questions Asked In An Accounting Interview

Any interview can make you cold feet no matter how much of an expert you are in that field. This is the only time when you feel when you have to give your best because your selection is based on that.

Everyone has different points of view when it comes to interviews. Some might have experienced beginner’s luck passing the interview with flying colors while you might have found it difficult to crack the first round.

Although accounting is a vast field and no answer can cover all the interview questions, you can prepare for some common accounting interview questions and ace your interview. 

Typical accounting interview questions look for evidence of accountancy-related competencies, where examples are the key to demonstrating your suitability. 

Here are 3 Must-Know Accounting Interview Questions & How to Answer

1.What accounting software are you familiar with?

This information may already be in your CV. However, your potential employer is looking to find out if you are familiar with the software or you lifted the information straight from the internet.

When answering this question, don’t just list the software and go silent. Go an extra mile and mention the latest versions, giving your opinion on that which you prefer and would recommend to an organization and why.

If you don’t have experience in accounting, you can just state what you have worked with.

For example, “So far I have worked with QuickBooks, which I find effective in terms of accuracy, speed, and simplicity. However, my willingness to learn has made me take an accounting course to use other accounting software like SAGE. Given an opportunity, I will put in the time to learn more and become better at its usage and learn other software that will be in use at the organization”.

2. Have you helped reduce cost at an organization?

 This is your moment of glory, give two top examples that will go on to show you are a great asset. “Brag” in a modest manner about how you helped your current/previous organization reduce their costs.

For example, “During my first 60 days in office at my XYZ organization, I was able to identify many accounts payables that we could do away with and others we could get cheaper alternatives. For example, the amount of the monthly parking fee we were paying at our office building was so high. I was able to find alternative parking in the building next to our office for a quarter of what we were paying monthly”.

If you don’t have the experience, think of a time you made a judgment call either during your internship period or campus days that you helped someone or even yourself save money. Ride on this and make it count.

3. How do you minimize risk errors in your work?

In the accounting profession, you cannot afford slip-ups as they can cause an organization millions of shillings and even cost you your career. Nobody will want to hire a sloppy person and the employer will want to see how you normally go about ensuring accuracy is always achieved.

When tackling this question during an interview, talk about how you always double-check your work and ask a fellow finance team member to review it for you before submission. For example, “I have a keen eye for details where I always ensure that I double-check my work and ask a member of my team to review the work for me before I can submit”.

This answer will kill two birds with one stone. You will have answered the main interview question and smartly showcased that you are a team player.

Do you have an upcoming interview and would like to be well prepared? Reach out to an interview coach for a mock interview coaching session.