12 Accountant Job Interview Questions and Answers

Preparation is necessary for every job interview. One of the ways you can prepare is by practicing and becoming familiar with common interview questions for the role, and how to answer them well.

If you are interviewing for an accounting role, here are 9 interview questions and answers you can practice.

9 Accountant Job Interview Questions and Answers

General/Personal Questions

These are questions asked to learn about you, your background and how you fit in their organization. In short, it is for your interviewers to learn who are you are and why you want the job.

1. Tell us about yourself?

I am an accountant with 4 years of experience in financial reporting. In my previous role, I demonstrated strong problem-solving and organizational skills. For instance, I improved our accounts reconciliation process and reduced errors by 20%.

And, I would appreciate the opportunity to apply my skills to contribute to the success of your organization.

2. Why did you choose accounting?

I chose accounting because I enjoy working with numbers and solving financial problems. It is also very satisfying to know that my work directly impacts an organization’s success and decision-making.

Technical Accounting Questions

These questions are to test your theoretical accounting knowledge i.e your understanding of accounting basic concepts.

3. What is the difference between public and private accounting?

Public accounting involves providing services like auditing, tax preparation, and consulting to multiple clients, usually through an accounting firm. Private accounting, on the other hand, focuses on managing the financial records of a single organization, such as budgeting, internal reporting, and payroll.

4. Explain the difference between accounts payable and accounts receivable?

Accounts payable represents money the company owes to suppliers or vendors for goods and services they have received but not yet paid for. Accounts receivable, on the other hand, is money owed to the company by customers for goods or services delivered but not yet paid for.

5. Explain three types of financial statements in accounting?

You just need to explain financial statements like balance sheet, cash flow statement, income statement, etc. As mentioned earlier, this is a test of your theoretical knowledge of accounting core concepts.

Behavioral Questions

These are questions about your past accounting experience, to see how you have handled real-life situations.

6. Tell us about the time you faced a deadline and how you handled it?

In my previous role, I was tasked with preparing financial reports for a board meeting, but I received incomplete data just two days before the deadline.

To make sure the report was accurate and submitted on time, I prioritized the most important part and worked with other team members to fill the data gaps. We also worked overtime to ensure the report was submitted on time.  This taught me the importance of staying calm under pressure and effective time management.

7. What types of accounting software programs are you familiar with?

I am familiar with using softwares like QuickBooks, Tally, etc. In my last role, I used Tally to manage our inventory and reconcile accounts daily and monthly.

Situational or Problem-Solving Questions

These questions are hypothetical questions to test how fast you can apply your knowledge and think on your feet.

8. If you discover an error before a major audit, what would you do?

First, I would assess the nature and extent of the error to understand its impact. Then, I would notify my supervisor immediately and take steps to correct the affected records. I would also document the root cause of the error and take steps to prevent it happening again.

9. How do you check for accuracy in your financial records?

I use a combination of double-entry accounting, regular reconciliations, and automated tools to minimize errors. For example, I cross-check entries daily and use software like QuickBooks to flag discrepancies. I also review financial statements monthly to catch any inconsistencies early.

Note:

Use these questions to practice before the interview. The point is to understand the ideas behind each question so you can respond naturally in your own words during the interview.

Also Read:

9 Practical Ways to Sell Yourself in a Job Interview

20 Strengths and Weaknesses for Job Interviews

3 Tips to Help You Prepare for an Accountant Job Interview

Here are some tips to guide you in preparing for your accountant job interview:

i. Do a thorough research on the company

Before your interview, learn as much as you can about the company’s goals, values, their services/products.

If it is a public company, you can also check out their annual report or financial statements. It will help you answer questions in a way that aligns with the company’s goals.

ii. Understand and learn current accounting software

If you are familiar with the accounting software used in the company like QuickBooks, tally, it can help you stand out. After all, you won’t require much training compared to a total beginner.

iii. Practice how to answer interview questions in an organized way

In the interview, you want to answer questions and present your skills and experiences in a way your interviewers can understand.

The best way is to use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Framing your answers using this method will make it easier for your interviewers to understand.

For example, in my previous role, I noticed some mismatched figures during a bank reconciliation (situation). I reviewed all transactions (task), traced the error to an incorrect entry (action), and corrected it. And this helped my team close the books on time (result).

Conclusion

Every job interview requires adequate research, preparation and practice. By practicing and becoming familiar with some of the accounting questions and answers above, you will be able to perform better in your interview.