Prepare for your Accountant interview. Understand the required skills and qualifications, anticipate the questions you may be asked, and study well-prepared answers using our sample responses.
This question can help the interviewer get to know you as a person and understand why you are passionate about accounting. Your answer should reflect your personality, interests or background.
Answer Example: "I’ve always been interested in numbers and finances, so I decided to major in accounting in college. After graduation, I worked as an accountant for a small business for several years before deciding to pursue my Certified Public Accountant license. I loved working with numbers so much that I wanted to continue doing so in a professional setting."
This question can help the interviewer determine if you have any experience working with the type of tax preparation they offer. If you do, share your experience and how it helped you learn more about accounting. If you don’t, explain what type of tax preparation you would like to learn more about.
Answer Example: "I’ve worked with tax preparation for both personal and business taxes. In my last position, I helped prepare taxes for both small businesses and individual clients. I found that working with personal taxes was easier because I could focus on one person at a time instead of multiple businesses. However, I also enjoyed working with business taxes because it allowed me to learn more about how businesses operate."
Employers ask this question to learn more about your unique skills and abilities. They want to know what makes you stand out from other candidates, so it’s important to highlight your most impressive qualifications. When answering this question, think of a few things that make you unique from other accountants. These could be specific skills or experiences that you have.
Answer Example: "I believe my experience and education set me apart from other accountants. I have a Bachelor’s degree in accounting, as well as a Master’s degree in business administration. My education has given me the knowledge necessary to perform complex financial calculations and manage company finances effectively. In addition to my academic qualifications, I have five years of professional experience working as an accountant. During this time, I have developed strong interpersonal skills that allow me to work well with others."
Accountants often work with numbers and data, which can be stressful. Employers ask this question to make sure you have strategies for handling stress in the workplace. In your answer, share two or three ways you relieve stress. Try to choose methods that are not too personal or offensive.
Answer Example: "I find that taking breaks throughout the day helps me stay focused on my work. I also like to exercise regularly, so I take advantage of the company gym or go for a walk around the block. Another way I relieve stress is by talking to coworkers. Sometimes, just sharing my thoughts with someone else can make me feel better."
This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your work ethic and how you’ve contributed to the success of previous companies. When answering this question, it can be helpful to focus on an accomplishment that relates to the job description or highlights a skill you have.
Answer Example: "My biggest accomplishment in the working world is becoming an accountant. I’ve always loved numbers, so when I graduated from college with a degree in accounting, I was so excited to start my career. Since then, I’ve worked hard to become an expert in financial reporting and accounting. My goal is to one day own my own business, so I’ve been saving up my salary to someday start my own company."
Employers ask this question to see if you can sell yourself. They want to know why you are the best candidate for the job. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight your strongest skills and why they are relevant to the role. You can also mention any certifications you have or any other unique qualities that make you an ideal candidate.
Answer Example: "I believe I am the best candidate for this position because of my extensive experience as an accountant. I have been working in accounting for five years now, and during that time I’ve learned how to manage budgets, create financial reports and manage accounts receivables and payables. My knowledge of accounting software like QuickBooks and TurboTax has also helped me save companies time and money when it comes to managing their finances."
The interviewer may ask this question to see how you stay current with the latest trends in accounting. They want to know that you have the skills and knowledge to keep their company’s finances safe and secure. In your answer, explain that you are always looking for ways to improve your knowledge of accounting practices. You can also mention any certifications or training you’ve completed recently.
Answer Example: "I am passionate about my career as an accountant, so I make sure to stay up-to-date on all the latest changes in the industry. I subscribe to several newsletters and blogs that provide helpful tips and tricks for managing finances. I also take advantage of free webinars offered by many companies to learn more about their services. By doing this, I’m able to learn more about different companies and stay knowledgeable about the latest accounting trends."
This question can help the interviewer determine your level of experience with accounting software. If you have previous experience using specific programs, mention those first. If not, list any computer programs you’ve used in the past and how you feel about them.
Answer Example: "I’m familiar with Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets and QuickBooks. I’ve used Excel for several years now, so I’m comfortable creating spreadsheets, calculating formulas and analyzing data. I also know how to use Google Sheets for basic spreadsheet functions like calculating sums and averages. Finally, I’ve had some experience using QuickBooks to track business expenses."
This question is a great way to test your knowledge of accounting principles. Double-entry accounting is a system used by accountants to keep track of financial transactions. It’s important to understand how this system works so you can apply it to your work as an accountant.
Answer Example: "Double-entry accounting is a system in which every transaction is recorded twice. The first entry records the transaction as either an expense or income, while the second entry records the opposite transaction type. For example, if I buy lunch with my coworkers, that would be recorded as an expense. However, if I sell some of my products at work, that would be recorded as income."
This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you have the skills and qualities they’re looking for. It’s important to answer this question honestly, but it can also be helpful to mention a few other traits that are important to you.
Answer Example: "I think the most important quality for an accountant to have is integrity. I believe that accounting is a very serious job, and I take my responsibilities very seriously. I want to make sure that all of my work is accurate and trustworthy. Another quality I think is important is communication. As an accountant, I often have to communicate with clients and other members of the team. I want to make sure that everyone understands what I’m saying and feeling comfortable asking me questions."
This question can help the interviewer understand how you prioritize your work and manage your time. Your answer should show that you have a system in place for organizing your tasks, meeting deadlines and completing projects on time.
Answer Example: "I always start by looking at the deadline for the project, then I break down the tasks I need to complete and estimate how long each one will take me. From there, I create a timeline of when I plan to complete each task so I can stay on track with the deadline. I also make sure to leave some extra time in case something unexpected comes up during the project."
This question is a great way to see how you handle mistakes. It also shows the interviewer that you are willing to admit when you’ve made a mistake and learn from it. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about what happened and how you overcame it.
Answer Example: "My biggest mistake at work was when I entered incorrect numbers into an accounting software program. This caused the company to lose thousands of dollars in revenue because they weren’t able to file their quarterly taxes on time. I learned from this mistake by always double-checking my work before submitting it. Now, I always make sure to triple-check my numbers before entering them into the system."
This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your problem-solving skills and how you approach challenges. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific skill or ability that you have that will help you overcome this challenge.
Answer Example: "I think the biggest challenge in this position will be managing multiple projects at once. I’m confident that I can overcome this challenge because I have experience in accounting software that allows me to track multiple projects at once. This allows me to stay organized and ensure that deadlines are met for each project."
Accountants need to stay up to date on tax laws and regulations because they affect how they do their job. Employers ask this question to make sure you have a plan for staying informed about changes in the industry. In your answer, explain how you plan to keep up with these changes. Share any resources you use to learn about new tax laws or how you can access them quickly when needed.
Answer Example: "I am passionate about my career as an accountant. I enjoy learning about new tax laws and regulations because it helps me do my job better. To stay up to date on tax laws and regulations, I subscribe to several newsletters and blogs that discuss these topics. I also attend conferences and seminars where experts talk about recent changes in the industry. Finally, I read professional journals and magazines to learn more about tax law updates."
This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your skills and abilities. It also helps them understand what kind of work you enjoy doing most. When answering this question, think of a project that showed off your skills as an accountant.
Answer Example: "My most successful project at work was when I helped create a new system for tracking customer orders. We had been using an older system for years, but it was becoming too difficult to manage all of the information. So, I worked with my team to create a new software program that would allow us to track orders more efficiently. The new system has helped us save time and money while also improving customer service."
This question is a great way to test your problem-solving skills and ability to work with clients. When answering this question, it can be helpful to give an example of how you would approach a client’s financial issues and provide a solution for them.
Answer Example: "I would first take some time to talk with the client about their goals and objectives for their finances. Then, I would look at their current budgeting system and see if there are any areas where we can cut costs or increase revenue. For example, if they’re spending too much on advertising, I might suggest switching to social media ads to save money."
This question is a great way to see how the candidate views their career path. It also shows you if they have any plans to move on from your company in the near future. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about your intentions while also showing that you are excited about the position.
Answer Example: "I see myself continuing to grow in my accounting career. I have always been interested in learning new things, so I hope to one day become a manager or CFO of a company. In five years, I hope to have gained enough experience to apply for those positions."
Accountants often work in teams with other accountants and finance professionals. Employers ask this question to make sure you are a good fit for their company culture. In your answer, explain how you can contribute to a team dynamic. Explain that you value collaboration and teamwork. Explain that you enjoy helping others succeed.
Answer Example: "I am a strong believer in teamwork. I believe that by working together, we can accomplish more than we could alone. I am also a great communicator, so I would make sure to keep everyone up to date on projects and tasks. I like to think of myself as an organizer, so I would make sure everyone knew what they were responsible for. This way, we can ensure that all projects are completed on time."
This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you are willing to learn new things and improve your skills. It also shows them that you have previous experience working with supervisors, which can be an important part of your career. When answering this question, try to think of something that you learned from a past supervisor that has helped you in your career.
Answer Example: "I learned how to be more organized when working on projects from my last supervisor. She always told me that being organized would help me complete my work faster and more efficiently. Now, I make sure to keep all of my documents organized by client and project so that I can find them quickly when needed."
Accountants often have to work with clients over the phone. Employers ask this question to make sure you’re comfortable with that type of communication. In your answer, explain how you would make sure the client feels comfortable talking to you over the phone. You can also mention any specific techniques you use to make people feel at ease when they talk to you.
Answer Example: "Yes, I have experience working with clients over the phone. In my current role as an accountant, I work with clients on a regular basis and often have to call them to discuss their finances. To make them feel comfortable talking to me, I always try to be courteous and friendly. I also make sure to wait until they are ready to speak before I start talking. This helps them feel more at ease when talking to me."
