Prepare for your Finance Manager 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 better and understand why you’re interested in this career path. Your answer should include a few details about your background and how it led you to pursue a career in finance.
Answer Example: "I’ve always been interested in numbers and finances, so when I was in high school I took some extra classes on accounting and finance. After I graduated, I got a job at a local accounting firm where I learned more about the industry and gained valuable experience. Eventually, I decided to pursue a master’s degree in finance so I could become a certified accountant."
This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your career goals and how you plan to achieve them. Your answer should include a few short-term and long-term goals, as well as a plan for achieving them.
Answer Example: "My goal is to become a CEO of a large company one day, so I’m working toward that by working my way up through the finance ranks. In the short-term, I want to become a finance manager at my current company, which would allow me to gain more experience in financial management. In the long-term, I plan to continue working hard and climbing the corporate ladder until I reach my ultimate goal."
This question can help the interviewer understand how you prioritize your work and manage multiple tasks at once. Use examples from past experiences where you had to meet deadlines or manage multiple projects at once, and explain how you organized your time to ensure you completed everything on time.
Answer Example: "I always make sure to plan ahead when it comes to managing my time. I know that if I don’t plan my tasks ahead of time, I’ll end up wasting time on things that aren’t important. For example, when I was a finance manager at my previous job, I had to prepare monthly reports for the CEO and board of directors. To make sure I had enough time to complete the report, I would plan out all of my tasks at least one week in advance."
This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle challenging situations. Use examples from your past experience to highlight your problem-solving skills, communication abilities and leadership capabilities.
Answer Example: "In my previous role as a finance manager for a small business, I had to manage a complex situation involving multiple employees. One of our employees was accused of stealing money from another employee’s purse. The accused employee denied the allegations, but I still had to investigate the matter. I talked to both employees separately to get their sides of the story. After speaking with them, I determined that the accuser had made a mistake in recording her transactions. I apologized to the accused employee for the inconvenience and assured him that he would not be fired."
This question can help the interviewer determine your level of expertise in financial reporting. Use examples from past experience to show how you use financial statements to make decisions and manage budgets.
Answer Example: "In my last role as a finance manager, I was responsible for creating monthly financial statements for our company. These statements included balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements. I used these reports to monitor our company’s financial health and make sure we were staying within budget. If there were any discrepancies in the numbers, I would investigate them to ensure they were accurate."
As a finance manager, you may have to give feedback to your team members. Employers ask this question to see if you can give and receive criticism well. In your answer, show that you can take feedback constructively. Explain how you use it to improve your work.
Answer Example: "I understand that giving and receiving feedback is part of my job as a manager. I am always open to receiving feedback from my team members. I believe that feedback is an opportunity to improve our processes or procedures. If someone has an issue with something I’ve done, I want to hear about it so I can make changes. I also encourage my team members to do the same."
This question can help the interviewer understand how you respond to mistakes and whether you have a plan for correcting them. Use examples from previous jobs where you were able to learn from your errors and improve your work.
Answer Example: "In my last role as finance manager for a small business, I made an error in calculating the company’s tax liability. The mistake resulted in us paying $2,000 more than we should have. After discovering the error, I immediately contacted our accountant to discuss how we could fix the issue. We decided to send an amended tax return to the IRS to correct the error."
This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle conflict and whether you are willing to make unpopular decisions. Use examples from your past where you had to make a decision that was difficult for you but benefited your team or organization as a whole.
Answer Example: "In my last role as finance manager for a small business, I noticed that our inventory levels were getting too low. We were close to running out of stock on several products, which would have caused us to lose revenue. Instead of increasing our inventory order right away, I waited until we were closer to running out of stock. This decision saved the company money because we didn’t have to order more inventory until we actually needed it."
The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with financial management. Budgeting is an important part of being a finance manager, so the interviewer wants to know how you handle budgets in your current or previous role. In your answer, explain what steps you take to create a budget for your department or company.
Answer Example: "In my last role as a finance manager, I was responsible for creating the annual budget for our department. Before creating the budget, I met with other managers to discuss their goals for the year. Then, I used this information to create a budget that would allow us to achieve those goals while staying within budget constraints. After creating the budget, I worked with other managers to ensure they were spending their budgets appropriately."
As a finance manager, you may experience stress from time to time. Employers ask this question to make sure you have strategies in place to manage stress effectively. In your answer, share two or three ways that you relax when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Answer Example: "I find that exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress. I usually take a short walk around the block or go to the gym for a workout. Another way I relieve stress is by talking to friends and family. I make sure to take time each day to call or text someone I love. Finally, I find that meditation helps me focus on the present moment. I try to meditate for at least five minutes each day."
Working in a team environment is a key part of being a finance manager. Employers ask this question to make sure you’re comfortable working with others and that you have experience doing so. In your answer, explain how you feel about teamwork and what your past experiences have been like.
Answer Example: "I have worked in a team environment for most of my career. I find that working together is an effective way to get tasks done quickly and efficiently. In my last role as a finance manager, I led a team of five other finance professionals. We met weekly to discuss our goals for the week and any challenges we were facing. This allowed us to support one another and help each other overcome any obstacles we faced."
This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with using financial software and how you might implement it in their company. Use examples from previous jobs to explain what type of financial software you’ve used and what benefits it has provided you and your team.
Answer Example: "In my previous role as a finance manager at ABC Company, I used several different types of financial software to manage our company’s finances. We started out using QuickBooks, but eventually switched to Sage 50 because it was easier for me to track all of our expenses and revenues. The company also hired an accountant to help us with taxes, and I found that using both programs together made tax season much easier."
This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach problems and find solutions. Use examples from previous roles that show your ability to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions.
Answer Example: "I recently found myself in this situation when I was working as a finance manager for a small business. The company was looking to expand its operations, but they did not have enough capital to do so. I worked with the owner to come up with several options for raising capital, including borrowing money from family members and taking out loans. We decided to take out a loan because it was the best option for the company at the time."
Forecasting is a key part of finance management, and the interviewer may ask this question to learn about your experience with this process. Use your answer to highlight your knowledge of how to develop forecasts and explain why it’s important to the company’s financial health.
Answer Example: "In my previous role as a finance manager, I was responsible for creating monthly forecasts that included sales projections, budgeting figures and cost estimates. These forecasts helped me understand how much money we would have available at different times throughout the year so I could make sure we had enough cash on hand to cover expenses. I also used the forecasts to track our progress against our goals and objectives."
This question can help the interviewer understand your negotiation skills and how you use them in your work. Use examples from previous roles where you had to negotiate terms with clients or vendors, and highlight your ability to achieve successful outcomes.
Answer Example: "Yes, I have had many opportunities to negotiate terms in my previous roles as a finance manager. In my last position, I was tasked with negotiating new contracts with vendors for our company’s product line. This involved meeting with multiple vendors to discuss their services and pricing models, then comparing their offers to find the best value for our company. After negotiating terms with each vendor, I then worked with my team to ensure we met all of our requirements while staying within budget."
This question can help the interviewer determine your experience level and how you’ve handled important responsibilities in the past. Use examples from your past to highlight your ability to lead a team, manage budgets and make financial decisions on behalf of others.
Answer Example: "In my last role as a finance manager, I was responsible for managing the money of our company’s clients. This included creating monthly invoices, collecting payments and monitoring cash flow. I also had a team of five under me who helped me manage the finances of our clients. We worked together to ensure that all bills were paid on time and that we had enough money in our accounts to cover any unexpected expenses."
Employers want to know that you are committed to your career and have a passion for learning. They also want to see that you are willing to adapt to new technologies and methods that could improve the company’s finances. When answering this question, explain how you stay current on financial news and trends. Share some resources you use to learn about these changes.
Answer Example: "I am passionate about my career, so I make sure to stay up-to-date on changes in the financial industry. I subscribe to several financial newsletters that provide me with valuable information about new products and services available to consumers. I also regularly read financial blogs to learn about the latest strategies companies are using to grow their businesses."
This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your professional goals. It also shows them that you are willing to invest in your own career development, which can be an important factor in hiring decisions. When answering this question, think of areas where you would like to learn more about how they apply to finance or other areas of business.
Answer Example: "I’m always looking for ways to improve my knowledge of accounting principles. I know that accurate recordkeeping is essential for any business, so I make sure to stay up-to-date on any new tax laws or regulations that could affect my company. Another area I would like to improve my understanding of is financial forecasting. It’s important to have an accurate picture of future revenue and expenses so we can make smart decisions today."
