Prepare for your Finance Project Manager interview. Understand the required skills and qualifications, anticipate the questions you may be asked, and study well-prepared answers using our sample responses.
The interviewer may ask this question to assess your comfort level with the tools and software they use in their department. If you have experience using these tools, share your past experience and how it helped you achieve success in your previous role.
Answer Example: "Yes, I am very comfortable working with spreadsheets and financial projections. During my tenure as a Finance Project Manager, I have managed numerous projects involving the creation of spreadsheets and financial projections. I am familiar with various software programs used for these purposes, such as Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Project. In addition, I am proficient in using accounting software such as QuickBooks and FreshBooks to manage financial data."
This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have the skills and abilities needed for this role. You can answer this question by listing some of the most important skills and explaining why they are important.
Answer Example: "As a finance project manager, I believe the most important skills to have are communication and leadership. I find that these two skills are essential for managing projects successfully. For example, when working on a project, I make sure to keep everyone involved in the process informed about what’s going on and when they can expect results. This helps ensure that everyone is on the same page and able to work efficiently."
The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your communication skills and how you collaborate with other departments. Use examples from past experiences where you successfully managed the flow of information between departments, ensured everyone was on the same page and met project deadlines.
Answer Example: "In my last role as a finance project manager, I had to coordinate between the marketing department and the sales department. The marketing team was creating content for our website while the sales team was preparing for their upcoming presentations at conferences. I made sure both teams were aware of each other’s plans so there were no conflicts. In the end, we launched the new website on time and the sales team exceeded their goals."
Waste is a common problem in finance projects, and the interviewer may ask this question to learn how you plan to eliminate waste in your projects. Use your answer to highlight your ability to analyze data and make decisions based on facts.
Answer Example: "I start by analyzing the current state of a project to determine where there are opportunities for improvement. I then create a list of all potential waste sources and prioritize them based on their impact on the project budget. For example, if I find that we’re spending too much on supplies, I will look into cheaper vendors or find ways to use existing supplies longer."
This question can help the interviewer understand your leadership skills and how you might lead a team of finance professionals. Use examples from previous projects to highlight your communication, organizational and problem-solving skills.
Answer Example: "In my last role as a project manager, I led a team through a six-month long project that involved creating a new financial system for our client. The project involved collaborating with multiple departments within our company, as well as with the client’s team, and involved many complex tasks. To ensure that everyone stayed on track, I created weekly meetings where we discussed our progress and any challenges we faced. I also used these meetings to provide updates on the project timeline so everyone knew when to expect certain deliverables."
This question is a great way to see how passionate you are about finance and can help the interviewer understand what areas you might be most qualified for. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention an area of finance that interests you or one that you have experience with.
Answer Example: "I would have to say that my specialty would be project management in finance. I find it fascinating how all of the different aspects of finance come together to create a project. For example, I recently worked on a project where we needed to hire new employees, but we had to make sure we had enough money in our budget to do so."
This question can help the interviewer determine how you react to mistakes and whether you have a plan for correcting them. Your answer should show that you are willing to own up to your mistakes, apologize if necessary and take steps to fix them.
Answer Example: "If I noticed a mistake in one of my financial reports, I would first make sure that it wasn’t just an error in calculation but actually an inaccuracy in data. If it was indeed an error in data, I would immediately notify all stakeholders who received the report so they could take action if necessary. Then, I would work with my team to create a new report with correct data as quickly as possible so that stakeholders could have access to accurate information. Finally, I would send out an email apology to all stakeholders who received the incorrect report."
