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Staff Accountant Interview Questions

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  1. Why do you want to become an accountant with our company? See answer
  2. Tell me the difference between accounts receivable and accounts payable. See answer
  3. How do you manage multiple accounting projects and tight deadlines? See answer
  4. What accounting software programs or platforms are you comfortable using? See answer
  5. How do you maintain accuracy and manage errors in your work? See answer
  6. One of the roles of a staff accountant is to review the company’s financial records to look for any discrepancies or suspicious transactions. What would you do if you noticed signs of a coworker stealing money from the company?
  7. What would you do if you started working on a new account and they didn’t have existing financial records in place to explain their finances?
  8. How do you keep financial records organized and consistent over a long period of time?
  9. Our staff accountant helps give advice about the company’s financial position to make investments or start new projects. What metrics do you analyze to determine a department’s financial health?
  10. What are some of the best practices for transparent accounting to prevent theft?
  11. Describe the process you use to track down the source of a discrepancy in the company ledger.
  12. As staff accountant, you’ll collect receipts and account summaries from multiple department heads. How do you establish and enforce deadlines with your colleagues?
  13. If our company merged with another business, how would you start to combine our records?
  14. Do you have strong mental math skills?
  15. How would a monthly accounting report compare to an accounting review for the fiscal year?
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6 Staff Accountant Interview Questions and Answers

Q:

Why do you want to become an accountant with our company?

A:

This is a simple, but in-depth question which may receive a wide variety of responses. What’s most important to look for is enthusiasm about the job. For example, accounting can become redundant and monotonous at times. How does the staff accountant candidate continue to enjoy the job when things aren’t always so exciting? What can they bring to your company? And, where do they see themselves several years down the road? What to look for in an answer:

  • Forward-thinking responses
  • How they can be an asset to your company
  • Enjoy the aspect of recording transactions

Example:

“I have always been fascinated with the flow of finances. I was my high school treasurer, and interned for your company in college.”

Q:

Tell me the difference between accounts receivable and accounts payable.

A:

This is a basic accounting question that any staff accountant applicant should be able to answer easily. Look for both verbal and non-verbal cues to see if they truly understand their responses. The replies will tell you whether you are interviewing an entry-level or experienced applicant. Moreover, even entry-level candidates should understand the basic differences between AR and AP. A textbook answer is much easier than applying AP and AR to real-world examples. What to look for in an answer:

  • Detailed response
  • At ease when explaining the difference
  • Can speak beyond the textbook definition

Example:

“Accounts payable and accounts receivable are both associated with a company’s cash flow. AR is referred to as assets. AP are liabilities.”

Q:

How do you manage multiple accounting projects and tight deadlines?

A:

Many successful accountants have to be well-versed in managing multiple projects at a time. This question also gives you more insight regarding how the staff accountant applicant responds during time-sensitive and pressure-filled situations. As a result, you want to hear examples of how they acted under pressure. In addition, you want to find out how they make decisions around prioritizing their tasks. If your company is often under tight deadlines, this question can help you decide if the candidate has the right prioritization experience to meet ongoing demands. What to look for in an answer:

  • Time management techniques that also maintain accuracy
  • Good understanding of how to prioritize the most important tasks
  • Experience with multi-tasking

Example:

“If I needed resources, I would ask the associated department. I also prioritized the most time-sensitive projects.”

Q:

What accounting software programs or platforms are you comfortable using?

A:

If the accountant is experienced, they would have worked with multiple accounting applications from QuickBooks to Microsoft Dynamics GP and more. Look for answers including the name and version of the software. It is useful to find a staff accountant who is comfortable using technology to help them perform their job duties more accurately. Software is the driver behind the transformation of a staff accountant’s duties and responsibilities. Understanding accounting software applications is a highly marketable skill. This also gives you an idea of whether the applicant is experienced with the accounting software used at your company. And, you can make a decision if additional training is worth the cost. What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience with well-known accounting software packages
  • Understanding of how to use basic accounting platforms
  • Interest in learning new technologies

Example:

“In my previous role, I used QuickBooks on a daily basis to manage ledgers, accounts payable and accounts receivables.”

Q:

How do you maintain accuracy and manage errors in your work?

A:

Accountants are dealing with money going in, and out, of the company. A small mistake, compounded, can cost the business thousands of dollars or more. So, it is vital for staff accountants to maintain accuracy. With this question, you can gain a better understanding of the applicant’s process for ensuring every financial detail is recorded responsibly and accurately. You want an applicant who isn’t opposed to manual spot checks and cross-references of the ledgers. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to notice and correct errors
  • Detail-oriented processes and examples
  • Driven to maintain accuracy on every project

Example:

“At my last job, I made it a habit to triple-check real-time reports for any errors and always addressed them expediently.”

Q:

One of the roles of a staff accountant is to review the company's financial records to look for any discrepancies or suspicious transactions. What would you do if you noticed signs of a coworker stealing money from the company?

A:

Staff accountants should be able to audit company records and act appropriately if they find any discrepancies, whether they are mistakes or indications of someone abusing the company's accounts. Because they work with financial data, staff accountants need to demonstrate strong ethics and an understanding of the proper way to report their concerns. This question gives the interviewer an idea of how a candidate would react to a potential moral conflict in the workplace.

Look for these characteristics in a candidate's response:

  • Honesty and trustworthiness
  • Attention to detail and ability to closely follow procedures
  • Tact and discretion

An example of a strong answer to this question is:

Example:

"Embezzlement is a serious accusation, so my first action would be to check my work and look closer at the company's financial records to make sure I wasn't missing any essential details that could explain the situation. As an accountant, it's my responsibility to protect the company's financial heath, so I would immediately start recording my findings and review past account statements for similar fraudulent behavior to determine the scope of the issue. Then I would report to my supervisor and bring up my concern, identifying exactly why I suspected theft and how I believed the theft was occurring."

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