How to smash your accounting job interview

Two people sat on armchairs talking

 


You managed to get your foot in the door with your CV and cover letter. Now comes the time to meet your potential new employer face to face . But how do you make sure they see the very best you in an interview? Here are our hints and tips to blow them away!

Prepare properly

It’s time for homework! You must prepare for an interview – you can’t just turn up and wing it. The things you need to research are:

The company – make sure you know who they are, what they do, their history, and if possible find out any future plans. It’s great if you can place yourself in their onward journey and show how you would be invaluable to their company.

The role – read the job description fully, and research similar roles in the industry. Can you use your past experience to demonstrate that you have the skills that they’re looking for? Make sure you can give real-life examples of how you have used these skills in the past.

Yourself – sounds strange, but take time to review your work experience and think about any key projects or tasks that you have done that would be relevant to this new job. Always provide examples of how you’ve worked in previous roles, and make sure they’re relevant to the role you’re going for.

Be ready to answer basic interview questions

The whole point of an interview is to get to know you, and expand on what you’ve put in your CV and cover letter.

So you will be asked questions by the interviewer, or panel depending on the set up. Make sure you have answers to the following common questions:

  • Why do you want to come and work for us?
  • What can you bring to the role?
  • What motivates/de-motivates you?
  • What are your ambitions and where do you see yourself in five or ten years?
  • What do you expect from us as a company?
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • Why are you leaving your current role?
  • Which aspects of your current role do you enjoy or dislike?

You will also be asked to give examples of your work, knowledge, and skills. If you’ve prepared properly these shouldn’t be a problem.

Typical questions for accountancy roles

There will be some industry specific questions to consider, depending on the role and seniority. Make sure you have the answer for some, or all, of these too:

  • What types of accounting software are you familiar with?
  • What accounting software do you like best? Why?
  • In your opinion, when choosing accounting software, does price or functionality matter more?
  • What’s the difference between private and public accounting?
  • Tell me about the three financial statements.
  • If you could only use one statement to assess the overall health of a company, which would you choose? Why?
  • Do you have experience with developing your own accounting processes?
  • Give me an example of how you reduced operational costs in a previous role.
  • How do you prevent human errors when working as an accountant?
  • In your opinion, what’s the biggest challenge accounts face?

Ask the interviewer questions

There’s always that moment in an interview when they say “have you got any questions for us?” and you go blank. It’s as if every intelligent question falls out of your head. But it’s really important to ask the right questions at this point. It shows you’ve been listening, you’ve researched the company, and you’re enthusiastic about working for them

It’s also vital to come away knowing as much as possible about the role so you can decide if it’s the right fit for you. Consider asking some of these questions:

  • How do you see this role progressing?
  • Can you give me a breakdown of the duties and responsibilities?
  • What does a typical day look like in this role?
  • What training schemes do you offer?
  • Can you tell me about the future plans for the company and how this might impact the role?
  • Is there anything I haven’t covered that you would like to know about me or my previous roles?

If something comes up during the interview, keep a mental note to ask more about it if you feel it hasn’t been fully covered.

The day of the interview

You’ve done all of your preparation and research and the day is here. Make sure you know where you’re going, and how long it’ll take you to get there. Check public transport if you’re using it, or where the nearest car park is if you’re driving.

Make sure you wear something professional yet comfortable. You don’t want to be worrying about your clothes during the interview. Don’t wear heels you can’t walk in, or a suit that doesn’t fit.

Arrive early and if you can, find somewhere out of sight to warm up. The nearest restroom is a great spot to stretch out, tense and untense muscles, and get mentally prepared. Then go to reception and let them know that you’ve arrived for your interview.

And breathe. Nerves are normal. Keep reminding yourself that you know what you’re doing, this company will be lucky to have you, and that you just need to be yourself. Interviewers can see straight through fakers, so there’s no need to try to be something that you’re not. Be authentic, curious, and engaging.

You’ve got this!

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