Are you preparing for an interview in the finance and accounting field? Whether you’re an entry-level Payroll Associate, an Accountant, or a seasoned Controller or CFO, knowing how to effectively answer common interview questions can set you apart from the competition.
Our expert recruiters are here to help and have curated a list of frequently asked interview questions tailored to various roles in the industry. Read on to prepare for common interview questions that could come your way.
COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Corporate Accounting
- Can you walk me through your experience with the month-end close process?
- Have you handled bank and credit card reconciliations? If so, can you share the volume and complexity of transactions you’ve managed?
- How have you handled general ledger reconciliations? Can you describe your approach to identifying and resolving discrepancies?
- Have you worked with accruals and prepaid expenses?
- What experience do you have with fixed asset accounting and depreciation schedules?
- What has been your role in financial reporting? Have you prepared and/or analyzed financial statements?
- Have you worked cross-functionally with other departments such as FP&A, operations, or tax? How do you ensure alignment in financial reporting?
- What ERP software systems have you used?
- How would you rate your Excel skills? What specific functions and tools are you proficient in?
Accounts Payable
- Is your role standalone, or do you work as part of an AP or finance team? How do you collaborate with others in your department?
- Can you describe the volume of invoices you’ve processed in your previous roles? On average, how many invoices do you handle per week or month?
- Do you have experience with matching, batching, and coding invoices? Can you walk me through your process?
- Can you explain your experience with the three-way matching process?
- What steps do you take to handle discrepancies between an invoice and a purchase order or receipt?
- How do you handle payment disputes or past-due invoices with vendors? Can you give an example of a time you resolved a difficult vendor issue?
- What experience do you have with processing electronic payments, ACH transactions, or international wire transfers?
- What role have you played in month-end or year-end close processes related to accounts payable?
- What accounting or ERP systems have you worked with for accounts payable processing?
Accounts Receivable
- Is your role standalone, or do you work as part of an AR or finance team? How do you collaborate with others in your department?
- What was the volume of invoices you processed on a weekly or monthly basis?
- Did you manage vendor relationships? If so, what was your involvement in ensuring timely payments and dispute resolution?
- Have you worked with cash applications? How do you ensure payments are accurately applied to the correct accounts?
- What experience do you have with reconciling AR accounts and resolving discrepancies?
- Have you worked with AR aging reports? How do you analyze and use them to improve collections? What strategies do you use to reduce outstanding receivables?
- What has been your role in collections? How do you handle past-due accounts and ensure timely payments?
- What experience do you have with processing customer refunds or resolving overpayments?
- What accounting or ERP systems have you used for billing and invoicing?
Payroll Specialist
- Is your payroll role standalone, or do you work as part of a payroll/HR/finance team?
- Are you responsible for full-cycle payroll processing?
- How many employees have you processed payroll for in your previous roles?
- Do you have experience processing multi-state payroll? If so, how do you stay updated with changing payroll tax laws and regulations across different states?
- Have you handled union payroll before?
- What experience do you have with processing payroll deductions for benefits, garnishments, and 401(k) contributions?
- Have you processed year-end payroll tasks, including W-2 and 1099 filings?
- What experience do you have with payroll audits? Have you worked directly with auditors?
- How do you handle payroll discrepancies or errors? Can you share an example of a time you resolved a payroll issue?
- How do you manage last-minute payroll changes, such as terminations, off-cycle payments, or adjustments?
- What payroll software or systems have you used?
- Have you been involved in streamlining payroll processes or implementing new payroll systems?
Financial Analyst / FP&A
- Can you describe your experience with budgeting and forecasting?
- How do you approach building a financial forecast? What key factors do you consider?
- What experience do you have with long-term financial modeling and scenario analysis?
- Have you conducted variance analysis? Can you walk me through a time when your analysis led to a strategic business decision?
- What key performance indicators (KPIs) have you analyzed in your previous roles?
- How do you present financial insights to non-financial stakeholders? Can you provide an example?
- Have you created financial reports or dashboards? What tools have you used for reporting?
- How would you rate your Excel skills? What specific functions and tools are you proficient in?
- Have you worked with any Business Intelligence (BI) tools, such as Tableau, Power BI, or Looker?
- Have you worked on process improvement initiatives within FP&A or finance? Can you share an example?
Compliance & Internal Controls
- What experience do you have with GAAP compliance and financial audits? Have you prepared audit schedules or worked directly with auditors?
- How have you helped implement or maintain internal controls?
KNOW YOUR SOFTWARE
When preparing for a Finance and Accounting interview, it’s also important to be ready to discuss your experience with commonly used software, such as:
- Accounting ERP: NetSuite, QuickBooks, Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains, SAP, Sage Intacct, Xero
- Payroll: Workday, ADP Workforce Now, SAP, UKG, Paylocity, Paychex, Gusto
- FP&A: Workday Adaptive, Anaplan, Hyperion, SAP BPC, PowerBI, Tableau, Looker
ACE THE INTERVIEW
Whether you’re applying for a position in corporate accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, or financial analysis, being well-prepared boosts your confidence but also helps you stand out in a crowded job market. Equip yourself with thoughtful answers and real-world examples to make a lasting impression and increase your chances of success. Good luck!
Looking for a position? Check out our listing of Finance career opportunities here.
