Accountant interview questions

Technical skills can be checked with qualifications and a test. The first round is your chance to hear how an accountant thinks: how they catch errors, meet month-end deadlines and explain the numbers to people who don’t read balance sheets.

10 questions for a accountant first round

Pick three to five that fit your role, rather than all ten: a short first round gets more finished interviews. All ten together take about 23 minutes to record. The time limits suit a one-way video interview, where each answer is recorded once.

  1. 1

    Walk us through your month-end close. What do you check, and in what order?

    Listen for: A clear, organised process with checks built in, and awareness of where errors usually hide.

    3 min to answer
  2. 2

    Tell us about a significant error you found. How did you find it, and what did you do?

    Listen for: Methodical investigation, honest reporting and a change to stop it happening again.

    3 min to answer
  3. 3

    How would you explain a cash flow problem to a manager who isn’t from a finance background?

    Listen for: Plain language, a focus on what it means for the business and a clear next step.

    2 min to answer
  4. 4

    Describe a time you had several deadlines at once. How did you meet them?

    Listen for: Planning ahead, prioritising by consequence and asking for help early.

    2 min to answer
  5. 5

    Tell us about a time you were asked to record something in a way you weren’t comfortable with.

    Listen for: Integrity, a clear explanation of the rules and escalation if needed.

    2 min to answer
  6. 6

    Which accounting software and spreadsheet skills do you use day to day?

    Listen for: Confidence in the tools you use and comfort learning new ones.

    2 min to answer
  7. 7

    How have you made a finance process faster or more reliable?

    Listen for: A real improvement, such as automation or a better reconciliation, with its effect.

    3 min to answer
  8. 8

    How do you keep up with changes in tax or reporting rules?

    Listen for: Specific sources and habits, not just “I read the news”.

    2 min to answer
  9. 9

    Describe working with an auditor or external accountant.

    Listen for: Preparation, organised records and a cooperative attitude.

    2 min to answer
  10. 10

    Why this role, and what kind of finance team do you work best in?

    Listen for: A fit with the size and pace of your team.

    2 min to answer
Scoring

Signs of a strong candidate

  • Builds checks into their routine
  • Explains numbers in plain language
  • Raises problems early and honestly
  • Improves processes, not just follows them

Agree what a 3 and a 5 look like for each question before anyone watches, and save your own rating before reading your colleagues’.

Use them

Run these as a video interview

  1. Save your chosen questions as a question set in AsyncView, with the minutes for each.
  2. Create an interview for the role, import the set and pick a deadline.
  3. Paste your candidates’ names and emails. Each gets a private link.
  4. Watch, rate and compare answers with your team, then shortlist.
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Send these questions to your accountant candidates today.

Candidates record their answers in their own time; your team reviews together. The Free plan includes 5 interviews and needs no card.

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