8 Accounting Interview Questions and Answers

As an accountant, you’re the lifeblood of most businesses. You’re the one responsible for managing companies’ financial records and creating reports, so they can make informed decisions about their money. But, of course, employers also need to make an informed decision about who they hire. Help employers to understand the value you bring to the table by learning how to answer common accounting interview questions that ask you about your experience, skills, and knowledge.

Take some time to study the sample accountant interview questions and answers below, so you know what to say before getting into the interview hot seat.

Accounting Interview Questions and Answers

1. Why Do You Want to Be an Accountant?
2. What Accounting-Related Experience Do You Have?
3. What Do You Expect to Do Day-to-Day in an Accounting Job?
4. Which Accounting Software Programs Are You Most Proficient In?
5. Describe the Types of Financial Transactions You Typically Handle.
6. Describe the Difference Between Deferred Revenue and Accounts Receivable.
7. How Do You Ensure Accuracy in Accounting?
8. What Is Working Capital?

Question #1: Why Do You Want to Be an Accountant?

This is one of the most basic accounting interview questions you’ll encounter. When employers ask what drew you to accounting, they want to know what about the profession interests and motivates you. They may also ask this question to gauge your strengths and your reasons for applying for an accounting job.

A great way to answer this question is to reflect on the following:

• What you particularly enjoy about accounting.
• What makes you good at accounting.
• Your goals as an accountant.

How You Could Answer

“Ever since high school, I’ve always excelled in math. When I got my first summer job while in high school, I became obsessed with tracking, managing, and saving the money I earned. I sort of had my own accounting method in place. I decided to pursue a college education in accounting because I enjoyed working with numbers.”

“My goal as an accountant is to help companies meet their financial obligations and make decisions that promote business growth. I also plan to become a certified public accountant and have already enrolled in a certificate program.”

Question #2: What Accounting-Related Experience Do You Have?

Now that you’ve discussed your interest in accounting, employers will want to know about your experience. Whether you’re just getting your foot in the door or are a seasoned accountant, be honest about your professional background.

Answer accounting interview questions regarding your experience by discussing the details outlined on your accountant resume:

• Previous accounting jobs you’ve worked.
• Accounting training and education you’ve received.
• What previous employers have said about you.

How You Could Answer

“Before getting my first accounting job, I completed my bachelor’s degree in accounting. Some of the courses I took included auditing, federal income taxation, economics, and financial accounting. I also completed a three-month internship with a financial institution where I received additional training in accounting software and spreadsheets.”

“I got my first entry-level accounting job for a law firm after completing my internship. I worked there for about three years before deciding to relocate. My supervisor has always praised me for my dependability, accuracy, and ability to present financial data in a way that’s easy to understand.”

Question #3: What Do You Expect to Do Day-to-Day in an Accounting Job?

Employers often prefer to hire candidates who have done their homework on the job. Even if you’re applying for your first accounting job, you should demonstrate a clear understanding of what your role will entail. You can devise a strong answer by completing these three tasks:

• Draw from your previous experience.
• Study the accounting job ad to learn about your day-to-day responsibilities.
• Research the company’s business model, processes, and culture.

How You Could Answer

“Over my three years of working as an accountant, my typical day involved collecting, compiling, and analyzing financial data from daily cash flow statements. The financial data I collected and analyzed was compiled into a monthly report where I presented assets and liabilities to upper-level management.”

“After researching Company One, I have learned that it generates about $500 to $700 million per year in revenue and has about 10 million customers worldwide. So, I already understand some of the numbers I can expect to work with.”

Question #4: Which Accounting Software Programs Are You Most Proficient In?

Employers will likely ask technical accounting interview questions to gauge your proficiency in accounting software and databases. When creating your answer, be sure to elaborate on the following details:

• Accounting software you worked with at a previous job.
• Programs you received training in.

How You Could Answer

“Intuit QuickBooks was the first accounting program I started using during college and my internship. I have been using it ever since. The law firm I worked for also implemented Oracle Fusion Cloud Accounting Hub, which I was trained in. Both programs are accessible online and allow me to securely store, back up, and retrieve financial data.”

Question #5: Describe the Types of Financial Transactions You Typically Handle.

If you’re applying to be a senior accountant, interview questions that evaluate your ability to manage and take ownership of financial transactions may come up. When creating your answer, be sure to talk about:

• The main types of financial transactions in business.
• How you would handle these transactions.
• An example from a previous accounting job.

How You Could Answer

“When I worked for the law firm, I primarily kept track of cash and credit transactions. Most of these involved lump sum payments from insurance companies and expenses that went into litigating cases. In a few cases, I collected data on payments made by clients, which often included electronic transactions made over the phone.”

“For example, the law firm took on a high-profile personal injury case that required an extensive and costly investigation. I collected and maintained records of each cost and liability, which included thousands of dollars in court fees. I then included the assets collected from the lump sum verdict paid by the insurance company.”

Question #6: Describe the Difference Between Deferred Revenue and Accounts Receivable.

Deferred revenue and accounts receivable are two payment methods accountants are expected to manage. Employers will likely ask accounting interview questions regarding deferred revenue and accounts receivable to ensure that you have a clear understanding of both.

Here are a few tips on how to best answer this question:

• Provide a definition for both deferred revenue and accounts receivable.
• Explain how you would record both on a balance sheet.

How You Could Answer

“Deferred revenue is money that a company receives but has not been paid out. I would record deferred revenue as a liability on a company’s balance sheet. Accounts receivable is the balance customers owe to a company but has not yet been paid. Unlike deferred revenue, accounts receivable are assets on a balance sheet.”

Question #7: How Do You Ensure Accuracy in Accounting?

As an accountant, you likely understand the importance of accuracy and have best practices in place to ensure that your records are complete and accurate. When answering accounting interview questions regarding accuracy, be sure to provide these details:

• Steps you take to minimize the number of accounting errors you make.
• Daily routines you’ve adopted to ensure accuracy.
• What you would do in the event of an error.

How You Could Answer

“I leave no stone unturned when it comes to accounting accuracy. I routinely keep records of payments and receipts from business expenses and digitally back up data to prevent it from becoming permanently lost or misplaced. At the end of each day or week, I carefully review any data I collected or compiled and correct any errors I find.”

“I also find that conducting audits at the end of each fiscal quarter ensures that no errors go unchecked. Doing frequent reviews and quarterly audits prevents small errors from turning into large miscalculations. If I find an incorrect entry or number calculation, I correct it immediately to avoid faulty reporting.”

Question #8: What Is Working Capital?

When you work as an accountant, you’ll be responsible for keeping track of company assets and liabilities. When asked accounting interview questions about working capital, you’ll need to show that you have an understanding of:

• What working capital is.
• How working capital affects business finances.
• How you calculate working capital.

How You Could Answer

“Working capital is the available funds businesses need to meet their financial obligations. It’s the current leftover assets a company has after subtracting liabilities. I use a balance sheet to calculate working capital. A positive dollar amount means that companies have enough money to satisfy short- and long-term obligations. However, a negative number means that a company’s liabilities, expenses, or debts have exceeded a company’s available or incoming assets.”

Multiply Your Job Opportunities on Monster

Now that we’ve covered these eight basic accounting interview questions, turn your focus towards finding a job. Start by uploading your resume to Monster. We’ll present the information from your resume to job recruiters looking for skilled accountants like you. Plus, we offer free job alerts customized to your location and career goals to keep you informed about new accountant job postings.