You can spend more time growing your business if you have someone you can trust to keep good records of your accounts and transactions. Because having a good bookkeeper is so important, it’s important to know how to pick the best candidates during the interview process. You can ask these insightful bookkeeper interview questions to find the right fit.
Interviews can be daunting for candidates. Start the interview with these general bookkeeper interview questions to get them talking about themselves. This will cool their heels.
Getting the right assistant accountant can make a big difference in how well your business does financially. These people are very important because they handle daily financial tasks, make sure they are done correctly, and help senior accountants with their work. There are a lot of candidates, though. How can you be sure you pick the best one for your team?
That’s where these 60+ assistant accountant interview questions come in. This comprehensive list covers everything from basic accounting knowledge to technical skills and situational judgment, helping you assess each candidate’s suitability for the role.
Here’s what you’ll find in this guide
- 25 frequently asked assistant accountant interview questions: These questions will give you a general understanding of the candidate’s accounting knowledge, computer skills, and work ethic.
- 8 sample answers to frequently asked assistant accountant interview questions: See how a strong candidate might answer these common questions.
- 20 technical assistant accountant interview questions: These questions delve deeper into the candidate’s accounting expertise and software proficiency.
- 6 sample answers to technical assistant accountant interview questions: Get a glimpse of how a technically skilled candidate might respond.
- 18 situational assistant accountant interview questions: These questions assess the candidate’s ability to handle real-world scenarios and challenges.
- 5 sample answers to situational assistant accountant interview questions: See how a well-prepared candidate might approach these situations.
- When to use assistant accountant interview questions: Learn how to integrate these questions into your hiring process for optimal results.
By using these interview questions effectively you can identify candidates who possess the necessary skills, knowledge and personality traits to excel as assistant accountants in your company.
25 Frequently Asked Assistant Accountant Interview Questions
1. What has been your most complex assignment?2. Where do you see yourself in five years?3. What is deferred revenue expenditure? Give me some examples. 4. What made you choose accounting as your career?5. How do you usually manage your workload?6. Tell me how you stay up to date with accounting standards and regulations. 7. What is the difference between a trial balance and a balance sheet?8. Name some of the most common errors in accounting. 9. Do you have experience training others on accounting practices?10. Tell me how you would design a spreadsheet to track daily cash receipts. 11. How will this role help you to develop your accounting skills?12. What is the difference between auditing and accounting?13. Define “book value” in accounting. 14. Name the differences between cash flow and fund flow statements. 15. How do you feel about creative accounting?16. Are you comfortable communicating with clients and other departments in our company?17. What are the steps involved in the accounts payable process?18. Describe the differences between a ledger and a journal. 19. Tell me why the accounting equation has to balance. 20. What characterizes a great accounting assistant?21. Are you willing to complete training for this role?22. Define credit notes and debit notes. 23. What are the main accounting concepts?24. Tell me more about your math and computer skills. 25. What is your process for preventing mistakes at work?.
8 Sample Answers to Frequently Asked Assistant Accountant Interview Questions
1, What is deferred revenue expenditure? Give me some examples
“Deferred revenue expenditure is the money spent in one accounting period but the effect of those expenses occurs over future accounting periods. One example is an advertising campaign package. Your company may pay the cost of this package upfront, but it won’t take immediate effect until the marketing team updates and releases the campaign.”
2. What are the steps involved in the accounts payable process?
“The process for posting expenses to the right account in accounts payable is made up of a few steps.” I would have to get the purchase order, agree to the vendor’s bill, make sure the two are the same, and then accept the final payment. Finally, I would record the transaction to keep finances organized. “.
3. Do you have experience training others on accounting practices?
“Yes, I have experience training others on accounting practices. In my previous role, I was responsible for training new employees on the company’s accounting software and procedures. I also provided ongoing support to the team, answering questions and helping them to resolve any issues they encountered.”
4. Tell me more about your math and computer skills.
“I have strong math and computer skills. I am proficient in Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets, and I am comfortable working with large datasets. I am also familiar with accounting software programs such as QuickBooks and Xero.”
5. Name some of the most common errors in accounting.
People who work in accounting often make mistakes when entering data, leaving something out, following through on a plan, or failing to do something. I make sure these mistakes don’t happen by checking my work twice and using accounting software to do the math for me. “.
6. What is the difference between auditing and accounting?
“Auditing is the process of verifying an organization’s financial statements, while accounting is the process of preparing financial statements. Auditors must match the statements with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), while accountants focus on preparing financial reports and tax filings.”
7. Tell me how you would design a spreadsheet to track daily cash receipts.
“I would design a spreadsheet with columns for the date, the name of the customer, the amount of the payment, and the payment method. I would also include a total row to calculate the total amount of cash received each day.”
8. How will this role help you to develop your accounting skills?
“This role will help me to develop my accounting skills by providing me with the opportunity to work with a variety of financial transactions. I will also be able to learn more about accounting software and procedures. I am confident that this experience will help me to advance my career in accounting.”
20 Technical Assistant Accountant Interview Questions
1. How would you handle an audit or discrepancy?
2. Which accounting software do you have the most experience with?
3. What is owner’s equity? How will you calculate it?
4. What is double-entry bookkeeping?
5. Tell me the main functions of a general ledger and how it relates to sub-ledgers.
6. What is the difference between cost, managerial, and financial accounting?
7. What are bills receivable and bills payable?
8. How would you evaluate the reliability of financial information?
9. Talk me through the steps of creating a bank reconciliation statement.
10. Have you ever implemented a new accounting software system?
11. What are financial ratios, and which ratios would you use to evaluate the financial state of our company?
12. Name some effective online and offline channels for locating potential clients.
13. How do you pass a journal entry for a buying order in books of account?
14. Can you simplify and explain complex financial information to others?
15. What are the three types of financial statements? Explain them.
16. Name a few common budgeting methods.
17. Explain the concept of accrual accounting versus cash accounting.
18. What strategies do you use to estimate bad debt?
19. Name some strategies for monitoring fraud and handling security.
20. What is your experience with writing online reports?
6 Sample Answers to Technical Assistant Accountant Interview Questions
1. What is double-entry bookkeeping?
“Double-entry bookkeeping is an accounting method that records important transactions in two or more accounts. This process can reduce errors and ensure the accounting books balance.”
2. What are financial ratios, and which ratios would you use to evaluate the financial state of our company?
“Financial ratios are calculations accountants use to obtain quantitative data from the company’s invoice statements. They provide valuable insights into liquidity, solvency, leverage, turnover, profitability, and efficiency. I would use ratios like the current ratio, debt-to-equity ratio, and profit margin to evaluate the financial state of our company.”
3. Tell me the main functions of a general ledger and how it relates to sub-ledgers.
“A general ledger is a record-keeping system that stores financial data. It validates debit and credit account records using a trial balance. In a general ledger, accountants can see every financial transaction the company has made, including accounts for assets, owners’ equity, liabilities, expenses, and revenues. Sub-ledgers show the sub-set of transactions that contain accounts receivable (AR) and accounts payable (AP) on a single chart.”
4. What is the difference between cost, managerial, and financial accounting?
“Cost accounting measures all incurred costs in the company to improve internal management. Managerial accounting creates financial statements, reports, and documents to encourage higher management to make better decisions. Financial accounting records and summarizes important transactions, focusing on the company’s financial health by evaluating profits and expected revenue.”
5. What is your experience with writing online reports?
“Accounting reports hold information regarding a company’s past and present financial state. When writing an online report, I would cover business operations, cash
Questions That Evaluate a Bookkeeper’s Soft Skills
Strong soft skills, such as communication, organization, and time management, are just as important as technical skills for a good bookkeeper. You may want to ask bookkeeper interview questions including;.
- How do you stay organized? What are your best ways to stay organized and manage your time?
- Do you make a presentation or a written report for executives to see your financial reports?
- What would you do if you found a mistake? How would you look into it further?
- Tell me about your favorite manager. Why did you like working with them?.
- Have you ever been in charge of a group or project?
Questions That Gauge a Bookkeeper’s Expertise
These bookkeeper interview questions will help you determine whether a candidate has the skills and experience you need. But remember that a candidate who doesn’t have the exact background and skills might be willing to work hard to learn them quickly. You may want to ask questions including:
- Tell me about the accounting software you’ve used. Which is your favorite?.
- Do you typically manage payroll? What software do you use?
- Walk me though your process for creating a financial report. How often do you complete reports?.
- What are your primary responsibilities?
- Please tell me about your education and on-the-job training. Do you have any relevant accounting degrees and/or certifications?.
- Why are you the right person for the job?
