So you’re aiming to become a Treasury Assistant? Well, buckle up because landing this coveted role requires more than just financial acumen You need to impress the interviewer with your knowledge, skills, and personality. But fret not, for this comprehensive guide will equip you with the tools and insights to ace your Treasury Assistant interview
25 Treasury Assistant Interview Questions: A Comprehensive Guide
This guide goes over 25 important questions that will be asked of you as a Treasury Assistant. It gives you tips from experts and examples of how to answer them, so you can do great in your interview.
1 Tell me about the biggest cash flow issue you have resolved
How to Answer:
- Highlight your problem-solving skills: Share a real-life example where you identified and resolved a cash flow issue, emphasizing your analytical and decision-making abilities.
- Quantify your impact: Use numbers to showcase the positive impact of your solution, demonstrating your effectiveness in mitigating financial challenges.
- Showcase your initiative: If you haven’t encountered such issues directly, explain how your proactive approach and meticulousness prevent such situations.
Sample Answer:
“Fortunately, I haven’t encountered major cash flow issues in my previous roles. However, my meticulous nature ensures that such situations rarely occur. I always double-check my work and ensure all financial data is accurate, minimizing the risk of errors that could lead to cash flow problems.”
2. As a Treasury Assistant, you’ll spend a lot of time at your desk. Are you okay with being in a sedentary job?
How to Answer
- Demonstrate your research skills: Emphasize that you reviewed the job description and understand the nature of the role.
- Express your comfort with the work environment: Convey your enthusiasm for the position despite its sedentary nature.
- Highlight your ability to stay active: Briefly mention any strategies you employ to maintain your well-being while working at a desk, such as regular breaks or stretching exercises.
Sample Answer
“I reviewed the job description thoroughly and understand that this is a desk-based role. I’m perfectly comfortable with that, as I enjoy focusing on tasks and completing them efficiently. However, I also prioritize my well-being and incorporate regular breaks and stretches into my workday to stay energized and productive.”
3. What do you look for in an employer?
How to Answer:
- Research the company: Demonstrate your knowledge of the company’s values, culture, and mission.
- Align your values with the company: Express your admiration for the company’s specific attributes that resonate with your personal values and career aspirations.
- Show your enthusiasm for the company: Convey your genuine interest in working for this particular organization.
Sample Answer:
“I value employers who prioritize employee well-being, provide opportunities for growth, and foster a collaborative environment. I was particularly impressed by your company’s commitment to (mention specific values or initiatives that resonate with you). This aligns perfectly with my desire to work in a supportive and growth-oriented environment.”
4. What is your preferred industry to work in?
How to Answer:
- Demonstrate your research and interest: Highlight your knowledge of the company’s industry and express your passion for working in that specific field.
- Explain your reasons for choosing the industry: Share your personal or academic experiences that sparked your interest in the industry, showcasing your genuine enthusiasm.
- Connect your skills to the industry: Explain how your skills and experiences align with the demands of the industry, demonstrating your suitability for the role.
Sample Answer:
“I reviewed your company website and learned that you operate in the (industry name) industry. This is precisely the industry I aspire to establish myself in. My passion for (industry) stems from (mention your experiences or academic pursuits related to the industry). I believe my skills in (mention relevant skills) would be valuable assets to your team.”
5. Being a Treasury Assistant can be stressful. What do you do to blow off steam, when necessary?
How to Answer:
- Showcase your stress management skills: Emphasize your ability to handle pressure and maintain composure in challenging situations.
- Share your stress-relieving strategies: Briefly mention healthy coping mechanisms you employ to manage stress, such as exercise, hobbies, or relaxation techniques.
- Demonstrate your professionalism: Ensure your stress-relieving activities do not interfere with your work responsibilities.
Sample Answer:
“I thrive under pressure and remain calm in stressful situations. I believe regular exercise significantly helps me manage stress effectively. Whether it’s going for a run, hitting the gym, or practicing yoga, physical activity allows me to clear my head and return to my tasks with renewed focus.”
6. What software or program do you use for tracking financial records?
How to Answer:
- Review the job description: Familiarize yourself with the software and programs required for the role.
- Highlight your relevant skills: Mention the software or programs listed in the job description that you’re proficient in.
- Express your willingness to learn: If you’re unfamiliar with specific software, express your eagerness to learn and adapt to new technologies.
Sample Answer:
“I’m proficient in using (mention relevant software or programs). However, I noticed that your job description mentions (specific software). While I haven’t had the opportunity to use it extensively, I’m a quick learner and eager to acquire new skills. I’m confident I can master this software quickly and efficiently.”
7. As a Treasury Assistant, it’s crucial to stay focused and meet deadlines. How do you stay organized and on track?
How to Answer:
- Demonstrate your organizational skills: Explain your methods for prioritizing tasks, managing time effectively, and meeting deadlines consistently.
- Highlight your tools and strategies: Mention the tools you use, such as calendars, to-do lists, or project management software, to stay organized and on top of your workload.
- Emphasize your adaptability: Explain how you adjust your approach based on changing priorities or unexpected circumstances.
Sample Answer:
“I’m a highly organized individual who relies on a combination of tools and strategies to stay on track. I use a comprehensive calendar to schedule meetings and deadlines, and I create daily and weekly to-do lists, prioritizing the most critical tasks. I regularly review and adjust my lists throughout the day to ensure I’m making steady progress. This approach allows me to adapt to changing priorities and unexpected situations effectively.”
8. How well do you get along with your colleagues?
How to Answer:
- Highlight your teamwork skills: Emphasize your ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and contribute to a positive team environment.
- Provide a concrete example: Share a specific instance where you demonstrated your teamwork skills in a previous role.
- Showcase your adaptability: Explain how you adjust your communication style and approach to work effectively with different personalities.
Sample Answer:
“I thrive in team environments and consider myself a team player. In my previous role as (previous position), I worked closely with a team of (number) colleagues on various projects, including (mention specific projects). I effectively communicated with my team members, shared responsibilities, and contributed to achieving our goals. I’m adaptable and can adjust my communication style to work effectively with diverse personalities and perspectives.”
9. Tell me the accounting programs and software that you are best versed in. What is your level of proficiency in each?
How to Answer:
- Review the job description: Familiarize yourself with the accounting programs and software required for the role.
- Highlight your relevant skills: Mention the accounting programs and software listed in the job description that you’re proficient in, along with your level of expertise.
- Express your willingness to learn: If you’re unfamiliar with specific programs, express your eagerness to learn and adapt to new technologies.
Sample Answer:
“I’m highly proficient in (mention relevant accounting programs and software), with a proficiency level of (mention your rating on a scale of 1 to 10). While I haven’t had extensive experience with (specific program), I’m eager to learn and expand my skillset. I’m a quick learner and confident I can master new programs quickly and efficiently.”
10. In addition to the degree(s), do you have any certifications, licenses, or designations not listed on your resume?
How to Answer:
- Be transparent: Disclose any relevant certifications, licenses, or designations, even if they’re not directly related to the position.
- Highlight your qualifications: Explain how these certifications or licenses enhance your overall skillset and make you a more valuable candidate.
- Provide details: Mention the year of obtention and the name of the educational institutions or organizations that granted the certifications or licenses.
Sample Answer:
“In addition to my Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, I hold a (mention certification or license) obtained in (year) from (educational institution or organization). I also have a (mention another certification or license) obtained in (year) from (educational institution or organization). While these certifications may not be directly related to this specific position, they demonstrate my commitment to professional development and continuous learning.”
11. Are you interested in obtaining your Masters’ degree in Business and/or Accounting (in the event not listed on resume)?
How to Answer:
- Review the job description: Familiarize yourself with the educational requirements for the role.
- Express your commitment to the position: If a Master’s degree
Questions to Ask in an Interview
At the end of every interview, candidates are always given the opportunity to ask the interviewer some questions. Make sure to prepare your questions to ask the interviewer ahead of time. You can pick questions based on what’s important to you and what else you need to know to decide if the job will be a good fit.
To help get you started, here are questions suggested by treasury professionals in the AFP community:
- How do you communicate and deliver information?
- When I ask for help, how do you handle it? How will you get rid of problems so I can finish a task or project?
- Why did you agree to take the job? Why do you stay?
- Have you ever had to deal with problems you didn’t expect?
- In what ways will you help me gain more experience? What kind of training do you offer?
- How do you motivate, engage and inspire employees?
- What makes someone a valuable employee in this company?
- Do you think this company values you? If so, how does it show this?
- What are my career goals? If I get the job, how will you help me reach them?
- Does my education or work experience make you worry or have faith in my ability to do well in this job?
- How do you train your employees to use these systems? Is the training done in-house or by someone else?
- How do you plan to make the treasury department more efficient through automation and resource allocation?
- How does the company manage liquidity — domestically and globally?
- What is the company’s approach to hedging risk?
- How does treasury impact EPS in this role?
- What does the company think about ESG, and how important is it to it?
- How do you deal with both internal and external stakeholders? Can you talk about how the treasury department works together to make sure the partnership works?
Common Behavioral Interview Questions
- Spend five minutes and walk me through your résumé.
- Tell me about yourself and why you’re a good fit for this job.
- What sets you apart from other candidates?
- What three things did your manager like about you in your last review? What three things did your manager want you to work on?
- What do you really care about most about your job?
- What do you do when you don’t want to do or find boring work?
- Treasury departments typically run lean. How do you organize and prioritize a lot of different tasks that keep coming up?
- What do you do when you’re not sure how to do something? How can someone help you?
- When you needed to make a big choice but didn’t have all the facts, tell me about it.
- Tell me about a new skill, procedure, or hard problem you had to solve. What were the steps you took, and were you successful?.
- Describe your communication style, both written and verbal.
- Tell me about a time when you had to work with others to reach a goal.
- Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a disagreement or a letdown. How did you get back on track?
- Tell me about a time when you had to deal with people who didn’t want to accept a change you were making.
- Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a tough customer or senior management
- Tell me about a time when you had to convince a group of important people to see things your way. Describe the situation, your actions and the outcome.
- As a treasury professional, tell me about a time when you had to teach someone else how to do their job and make them understand how important it is.
- Which activity or project did you lead that went the best and was the hardest?
- What kind of leadership do you use, and how do you like to run teams, whether they are formal or casual?
- How do you handle it when someone on your team doesn’t do their job?
- Which of the following do you think are good ways to help the team improve their skills?
- What risks do you see in the field that you would deal with if hired?
- What is your 30/60/90 plan for this position if hired?
- What is your personal perspective on risk management?
- How do you approach safeguarding the company’s assets?
- What is your definition of success for the treasury department?
- What are some of the fraud services that you might see on a bank account for accounts payable or payroll? What about accounts receivable or treasury accounts?
- Describe a smart way to add or remove users from bank platforms.
- What is FBAR?
- How do you approach cash forecasting?
- Explain what “free cash flow” means and how to use the direct method to find it.
- To understand and get around in a new country, how would you go about banking there?
- We have three projects for the treasury department. Projects: A, B, C. We want to automate tasks that used to be done by hand in project A. What is the best way to go about this?
- For Business B, we want to cut down on fraud, raise the number of days that payments are past due, and speed up the flow of payments. What do you suggest?
- We want to lower overall costs for Project C, bring in more interest income, and spend less on interest. What do you think we should do?
- What are the three most important financial statements? What do they show? How do they compare to each other?
- What makes a business receive cash from a customer in month 1 but not count it as income until month 2?
- Let’s say I buy a piece of equipment. Walk me through its impact on the three financial statements.
- Imagine a company whose EBITDA has been going up for a few years and then all of a sudden files for bankruptcy. How might this have happened?.
- Big company X has a lot of debt that comes due next year. What choices does the company have since the debt market is still tight?
Treasurer Assistant interview questions
FAQ
What questions should I ask in a treasury interview?
What does a treasury assistant do?
What makes you a good candidate for treasurer?
What questions should you ask a treasury assistant?
21. Describe your experience using accounting software. The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with specific software programs. This can help them determine if you have the necessary skills to perform the job duties of a treasury assistant.
What is a treasury analyst job interview?
Job interviews give you the opportunity to show an interviewer why your experience, skills and background make you a suitable candidate for a treasury analyst position. Many people practice answering interview questions before meeting with a hiring manager to increase their confidence and relieve stress.
What skills do treasury assistants need?
Bookkeeping and accounting are two important skills for a treasury assistant. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the necessary experience with these processes. Before your interview, read through the job description to see if they list any specific bookkeeping or accounting software that they use.
