Interviewing Soon? Key Questions for Interviewers & Candidates

Whether you are preparing to interview or be interviewed, having a solid set of questions can make all the difference. Interviews for finance and accountancy roles are more than just number crunching, they test your technical knowledge, problem-solving abilities, and how well you fit within a company’s culture. Employers want to know if you have the right mix of competencies, personality, and alignment with their values.

To help you prepare, we have compiled a list of essential interview questions, divided into four key areas: competency-based, personality-driven, cultural fit, and situational & behavioural questions.

Competency-Based Questions

These questions assess your technical expertise, analytical thinking, and ability to handle real-world financial challenges.

1. Can you walk us through a complex financial analysis you have conducted?

2. How do you ensure accuracy when preparing financial reports?

3. Describe a time you identified an error in financial statements. How did you handle it?

4. What steps do you take to stay updated with financial regulations and accounting standards?

5. How would you explain a complicated financial concept to a non-finance colleague?

6. Tell us about a time you worked under a tight deadline to complete an audit or report.

7. What financial metrics do you consider most important when assessing a company’s performance?

8. Have you ever implemented a process improvement in financial reporting? What was the impact?

9. How do you approach risk assessment in financial planning or auditing?

10. Can you give an example of how you have used technology to improve financial processes?

Personality-Driven Questions

These questions help employers understand your personal attributes, resilience, and ability to adapt in a finance role.

1. What motivates you in your work as an accountant or finance professional?

2. Describe a time you had to handle a difficult client or stakeholder. How did you manage the situation?

3. How do you handle stress and pressure, especially during peak financial periods?

4. Tell us about a mistake you made at work. How did you address it?

5. What is your approach to continuous learning and professional development?

6. How do you balance attention to detail with meeting deadlines?

7. Describe a time when you had to take initiative in a finance-related project.

8. What do you enjoy most about working in finance and accountancy?

9. How do you handle competing priorities when managing multiple clients or tasks?

10. Can you give an example of when you had to influence a decision using financial data?

Cultural Fit Questions

These questions gauge how well you align with the company's values, work environment, and team dynamics.

1. Why do you want to work for our company specifically?

2. What kind of work environment do you thrive in?

3. How do you collaborate with teams across different departments?

4. Describe a time you had to adapt to a company’s culture or way of working.

5. What values do you think are most important in a finance team?

6. How do you approach working with people who have different communication styles?

7. Tell us about a time when you contributed to a positive team culture.

8. How do you handle ethical dilemmas in financial decision-making?

9. What role does corporate social responsibility play in finance, in your opinion?

10. If you had to describe our company’s culture based on what you have seen so far, what would you say?

Situational & Behavioural Questions

These questions explore how you react to unexpected challenges or changes in the finance industry.

1. Describe a time you had to quickly adapt to a change in financial regulations. How did you handle it?

2. Have you ever faced a disagreement with a colleague over financial data interpretation? How did you resolve it?

3. Tell us about a situation where you had to persuade a senior manager to adopt your financial recommendations.

4. Give an example of how you handled competing demands from multiple stakeholders.

5. Describe a time when you had to make a difficult financial decision with incomplete information.

Preparation is key to a successful interview. By reflecting on these questions and crafting strong responses, you will be ready to showcase your expertise, personality, and fit for the role. Remember, interviews are not just about proving you can do the job—they are about demonstrating that you will thrive in the company’s environment.