Experienced accountants often work with multiple enterprise resource planning systems or accounting software applications. This question lets the applicant show their familiarity with common accounting and business software packages. Look for answers that include the name of the software, the version, and the features that the applicant used most. You should also look for:

• Knowledge of the latest versions of prominent software packages
• Understanding of how to use common features
• Willingness and capability to learn about new platforms quickly

Experienced accountants can use advanced tools or software features to do their jobs faster and more efficiently. This question prompts the applicant to reveal whether they try to look for ways to improve their processes, procedures, and accounting techniques and how they accomplish this goal. In this answer, a great candidate should include:

• Creative thinking
• Understanding of standard accounting business processes and applicable local laws
• One or more examples of their strong skills in accounting

Many accounting projects have strict deadlines, and many accountants work on more than one project at a time. This important question lets you know how the candidate prioritises their tasks and responds when dealing with high-pressure situations. Here's what you should look for in an answer:

• Good time management techniques and the ability to quickly and accurately enter transactions
• Ability to focus on the most important accounting duties first
• Ability to multitask and work on several different kinds of reports at the same time

Accountants may need to explain processes or concepts to people who don't know anything about accounting. Look for a response that conveys a willingness and ability to simplify complex information and present it in a way that's easy to understand fashion. With this answer, you should listen for:

• Ability to teach and explain complex concepts in a simple way
• Fundamental understanding of accounting concepts and applicable accounting laws
• Ability to answer questions, explain patiently, and give clients good advice

This question gauges how well the applicant will get along with coworkers instead of clients. It helps you make sure the person can work well as part of a team and help increase the entire business's efficiency. With this answer, you should look for:

• Teamwork
• Ability to resolve conflicts and prevent them when possible
• Ability to work with a variety of people and personalities

Accountants need to remain vigilant to detect fraud and protect the company's finances and values. The applicant should be familiar with a combination of software features designed to detect fraud, and they should be able to use their own judgment to identify unusual or fraudulent patterns in records. In the applicant's answer, look for:

• Understanding of common fraudulent behaviour
• Familiarity with fraud monitoring tools
• Ethics and knowledge of local accounting laws

A tiny mistake could cost your company a lot of money, especially if it's not detected. Applicants should have several different ways to check their accounting accuracy, and they should know how to respond if they make a mistake. Here's what you should look for in an answer:

• Excellent attention to detail
• Ability to find and correct mistakes
• Devotion to accuracy

A good accountant can identify areas of wasteful spending and suggest strategies to reduce unnecessary expenses. Look for answers that display analytical thinking and problem-solving skills. You should also look for:

• Willingness to make extra effort for their organisation
• Experience with developing optimisation processes
• Data and statistics from the applicant's last job that show how they helped the company conserve resources

This question helps recruiters determine if your experience aligns with the company's size and industry. Accounting is a vast profession, and rules and processes can differ across industries. An Accountant who has already worked in your industry and understands industry terms and practises will require less on-the-job training. For this answer, look for:

• Experience in a similarly sized company in the same industry
• Enthusiasm for the industry and the products or services it offers
• History of success in the industry

Many provinces and territories require certification as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA). Auditors sometimes require recognition from the Institute of Internal Auditors, and accountants who act as trustees in bankruptcy proceedings may need a separate licence. You should look for:

• Certification in provinces and territories where your company operates
• Knowledge of local laws
• Ability to act as an auditor

This is a question that assesses the applicant's level of awareness about a critical trend that will significantly impact the field. It lets you know whether the person is concerned about AI and automation or optimistic about its potential. You should look for:

• An optimistic answer
• Willingness to learn new technologies
• Ideas about how to increase the accounting department's use of automation

This question assesses the applicant's knowledge of the industry and helps you evaluate how the person will respond to problems. You should look for:

• Plenty of patience
• Willingness to spend hours checking records and making calculations
• The ability to keep up with changes in the industry and local laws

This question tests the applicant's basic accounting knowledge. In this answer, you should look for:

• An understanding of balance sheets
• An understanding of income statements
• An understanding of cash flow statements

The applicant should be able to tell you about an accounting procedure they developed or helped develop. You should look for:

• Creativity
• Problem-solving skills
• The ability to make operations more efficient

Every accountant should know the answer to this question, and they'll need to communicate with people in these departments often. You should look for:

• An understanding of accounts payable
• An understanding of accounts receivable
• The ability to keep track of reports and financial records from both of these departments