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Assistant Controller Interview Questions

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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Assistant Controller interview questions and answers.

  1. What is your greatest strength as a professional accountant? See answer
  2. Describe your understanding of generally accepted accounting principles in Canada and their application to your role as an assistant controller. See answer
  3. How has your education prepared you for an assistant controller position? See answer
  4. What is the biggest challenge an assistant controller faces in their role? See answer
  5. What experience do you have working with external auditors as an assistant controller? See answer
  6. Describe your experience and understanding of SOX compliance. See answer
  7. How has your work experience in accounting prepared you for a role as an assistant controller? See answer
  8. Describe a work situation that tested your professional ethics. See answer
  9. How would you describe your management style as an assistant controller? See answer
  10. When hiring for your team, what are the essential qualities you look for in a candidate? See answer
  11. As an assistant controller, what is your primary responsibility to the executive board? See answer
  12. How does the role of an assistant controller support the company’s controller?
  13. How do you maintain the accuracy of your team’s work?
  14. How do you communicate the company’s and department’s goals and objectives to your team?
  15. What unique qualities make you stand out from other candidates for the position of assistant controller?
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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Assistant Controller Interview Questions and Answers

How does the role of an assistant controller support the company's controller?

An assistant controller supports the role of the controller by managing hands-on tasks and supervising the accounting team. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's approach to providing support. What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding the duties and responsibilities of the position
  • Interest in providing support to the company's controller
  • Ability to manage an accounting team and provide hands-on direction

Example:

"In a company such as yours with multiple divisions, the assistant controller would provide support to the controller by managing the daily hands-on direction of the team. The position would also focus on one or several divisions, providing accurate and timely information to the controller."

What is your greatest strength as a professional accountant?

Depending on your company, an assistant controller typically has extensive academic training and a CPA (chartered professional accountant) designation. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's professional strengths. What to look for in an answer:

  • Attention to detail and ability to complete highly accurate work
  • Understanding of business operations and accounting best practises
  • Time management, organisation, and critical thinking skills

Example:

"My greatest strength as a professional accountant is my understanding of financial reporting. I'm able to analyse financial reports to determine areas of opportunity for better cost control measures. Reports also provide key insights into a company's financial wellbeing and long-term success."

Describe your understanding of generally accepted accounting principles in Canada and their application to your role as an assistant controller.

An assistant controller must understand and maintain the GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) within their role. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's familiarity with these principles and how they apply to the position. What to look for in an answer:

  • Solid foundational knowledge of Canadian GAAP
  • Ability to maintain the accepted standards for financial reporting
  • Interest in staying current with changes and updates to the principles

Example:

"In Canada, there are several unique sets of principles for various entities. For example, there are standards for public companies, non-profits, and privately held corporations. As an assistant controller, I follow these principles every day in my role. The principles create a framework of how accounting functions are completed."

How do you maintain the accuracy of your team's work?

An assistant controller manages the accuracy of financial transactions and reporting from the accounting team. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's approach to managing the team's attention to detail and accuracy. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to follow accounting best practises to minimize and catch errors
  • Attention to detail and a high level of accuracy
  • Leadership skills to direct a team and ensure compliance

Example:

"As an assistant controller, it's my responsibility to ensure that the accounting team understands the importance of accurate entries and transactions. I complete regular spot-checks on completed work to monitor errors and speak with team members who regularly have mistakes in their entries."

How has your education prepared you for an assistant controller position?

Typically, an assistant controller must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in business administration or accounting. The goal of the question is to determine the candidate's academic background and how they apply their knowledge to the benefit of the position. What to look for in an answer:

  • Completion of company-specific educational requirements
  • Ability to implement learned knowledge to benefit their role
  • Interest in continuing to develop their professional skills

Example:

"Having completed my bachelor's degree and receiving my CPA designation has given me a vast amount of knowledge of accounting best practises, as well as hands-on experience. I understand, with great detail, full-cycle accounting and financial reporting."

What is the biggest challenge an assistant controller faces in their role?

There are various challenges an assistant controller faces with their role. The goal of the question is to determine the candidate's assessment of potential challenges and how they would handle the situation. What to look for in an answer:

  • Awareness of potential challenges within the role, such as compliance or accuracy
  • Ability to assess challenges and create a plan to minimize problems
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving skills to remain proactive

Example:

"The greatest challenge I face as an assistant controller is the integration of all company departments to benefit the financial visibility of the business. In my experience, I've seen many companies work in silos, where departments are disconnected from one another. This takes a hit on the financial reporting and real-time assessment of the company's financial wellbeing."

What experience do you have working with external auditors as an assistant controller?

An assistant controller must be comfortable working with and providing support to external firms and auditors for reporting compliance. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's level of experience with financial audits. What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding of the role of external auditors
  • Ability to provide accurate information for auditing purposes
  • Interest in offering support and assistance to auditing personnel

Example:

"For the past several years as an assistant controller, I was tasked with attending to the auditors who completed quarterly and annual reviews of our financial reports. I was responsible for preparing all documents and data that they required."

Describe your experience and understanding of SOX compliance.

An assistant controller must be knowledgeable about SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley Act) compliance. The United States implemented the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and Canada quickly followed suit with Bill 198, also known as C-SOX. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's understanding of the legislation that focuses on financial transparency and personal accountability of compliance. What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding of Canadian SOX accounting standards
  • Experience working with personal accountability for accounting compliance
  • Interest in staying current with updates regarding this regulation

Example:

"During my CPA designation training, I spent extensive time learning about C-SOX compliance. Working for a publicly traded company in my previous position allowed me the opportunity to dive deeper into the daily standards and practises to remain financially compliant."

How has your work experience in accounting prepared you for a role as an assistant controller?

An assistant controller typically has many years of experience within the accounting profession before moving into the role. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's work experience that has prepared them for the position. What to look for in an answer:

  • Several years of accounting experience in various positions, such as accounts payable and receivable
  • Ability to adapt experience to the benefit of the current position
  • Understanding the full scope of duties and responsibilities of an assistant controller

Example:

"I've spent over six years in various accounting roles and have gradually increased my level of responsibilities and position. I started in a basic accounts receivable job, and as I gained experience and knowledge, I moved up in my company. Then I..."

Describe a work situation that tested your professional ethics.

An assistant controller is part of the executive team and, as such, must maintain high professional ethics. The goal of the question is to determine the candidate's response to an unethical request or situation. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to maintain high standards of professional ethics
  • Critical thinking and analytical skills to assess the situation and proceed appropriately
  • Desire to protect the company's financial interests 

Example:

"I once had a department manager, who I had a close professional relationship with, falsify their expense report for their financial benefit. This caused an ethical dilemma because of our work friendship. However, as an assistant controller, my priority is the financial well-being of the company. So I..."

How would you describe your management style as an assistant controller?

An assistant controller typically manages the daily operations of the accounting department. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's approach to management and leadership. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to identify their professional strengths as a manager
  • Interest in continuing to improve management skills
  • Interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills to manage a team effectively

Example:

"In my position, I would consider my management style to be directive and mentoring. I believe in providing clear expectations of my team, so they understand what's required of them. I also believe in supporting learning and mentoring to develop my team to become more proficient and knowledgeable."

When hiring for your team, what are the essential qualities you look for in a candidate?

An assistant controller is often involved in the hiring process of new team members. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's process in identifying qualified applicants. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to identify essential skills and qualities for new team members
  • Experience in the interviewing process 
  • Ability to remain objective and non-biased when selecting candidates

Example:

"The essential qualities I look for in a candidate include technical expertise for the specific role, such as experience with general ledgers, bank reconciliation, or GST submission. I also look for personality characteristics that would fit into the company and department culture with the existing team."

How do you communicate the company's and department's goals and objectives to your team?

An assistant controller must provide leadership to the financial team and ensure goals and objectives are clearly communicated. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's ability to provide direction and guidance regarding key goals and projects. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to clearly communicate the company's and department's key goals and objectives
  • Interpersonal skills to build rapport with the financial team
  • Interest in having open discussions about goals and projects

Example:

"As a manager of the financial team, it's critical that I share important information with my group. This includes the goals and objectives of the company and department. I have an open-door policy and share as much as possible with my team by means of staff meetings, emails, and other correspondence."

As an assistant controller, what is your primary responsibility to the executive board?

Depending on the company's reporting structure, an assistant controller may report to the controller or to the chief financial officer. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's understanding of reporting responsibility in the position. What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding of the full scope of duties and responsibilities for the job description
  • Desire to provide accurate and legitimate financial information to the board
  • Ability to identify the ethical responsibilities of the position

Example:

"My primary responsibility to the executive board as an assistant controller is to provide factual and timely financial information and reports. This includes providing my professional analysis of potential risks and opportunities."

What unique qualities make you stand out from other candidates for the position of the assistant controller?

A successful assistant controller has various skills and abilities that support their position. The goal of the question is to determine the candidate's unique qualities that can benefit their position within your company. What to look for in an answer:

  • Interest in researching the company and position before the interview
  • Understanding of the job description's duties and responsibilities
  • Ability to adapt experience and knowledge to benefit the position and company

Example:

"I have a unique perspective of your company, having worked for a competitor in the past. My previous work experience has allowed me to gain an inside understanding of your industry, and the challenges and opportunities that exist."

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