6 Questions to Ask in Your Accountancy Interview

Interviews are all about questions and understanding and checking for alignment that both parties, both the employer and potential new employee are a fit and a match for each other.  

While most of today’s accountancy professionals spend significant time preparing for queries about their skills, certifications, and history, they often forget to consider what they should be asking in return.  

Whether you’re just starting out in a new career in accountancy or pursuing a more fulfilling role after leaving a poor fit behind, asking the right questions in your accountancy interview is crucial. The points you inquire about will give you a clearer view of which roles best suit your personality, knowledge, and preferences; while also showing your interviewer you have a genuine interest in the opportunity.  

Here are some questions you may want to ask when the end of the interview rolls around and your hiring manager gives you the floor.  

1. Can You Tell Me More About The Team I Will Work With? 

Part of finding the ideal accountancy firm to work for is ensuring you’re going to feel comfortable as part of your new team. While the job listing posted by the company might tell you a lot about your role and what you’ll be doing each day, it probably won’t give you an insight into the team you’ll be collaborating with daily.  

Asking about the manager you’ll be reporting to, the financial staff already in the workforce, and anyone else you’ll interact with regularly serves an important purpose. You’ll be able to learn what characteristics are valued among existing staff members (such as punctuality, proactivity or independence). Plus, you’ll have a clear view of how the company is structured. 

Once you know more about the team, you can also use the opportunity to share stories with the interviewer about your success working with similar professionals in the past. 

2. How Could I Impress You Within The First 3 Months? 

Your goal during an accounting interview should be to get business leaders and hiring managers excited about the concept of having you on the team. Asking how you might be able to impress your new manager as quickly as possible shows you’re committed to making a positive contribution as soon as you can.  

This question will also provide useful information about how your employer will assess your work and performance during the early days. This should ensure you’re more prepared to convince your manager they made the right choice by hiring you.  

Where possible, dive deeper into the kind of assessment methods the company uses to track employee success, what metrics they track, and how they approach issues with work quality. If you’re not performing according to the organisation’s standards, how will they let you know, and what can you do to turn things around? 

3. What are the Opportunities for Progression in this Role? 

In the “Great Resignation” age, when holding onto excellent accountancy talent is increasingly difficult, companies are looking for candidates with their eyes on the future. Your hiring manager will want to see evidence you’re committed to developing and learning with the business.  

Asking about opportunities for training and progression shows you’re focused on the long-term. It’s also an opportunity for you to plan what your future might look like in the business. Before you join a new team, you want to know there’s going to be room for you to expand your skills.  

Don’t just focus on when you might be able to get a promotion. Discuss training opportunities (mandatory and voluntary), chances you might have to take on new responsibilities, and how your manager determines when an employee is ready for progression. You can even get an insight into whether the organisation can help you reach your long-term accounting career goals. 

4. How Would You Describe the Company Culture? 

You’re likely to prioritise company culture as you look toward the future of your accounting career. After all, 48% of employees say they want to work for a business with similar values to their own. Hopefully, the business you’ve applied to work with has already shared some insights into its company culture on its website and job descriptions.  

If so, you can dive a little deeper into the things you’ve already learned when researching the brand. For instance, if you know the organisation prioritises flexibility, you can ask whether they’ve ever explored the concept of the four-day work week or what models they have for managing remote and hybrid work.  

If you’re not entirely sure what the working environment will be like, asking about the company culture, in general, is a good way to determine whether it’s going to be a good fit for you. This is also a great chance to learn more about the DEI initiatives of the team and how the managers strive to keep the workforce as diverse and inclusive as possible.  

5. Where Do You Think The Company is Headed? 

Particularly in today’s post-pandemic environment, many accounting professionals are more concerned about job longevity. If you’re worried about your role’s lifespan, asking where the business is headed should help you feel more secure.  

A good way to make a positive impression while asking this question is to discuss what you already know about the brand first. For instance, you might have discovered the company has recently invested in some new technology to help automate certain accounting practices. You could mention this and then query whether a focus on automation is important to the business.  

Once again, asking about the business’s future also helps show your genuine interest in the organisation and what it might accomplish going forward. 

6. Do You Have any Hesitations About Hiring Me? 

This is likely one of the most nerve-wracking questions to ask in an interview. Sometimes, your interviewer won’t want to share much feedback about how you handled the conversation until they send you a follow-up email. If they tell you they need to “think about” the question, don’t push. 

In cases where the interview has gone well and you have already established a rapport with the hiring manager; however, this question could be a good way to see if you’re making a good impression. It can also nudge the interviewer into raising concerns you can address instantly. 

If you want to take a less direct approach to this question, you could ask, “what would make you hesitant about hiring someone for this role?” 

Thanks,  

Rachel 

About Rebus Financial Recruitment    

Rebus Financial Recruitment provides a specialist and focused recruitment service to its customers, ranging from various organisations, including SMEs, to large PLCs.     

We strive to offer both the client and candidate a seamless recruitment experience. Using our expertise, we get to the heart of employer and employee needs, and, in doing so, we match the two perfectly. Contact one of our team today to find out more, or you can call us on 01282 930930.