Top tips for your Accounting Job Interview.

Are you considering a career change in the accounting field? We asked our accounting professionals for their best advice on how to ace your next interview.

Preparing for your next accounting interview can be a stressful task if you're looking for a new job. We contacted two of our accountancy experts for their advise to help you make sure the numbers are on your side.

Allow your CV to tell the story.

Mark McGarry, a finance and commerce consultant in Robert Walters' Sydney office, advises his candidates to make sure their CVs reflect their professional advancement. "Promotions are something that many candidates overlook on their CVs. Put 'junior accountant' for two years and 'financial accountant' for two years instead of just 'financial accountant' for four years. This will demonstrate to hiring managers that you have achieved success and been rewarded in previous employment."

Detailing your own personal successes in each career you've held should be a part of this CV narrative. "Focusing on any process changes you've introduced — such as tax reduction or creating a new manner of financial reporting can immediately show hiring managers what you're capable of and what you'd bring to the post," he says.

Mark also urges his applicants to list all of their qualifications and experience that may be relevant to the position. "On your CV, any relevant experience should be mentioned explicitly," he advises. "Along with any chartered accountancy degrees, you should also add any technological knowledge you have, as hiring managers are increasingly looking for familiarity with IT software and systems."

Learn more Company

According to Janine Blacksley, director of Robert Walters UK, the first thing any accounting candidate should do is look into the company's financial health. "It's critical that candidates check press releases and accounting websites for news on the company they're looking for - it's amazing how many applicants aren't aware of company takeovers, for example," she says.

Hiring managers may also inquire about the wider accounting industry, so applicants should take a more comprehensive approach to research. "Interviewers frequently inquire about competitors, so make sure you know who they are and what they do," Janine advises. "Candidates should have a broad understanding of the industry and be able to describe the industry's significant issues and threats in the next years."

Make sure you're prepared for accounting interview questions.

In an accountancy interview, candidates can expect two types of questions, according to Mark: technical competency questions and psychometric behavioral questions.

"In terms of technical skills, you'll need to demonstrate that you can work with enormous datasets and perform difficult data reconciliations," he says. "Or, if the organization is still implementing IFRS, expect inquiries about how they would connect costs and revenue to the different sorts of contracts or projects affected by the revisions."

Janine advises her candidates to prepare for psychometric testing such as personality profiling or verbal reasoning, which is particularly popular with larger, blue-chip firms. "Candidates frequently take these examinations for granted," Janine warns, "but corporations would not invest in them if they weren't necessary." As a result, take advantage of online practice examinations to familiarize yourself with the format."

Express your ability to communicate and consult.

Communication skills are vital in any profession, but in an accountancy function, a hiring manager will want assurances that you can work well with people outside your immediate team and interact with other stakeholders, as Mark encourages his applicants.

"A critical ability that you should aim to highlight is being able to partner with other sections of the organization and communicate about accounts using non-financial words," he says. "This ability is in great demand and isn't always visible in all candidates, so use whatever knowledge and expertise you have in this area."

Janine adds, "Accountancy has changed quite a deal in recent years." "It's no longer simply about adding up the statistics; hiring managers want to see how you collaborate with other departments, such as the commercial team, to help move the company forward."

Demonstrate your interest in the position.

Mark advises his interviewees to concentrate completely on why they want the job throughout the interview. "Talking about why you wish to leave your current job could raise some red lights for the interviewer." Instead, concentrate on the attraction elements of the job you're interviewing for."

Janine recommends that inquiring about the company culture is a fantastic way to demonstrate interest in the position. "For many jobseekers, this is the most crucial factor to consider while looking for a new job. Questions centered primarily on salary may reflect adversely on the candidate and cause the hiring manager to mistrust their motivations."

Click here for Top 101 Accounting interview Question and Answer that the interviewer used to ask.