1.

What is the difference between accounts receivable (AR) and accounts payable
(AP)?
This is an elementary question. Use it to assess the general accounting knowledge of entry-level
candidates for bookkeeping or accounting clerk openings. Verbal and non-verbal responses will reveal
whether the applicant understands accounting fundamentals.

2. When a company is using double-entry accounting, what elements of a given ledger

must be equal?
This is another fairly basic inquiry. Candidates with some accounting training or experience should
have no trouble answering it. As with question one, how the applicant replies may show you she is
under or overqualified for a junior-level position.

3. If a company has three bank accounts for processing payments, what is the
minimum number of ledgers it needs?
Use this as a starting point to explore a candidates knowledge of ledgers. Observe the candidates
initial reaction and use it as a leaping off point for further discussion of skills related to the opening
you are trying to fill. Expect the candidates response to reveal the extent to which she has thought
through how accounts relate to lines of business and generally accepted accounting principles.

4. What are two or three types of special journals?

While still a fairly basic question, you may tailor your follow-up queries according to the specificities of
your business or to the candidates work history. Or, as a skill test, you could present a few journal
samples and ask the applicant to explain what she sees. The way the applicant responds will show her
skill in identifying mistakes or omissions.

5. What methods have you used for estimating bad debt?

This question can open a dialogue about the ways the applicant has approached this routine process
with previous employers. This line of inquiry allows recent grads to apply theoretical knowledge in
venturing educated guesses. The applicants answer will reveal how well she understands the methods
most commonly used and could open a dialogue about how your company handles this.

6. Why is it easier for someone to perpetrate fraud using a journal entry than with a
ledger?
Accounting professionals, particularly those who have managed ledgers or worked as full-charge
bookkeepers for more than a couple of years, should be able to speculate on this scenario. A candidate
with more formal training specific to auditing or fraud analysis will likely explain this thoroughly and be
able to provide examples.

7. Which enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have you used?"

Most professionals, especially those with experience working for medium to large organizations,
should have an answer for this. A response might include any of the following: Hyperion, Microsoft
Dynamics GP or Oracle Enterprise Manager. For entry-level candidates, you might turn this into a
discussion of finance certifications and future training possibilities. For example, ask them which ERP

systems they would like to master. Discussion of these tools, how the applicant learned them and what
applications your company uses will reveal how much, if any, training the applicant might need if
hired.

8. What is your experience with developing business metrics?

Though somewhat general, this interview question can elicit answers useful in evaluating entry-level
business or financial analyst candidates all the way up to mid-career professionals who aspire to roles
that come with budget and staff oversight responsibilities.

9. If a private company with break-even operations received a $10 million

investment, how would you develop a strategy to spend or invest that money?
This falls into the category of situational interview techniques, a tactic useful for gauging an
applicants ability to think through a scenario like one she might face in a more senior finance
role. The applicants response will show you if her approach is in alignment with that of your existing
team, which will also indicate if this candidate is a good fit for your organizations culture.

10. What challenges have you faced in leading a team through an analysis project?
Weve left this last question, designed for probing leadership skills, somewhat general. It is another
interview question you can modify to better explore the particularities of your opening or a candidates
background. As with question nine, the applicants reply will reveal her critical thinking skills and elicit
a better picture of her leadership techniques.

types of reports
As part of this plan, you will logically organize your interviews so that you that you make the
interviewee feel comfortable in the interview process and then get an understanding of their past
experiences and technical knowledge and expertise with your accounting software.
Questions to "Break The Ice"
Regardless of whether you are interviewing an an entry-level candidate or an experienced
candidate, the interviewing process can be intimidating for your interviewees. Many small
business owners who are conducting the interviews have said that they feel "awkward and
uncomfortable" during the interview process. To settle everyone's nerves, including possibly
your own, you should start the interview with soft, icebreaker questions. You can ask general,
open-ended questions such as the following:

Tell me about yourself.

Why did you apply for this bookkeeping position?
Why did you choose this career?

Why are you interested in leaving your current job?

"What goals do you have in your career? How do you plan to achieve them?"

What do you see yourself doing five/ten years from now?

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These types of questions will not give you insights into whether or not your candidate is a good
for for the position. But you may learn something about important about your candidate
through these open-ended questions, and it will give a chance for any nervousness or anxiety to
settle down.
Work Experience
You will want to ask specific questions about a candidates work experience. You may want to
ask entry-level candidates questions about prior employment or about how they handled
projects during their schooling so you can evaluate their commitment and dedication in that area
since they may not have a work history for you to ask questions about.
What types of financial reports have you prepared and how was the data used by your previous
employer?

"Which accounting software programs are you familiar with?

"How would you describe your work style?"

"What did you like most/least about your last job?"

"What were the responsibilities of your last position?"

"What do you think of your previous boss?"

"What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?"
"Whats one negative thing your last boss would say about you?"
"Give examples of ideas you've had or implemented."
After these questions, you should have a good idea of your candidates work experience and
their work-style. You need to be sure they are a good fit with your organization -- a highly
ambitious, go-getter may look good on paper, but will not likely fit in with your company if your
laid back and slower moving.
Questions to Evaluate Bookkeeping Knowledge and Expertise
You will want to verify that your candidate has the technical skills to be successful in their
bookkeeping position. While some candidates may good at passing exams and racking
up bookkeeping certifications or other accounting certifications, they may not necessarily have
the mindset needed to apply those skills to real world tasks. You can ask the following
questions:

"How do you customize a report in QuickBooks?"

"Tell me when you would post an adjusting entry."

"Does the accounts payable account normally have a debit or credit balance?"

"How would you know if someone accidentally posted an adjusting journal entry to
accounts receivable?"

"When do we have to send vendors 1099s?"

"What is depreciation expense?"
These bookkeeping questions will test accounting knowledge as well applied knowledge that
has been learned on the job at other bookkeeping positions.
Bookkeeper's Need Soft Skills Too
You will want to assess your candidates interpersonal or soft skills. Many people think that
accountants and bookkeepers just crunch numbers from 9 to 5. While that may be true in some
cases, your bookkeeper will probably have a lot of interaction with employees, contractors,
vendors, and you. So you will want to make sure that the bookkeeper your hire does berate
people when they make accounting errors or damage relationships with your key customers
when they forget to pay on time. Some good questions you can ask are:

How would you handle a situation where an employee makes the same mistake
repeatedly?"

Tell me about a difficult situation you encountered at work and how you handled the
situation?

"If a customer called in angry about charges on an invoice, what would you do?"
These types of questions will let you see what type of interpersonal skills your bookkeeping
candidate possesses.

hat Kind Of Interview Questions Should I Ask For An Accounts Payable Clerk That Has
Experience In Quickbooks?
1. Tell me about an average working day. In detail, describe your responsibilities and how you post
invoices to Quickbooks.
2. How would you handle this type of situation: unusual bills are received, and though a purchase
order is referenced, the money due exceeds the amount authorized?
3. How long would it take you to post an average daily batch?
4. Describe the process you are familiar with when preparing and running a batch of checks.

Tell me about an average working day. In detail, describe your responsibilities and how you post invoices to
Quickbooks.
2. How would you handle this type of situation: unusual bills are received, and though a purchase order is referenced,
the money due exceeds the amount authorized?

3. How long would it take you to post an average daily batch?

4. Describe the process you are familiar with when preparing and running a batch of checks.
1. Why Do You Want to Be an Accountant?

This fairly standard interview question is a typical warm-up, since it's an opening that breaks the ice and allows
the hiring manager to get to know you better. That doesn't mean, however, that it's a throwaway question. You
should answer thoughtfully by giving examples of things that happened in your life that led you to the
accounting field. Were you the fifth grade class treasurer? Did you save for months to buy your first car?
Whatever the scenario, give the interviewer some background about yourself and your studies.
2. Do You Possess Any Knowledge of Accounting Standards?

Even if you've never had a job in the field before, you should be prepared to answer this question with some
knowledge of international accounting standards (IAS). While there are so many facets of IAS that it would be
possible to be up to speed on all of them, prior to an interview you should do some research on the most recent
changes to these standards and be prepared to discuss.
3. How Do You Minimize the Risk for Errors in Your Work?

As an accountant, you'll be held to a very high standard of excellence, especially since even the smallest errors
can lead to big financial issues. In response to this question, it's important to discuss the importance of
checking your work several times and establishing a system of checks and balances. It also helps to give an
example of a time that you caught an error through double checking or another method.
4. Describe a Time When You've Helped Reduce Costs

This can be a challenging question, especially if you've never held an accounting job before. While some
accountants strictly do their jobs, others go above and beyond by making suggestions to management and
identifying areas where money can be saved. By describing a scenario from your coursework or an internship,
you can show the hiring manager that you're willing to go beyond and be a team player.
5. Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?

A common question in all industries, this question gives you the chance to show off your foresight and ambition.
Your answer should be both modest and truthful, highlighting the things that you hope to learn from a position
with the organization you're interviewing with while displaying a solid plan for your short term career trajectory.