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Accounting clerk interview questions are important to review because you will likely be asked about your experience as well as how you think you would handle the responsibilities of the position during an interview.
Below are 20 common accounting clerk interview questions with example answers to help you get prepare to impress the hiring manager and stand out from the crowd.
Key Takeaways:
As an accounting clerk candidates you should prepare by reviewing common accounting software, highlight relevant accounting soft skills, and creating a list of questions to ask the interviewer.
As an interviewer, you should prepare by creating common and specific accounting clerk interview questions, creating the evaluation criteria, and reviewing the candidates resume before the interview.
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Reviewing accounting clerk interview questions can help you be prepared for your interview. Set up a mock interview to practice answering these questions. Not only will you know what to expect but you will be more confident in your answers.
Below are 20 accounting clerk behavioral, situation, and scenario based interview questions in addition to common interview questions to help you get ready. We have also included tips to help you answer as well as example answers to help you know what interviewers are looking for.
Tell me about yourself. This is a common question that is asked to get to know you better. When answering this question, be sure to highlight your relevant skills and qualifications.
Example Answer:
"I have three years as experience working as an accounting clerk. During this time, I became adept to various accounting tasks such as accounts payable and receivable, payroll processing, and reconciling financial statements.
I pride myself on my strong organizational abilities, meeting deadlines, and my proficiency in various accounting software's."
Why do you want to work here? This question is asked to see how much you know about the company and if you did any research beforehand. Your answer should showcase your enthusiasm and genuine interest in working for the company.
Example Answer:
"I want to work here because of your strong emphasis on accuracy, attention to detail, and maintaining transparent and reliable financial records. I believe these principles are key when it comes to an accounting firm. I am also impressed by your growth trajectory and your focus on innovation and technology in the accounting field.
I am eager to work with modern software and leveraging technologies to streamline processes and enhance efficiency. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the success of this organization and further develop my skills as an accounting clerk."
What are you strengths and weaknesses? When answering this question, it's important to be honest and show how self aware you are. The strengths you discuss should be relevant to the position. Your weaknesses should focus on areas of improvement and what steps you are taking to address them.
Example Answer:
"My greatest strength would be my ability to communicate effectively. Clear and concise communication is important when dealing with colleagues, clients, and supervisors. I make sure to always listen to them when they are talking, ask relevant questions when necessary, and provide accurate information.
While I am an excellent communicator when it comes to one-on-one and small group interactions, I am actively working on my public speaking skills with larger groups. I'm doing this by working on my presentation skills and attending workshops to help enhance these skills and become more confident."
Why should we hire you? The interviewer is looking to see how you sell yourself and what sets you apart from other candidates. Your answer should highlight any specific skills and accomplishments that make you unique.
Example Answer:
"I have a strong background in accounting with a Bachelor's degree in accounting. This has provided me with a solid foundation in financial principles, auditing, and financial analysis. I have practical experience working as an accounting intern and accounting assistant."
Why do you want to be an accounting clerk? Like any profession, you’ll get this specific question as it relates to the job. The interviewer will want to know what brings you to accounting.
This is why you should have some experience with accounting, either in education or work, because you will want to show the role aligns with your interests.
Example Answer:
“I love organization and numbers. It just makes sense to me. When I can put the flow of transactions into a logical structure, I feel delighted with my work.”
What do you expect your role to be at our organization? You want to be familiar with the company and have a general idea of what your responsibilities will be as an accounting clerk.
Understand it can depend on the size of the company. A large company will most likely expect you to perform specific accounting roles.
Example Answer:
“Since the company is so big, I imagine I will be placed on a specific account within the company. I imagine my role will be part of a bigger team that handles the overall accounting process.”
How do you feel about working alone and with people? Accounting clerks have to be pretty self-sufficient and comfortable with working alone.
That being said, you still need to work well with others, whether they be other employees in accounting or different departments, as well as clients. So strike a balance between independence and collaboration.
Example Answer:
“I am very comfortable working for long periods on my own. I can organize my tasks in such a way that I can keep track of progress and stay motivated. That being said, I love working with people too, as long as my role is well defined. Our combined talents can have a greater impact.”
How do you handle mistakes? Mistakes are bound to happen, but in accounting, they need to be minimized as much as possible.
The interviewer will want to see that you understand this, so be honest and show that you approach mistakes with a rational, problem-solving mindset. Importantly, show that you learn from past mistakes to avoid future ones.
Example Answer:
“When I make a mistake, my first thought is to find a solution. To do this, I look back, step by step, to how I got to where I am. Also, I make sure to own up to my mistakes. I would never blame anyone else for my responsibility. I try to turn every mistake into a learning opportunity.”
Where do you see yourself in five years? This classic question is quite important for accounting clerks. The interviewer wants someone who considers their future seriously in the field of accounting.
You want to show you are a stable investment. Though you don’t have to commit to the company, answer in a way that highlights a plan to further develop your accounting career.
Example Answer:
“I want to further my education. In five years I hope to have a graduate degree in accounting that I plan to achieve through part-time classes. I also hope to see myself in a higher position within accounting.”
How comfortable are you with Excel? Microsoft Excel is the industry standard for spreadsheets. Accounting contains a lot of data entry so you must have proficient skills with Excel. Your answer should highlight a general knowledge of some of the more common uses and shortcuts.
Example Answer:
“I have continually developed my skills in Excel over the last ten years. I can quite well verse in advance formulas including SUMPRODUCT, INDIRECT, INDEX, MATCH and OFFSET.”
What type of bookkeeping software do you prefer? Companies can vary on bookkeeping software because different products fit different needs.
However, they all fulfill basic principles. Therefore, don’t worry if the bookkeeping software you talk about is not one the company uses. The interviewer wants to know you’re comfortable with accounting software in general and have the capacity to learn other software.
Example Answer:
“I prefer QuickBooks. That is what I had to use at my accounting internship. However, I have some experience with Xero and I have found I was able to use either pretty easily.”
What type of experience do you have with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems? An ERP is a software system a company uses to manage daily and long-term business activity. This can include accounting alongside other departments.
If you do not have experience with an ERP system, be honest and reframe it as a growth opportunity.
Example Answer:
“Although I am familiar with ERPs, I have never used one myself. I would be very excited at the chance to learn more about them. I think it is very important for a company to keep an accurate record of their business activity. To ignore it would lead to future failures.”
How do you ensure efficient yet accurate bookkeeping and data entry? Remember, accounting clerks are detail-oriented. The interviewer will gauge your work philosophy so your answer must show an aptitude for accuracy. Consider what steps you can take to check your work.
Example Answer:
“I never sacrifice accuracy for speed. That being said, I have developed a technique to periodically check my work every 30 minutes which helps me quickly progress through reports.”
What are debit and credits and how would you apply them? You may get a question like this that tests your basic accounting knowledge. Debits and credits are terms used to organize certain accounts.
A debit increases assets and expenses while decreasing liability. Credit does the opposite.
Example Answer:
“Debits increase asset or expense accounts while credits decrease them. Debits decrease liability, revenue, or equity accounts while credits increase them. They are applied to monitor the in and out flow of money in the accounts.”
What are the three financial statements in accounting and how are they linked? This is a test of your knowledge of the organizational structure of accounting. Your answer should show a clear understanding of their role and their relationship with one another.
Example Answer:
“The three financial statements are the income statement, the balance sheet, and the cash flow statement. The income statement shows the revenues and expenses. The balance sheet shows the assets, liabilities, and shareholder equity.”
“The cash flow statement shows increases and decreases in cash. Net income affects both the balance sheet and the cash flow statement. If anything on the balance sheet has a cash impact, it will also affect the cash flow statement. An error on any three of the statements can affect the others.”
What do you know about reconciliation? As an accounting clerk, you will be expected to assess the accuracy of the documents you handle.
This means sometimes you need to compare accounting documents with one another and with outside sources of information. This is reconciliation and it is a standard practice in bookkeeping.
Example Answer:
“Reconciliation is the process of comparing financial records to ensure accuracy. With proper reconciliation, you should be able to explain the changes you find in the documents. For example, after reconciliation debits and credits should balance to zero.”
What is the difference between a ledger and a journal? This is another question that tests your basic understanding of the structure of accounting. You want to be able to clarify the differences between the two. An inability to be accurate with your definitions would be a cause of concern for the interviewer.
Example Answer:
“The journal is where accounting transactions are first recorded. They are recorded in chronological order. A ledger is where these accounting transactions are then placed under their appropriate accounting item.”
What can you tell me about Accounting Standards Codification (ASC)? ASC contains the generally accepted accounting practices (GAAP) determined by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).
This is the sole source of accounting standards in the United States. To underscore your professional integrity, you can use your answer to show how important such practices are in accounting.
Example Answer:
“I know that the accounting standards codification is the only set of generally accepted accounting practices in the United States. This makes it easier to refer to and to have consistency throughout the economy.”
What would you do if you were confronted with suspected fraud? This is a behavioral question and it is designed to see how you would react to a hypothetical situation.
Be open if you are not sure what you would do and then proceed to explain your best attempt. The interviewer will look for how rational and ethical your behavior would be.
Example Answer:
“First I would double-check my work. I would not want to unnecessarily alarm anyone. Then I would report it to my supervisor and follow whatever other procedures I would be trained in.”
How would you handle it if a coworker got sick during tax season? Another behavioral question concerns the busiest time of the year for employees in accounting.
The tax deadline may be the single most important deadline you must make. If someone were to get sick it would cause a lot of stress for you. However, you would have to remain professional.
Example Answer:
“That would be tough for everyone, but I would have to do my part. Whatever needs to get done must get done. I would probably work with my other available coworkers to split the work in the fairest way possible.”
Can you explain the process of accounts payable and accounts receivable in an organization?
How do you ensure accuracy and attention to detail when entering financial data into accounting systems?
Describe the steps you would take to reconcile discrepancies in financial records or statements.
What are some common journal entries you would make to record typical transactions in an organization?
How familiar are you with accounting software systems, and can you provide examples of those you have used?
Can you explain the purpose and importance of maintaining a chart of accounts in an accounting system?
Describe the steps you would take to process employee payroll and ensure compliance with tax regulations.
How do you handle financial data confidentiality and ensure the security of sensitive information?
What is your experience in preparing financial reports, such as balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements?
Can you describe your understanding of GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and its impact on financial reporting?
As a candidate:
Review accounting software. Make sure you are familiar with common accounting software that is commonly used in the industry. Some of these software's include QuickBooks, Sage, or Xero.
Highlight soft skills for accounting clerk. The soft skills you should highlight are your organizational skills, attention to detail, and your time management skills. Come up with examples of how you used these skills in your past to help answer any questions relating soft skills.
Create questions to ask interviewer. Come up with questions to ask the interviewer such as topics relating to the company's accounting process, the team dynamics, and if there are any specific challenges related to the role.
As an interviewer:
Create interview questions. The interview questions that you create should be a combination of common and accounting clerking behavioral interview questions. These should be tailored to the specific role to help evaluate the candidates skills and qualifications.
Review the candidate's resume. Review their resume before the start of the interview. Take note of their relevant experiences and education. You should also note of any certifications or special achievements that stand out. Reviewing their resume can also help you create any resume specific questions.
Develop evaluation criteria. Create your evaluation criteria that will help you determine what qualities and skills you are looking for in your ideal candidate. Some of these skills can include their organizational skill, ability to meet deadlines, and their knowledge of relevant accounting software.
As you can see there are a wide variety of topics that an interviewer could cover for an accounting clerk position.
You should notice that there is a lot of specific terminologies you must be familiar with. This is why a position in accounting generally requires some form of education or previous experience.
If you want to seek a career as an accounting clerk but lack the education or experience, you should look for education programs. Some positions only require an associate’s degree, while others may accept a certification.
You could also consider an internship or temporary position to build up your experience and see if it is the right fit for you. Regardless, the resources are there if you wish to pursue this career.