Junior Accountant interview questions and answers
These Junior Accountant interview questions can help you hire a qualified candidate. Adjust them to suit your needs and requirements.
10 good junior accountant interview questions
- What’s important to consider when updating a journal entry?
- What steps are needed for bank reconciliation?
- How familiar are you with SFAS (Statement of Financial Accounting Standards)?
- Have you used any ERP systems (e.g. Tally) before?
- How do you prepare yourself for a senior accountant position?
- What actions do you take to protect confidential information?
- How do you prioritize your tasks?
- What do you do to avoid mistakes in your job?
- If you realized you made a mistake on a report, what would you do?
- If a manager pressured you to provide them with information they don’t have permission for, how would you handle it?
Here are 10 essential interview questions and sample answers to help identify the best candidates for this role.
1. What’s important to consider when updating a journal entry?
This question assesses the candidate’s understanding of accounting principles and attention to detail.
Sample answer:
“When updating a journal entry, it’s crucial to ensure that the debit and credit amounts are balanced. Additionally, the entry should be dated correctly and include a clear description for future reference.”
2. What steps are needed for bank reconciliation?
This question gauges the candidate’s familiarity with one of the essential tasks in accounting.
Sample answer:
“The first step is to compare the company’s cash account records to the bank statement. Then, identify any discrepancies like outstanding checks or bank fees and adjust the records accordingly.”
3. How familiar are you with SFAS (Statement of Financial Accounting Standards)?
This question tests the candidate’s knowledge of accounting standards.
Sample answer:
“I am quite familiar with SFAS as it’s a critical part of financial reporting. I’ve used it as a reference in my previous roles to ensure compliance.”
4. Have you used any ERP systems (e.g. Tally) before?
This question aims to find out the candidate’s experience with accounting software.
Sample answer:
“Yes, I have experience using Tally and SAP. These ERP systems have helped me streamline accounting tasks like ledger maintenance and financial statement preparation.”
5. How do you prepare yourself for a senior accountant position?
This question explores the candidate’s career aspirations and readiness for advancement.
Sample answer:
“I am continuously improving my technical skills and staying updated on accounting regulations. I also seek mentorship from senior colleagues to prepare for higher responsibilities.”
6. What actions do you take to protect confidential information?
This question assesses the candidate’s understanding of the importance of confidentiality in accounting.
Sample answer:
“I always follow company policies regarding data protection and use secure passwords. I also make sure to log out of systems when not in use.”
7. How do you prioritize your tasks?
This question evaluates the candidate’s organizational skills.
Sample answer:
“I usually start my day by making a to-do list and prioritizing tasks based on deadlines and importance. I also use project management software to keep track of tasks.”
8. What do you do to avoid mistakes in your job?
This question gauges the candidate’s attention to detail and quality of work.
Sample answer:
“I double-check all my work and use accounting software to minimize errors. I also stay focused by taking short breaks during long tasks.”
9. If you realized you made a mistake on a report, what would you do?
This question assesses the candidate’s problem-solving skills and integrity.
Sample answer:
“I would immediately inform my supervisor and take corrective action. Transparency and quick resolution are key in such situations.”
10. If a manager pressured you to provide them with information they don’t have permission for, how would you handle it?
This question tests the candidate’s ethical considerations and professionalism.
Sample answer:
“I would politely decline and explain that it’s against company policy to share confidential information without proper authorization.”
What does a good junior accountant candidate look like?
A good junior accountant candidate will have a strong grasp of accounting principles, be detail-oriented, and have excellent organizational skills. They should also be ethical and have good communication skills to interact with different departments.
Junior Accountant Interview Questions
Junior accountants perform basic accounting and financial tasks under supervision of senior accountants. A degree in accounting is essential. Since it’s an entry-level position, they typically won’t have more than five years of experience. You can screen for candidates who have completed internships or have gained some work experience at a company or department similar to what you are hiring for.
Related: How to attract and hire entry-level employees
During the interview, try to focus on how their education or previous job has prepared them for this role. What they lack in experience, they should make up for in competence and passion to learn. You can ask about important concepts and basic accounting procedures but try to focus on actual skills.
The candidate you’ll end up hiring should have an analytical mind and aptitude in math. You should also value great organizational ability and attention to detail. It’s a good idea to look for ease in using computer programs, particularly Excel, and treat knowledge of an accounting software as a big plus.
Let’s summarize some of the questions and add a few more divided into specific types.
Operational and Situational questions
- What’s important to consider when updating a journal entry?
- What steps are needed for bank reconciliation?
- How familiar are you with SFAS (Statement of Financial Accounting Standards)?
- Have you used any ERP systems (e.g. Tally) before?
- How do you prepare yourself for a senior accountant position?
- What actions do you take to protect confidential information?
- How do you prioritize your tasks?
- What do you do to avoid mistakes in your job?
- If you realized you made a mistake on a report, what would you do?
- If a manager pressured you to provide them with information they don’t have permission for, how would you handle it?
Behavioral questions
- Tell me about a difficult project you worked on during your studies/internship/etc.
- Describe the accounting project you are most proud of
- What was the most important thing you learned during your internship? What was your most significant contribution?
- Have you ever made a mistake due to misunderstanding instructions? What have you learned?
- Have you ever been asked to do something that you didn’t agree with? What did you do?