Accounting Job Interview Guide

Did you know that there are four kinds of accountants? They are the following:

Internal auditors: check records of the company to make sure that there’s no stealing or wasting of money

Government accountants: make sure that everything’s fine with the records and finances of the government and people who do business with the government

Public accountants: you could find them in public accounting companies but some have businesses of their own. Along with accounting, they do tax, auditing and consultation.

Management accountants: track the money made and spent by their companies

These accountants work in offices and tax accountants usually work overtime during January to April which is tax season. Generally, they usually work for 40 hours per week.

What do accountants do with their calculators and their spreadsheets? They keep track of a company’s money. They make reports on how the money is handled and they give these to the managers or people who are concerned about the company’s finances. Managers look at these reports to check the progress of their companies, governments check these to tell how much tax the company should pay. Other people read these to decide to do business or lend money to the company. A lot is placed on the accountant’s responsibility; within their calculators and their spreadsheets lies the future of the company.

It depends on where you work. Some workplaces do insist their employees to wear ultra-formal attire like blue or black suits. If you want to wear your neon colored tie or your Halloween costume at workplaces like these, well better think a hundred times before doing so! However if you’re the type who don’t choose clothes, think about choosing firms or careers. There are jobs where the type of clothes you wear doesn’t really matter, but accounting is a different matter. After all, dress code is a way of promoting the firm and the employees’ image and boost morale. Blue suit or not, dress properly. It’s good for you and your job as well.

Prospective clients: To get a client, you must present yourself as a pleasing fellow to work with. Brush up on your people skills and your effort will pay you benefits.

The employees of your client: sometimes you have to stay at the client’s business for a long time. You will get to meet the managers and employees of your client and talk with them to get to know important details about your work. So you see, it’s better if you’re not a geek right?

Conclusion: Accounting = intelligence + meeting people + pleasing personality + challenges. Geekiness? Not part of the equation.

Thinking that accounting = geekiness + numbers as friends + isolation + boredom? Wrong!

You don’t have to be a whiz at numbers to do accounting. As long as you are fairly intelligent and you know how to do your math, you could do it. You will also interact with a lot of people during work like the following:

Your co-workers: no they don’t wear blue suits, carry calculators and frown all the time! They are normal, kind-hearted and interesting people just like you. There may be the occasional freak at times, but accounting is a fun job really.

Clients: who’s the accountant who doesn’t like to meet clients? Be friendly towards them, after all, you should work as a team.