Accounting Job Interview Guide

Most expect an interview to be a one-sided question-answer session. But if your interviewer ends with “Do you have any questions?”, be sure to grab the opportunity – ask your questions and leave a good impression. This may be your chance to impress the interviewer and let him/her see your potential.

Questions that you may ask: (from Best Interview Strategies)

“What do you enjoy most about working here?” – this gives you a glimpse of what to actually look forward to in case you get accepted

“Is there anything I mentioned that makes you think I’m not the best candidate for this job?” – this gives them a chance to tell you what they think, and your chance to “salvage” your interview and make them change their opinion

“When do you expect to make your final decision?” – this shows you are interested in the job and that you will be following up on your status soon.

The interview is your chance to �sell� yourself. It is advisable to tell stories (not too long, that is) rather than stating facts. As Bonnie Lowe says, �facts tell, but stories sell�.

Prepare your lines and make it �sound like you� � avoid sounding like a scripted announcer. Be concise, and emphasize positive traits such as:

Communication skills. Cite writing and public speaking experiences.

Honesty / integrity. Emphasize how these values are important to you in both personal and professional aspects.

Teamwork skills. Being able to work with a team of different personalities is a plus.

Decision-making skills. Having the initiative and making a stand shows leadership.

Interpersonal skills. Having the flexibility to jive with people who have different personalities and values will make a team more effective.

Organization / project management skills. Efficiency is the key.

Each one of us have used or are using banking services in managing our money and wealth, if any. Generally, there is little room for errors in most banks as they follow high standards in attending to the banking needs of clients. In some instances, however, due to some neglect on the part of the bank personnel and the client, error in transactions happens such as bounced checks and unauthorized overdrafts that eventually translate to bank charges.

At present, there is no set of laws on bank charges. However, FairInvestment.co.uk
offers some suggestions to help clients claim back bank charges:

1. Use an intermediary company that will claim back the bank charges on your behalf; such companies will give you advice and represent you if it cannot be settled out of court.

2. Write to your bank to request a list of the charges and ask that they be refunded to you. If this fails, write again to inform them that you are willing to take the case to a small claims court.

The above suggestions are not only insightful and wise but also give us a better idea on how we can assert our banking rights at any given situation. I hope they be of help to you as they have been to me.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, also known as the Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act of 2002 and commonly called SOX or Sarbox, is a United States federal law signed into law on July 30, 2002 in response to a number of major corporate and accounting scandals including those affecting Enron, Tyco International, Peregrine Systems and WorldCom. These scandals resulted in a decline of public trust in accounting and reporting practices. Since the implementation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, an entirely new field of accounting jobs has been developed.

SOX is currently known as the “hot skill” of the accounting profession. Jobs involving this “hot skill” run the entire gamut from SOX testers to SOX Senior Manager positions. Jobs involving Sarbanes-Oxley are known as Sarbanes-Oxley Jobs. Learn about Sarbanes-Oxley and you can easily find an accounting job.

With Sarbanes-Oxley compliance so important nowadays, there are a multitude of online sites offering training and certification.

Here’s a list of some training sites:

http://grc.soxinstitute.org/

http://thecaq.aicpa.org/Resources/Sarbanes+Oxley

http://www.cfainstitute.org/centre/sarbanesoxley.html

http://www.soxinstitute.org/certification.htm

Tell me about a problem you had with a supervisor.

One of the biggest trick questions. The interviewer wants to see if you will speak negatively about your boss – if you do, they will assume that you will do the same in your new job, and this puts you way below the priority list. Always be positive when speaking about your (former) boss, and do not recall any trouble with your supervisor.

Do you have any blind spots?

Tricky. A blind spot is something you are unaware of, therefore, telling them about something is no longer a blind spot. You may say you are not aware of anything at the moment, but you are open to constructive criticisms if anyone notices something you need to improve on.

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For higher positions: Have you ever had to fire anyone? How did you feel about it?

This is a serious topic. You should not give the impression that you like firing people. Protect the organization when describing the situation. Remember that “firing” is not the same as lay-offs due to mergers or down-sizing.

What kind of salary do you need?

Do not give an exact figure, instead, give a range. Better yet, ask the interviewer what the salary range for the position is. If the interviewer refuses to give details, then say it depends on the job description, then give your range.

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What irritates you about your co-workers?

This is very tricky. It would be good not to mention anything, else, it might backfire. A statement that you get along with any personality will do.

What kind of person would you refuse to work with?

Another trick question. Repeat answer to previous question. Else, you might be labeled as a whiner.

How long would you expect to work for us if you are hired?

Do not give a specific answer. Give positive, vague answer like I would want to stay for a long time, or For as long as the company needs my services.

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It is impossible to guess exactly what would be asked during an interview, but you can prepare by developing answers to the most common job interview questions. This will not only help you remain calm during the interview, it will help you control the results.

Five things that almost every interviewer asks:

Can you tell me about yourself? Offer a summary of your personality, skills, experience, and work history. Stick with facts that will demonstrate why you are the person for the job.

Why do you want to work here? Utilize what you know about the company- why you admire the company, their practices, or their product; why you are compatible with their company.

Why should we hire you? This is one of the most important questions that you will be asked, and you need to make sure that you give a very good answer. Be specific as possible. Give a detailed explanation why you would make a good employee, and what sets you apart from other applicants. Point out your experience, achievements, and accomplishments.

Why did you leave your last job? This is more of a test than a question. Your answer should be as honest as possible, but try not to sound bitter, angry, or violent. And do not badmouth your former company, boss, or co-workers.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Why do interviewers ask this question? Because- it shows them how motivated you are and it offers insight into your professional intentions. Offer information about your professional goals as they relate to your job or industry.

Most resources give you sample interview questions, tips on preparations for the big day � from dressing up to memorizing your closing lines. Do not overlook the fact that the interviewer is a person, and not just a questionnaire. Ask yourself this � �if I were the interviewer, what will I look for in a candidate?�

The following are some of the important factors that employers look for:

A positive attitude. Walking in with a frown or starting of with a complaint about how bad the traffic is, won�t help. A sincere smile helps lighten up the mood.

A smart but modest look. Avoid over dressing, flashy colors and revealing clothes.

Intelligent but sincere answers. Do not over sell yourself.

You feel the jitters, specially for first time interviewees, but being prepared gives you enough confidence to face up to the challenge.

Most of the time, your main concern would be dressing up for the interview, what to wear and how to present yourself. Generally it’s good to wear a conservative suit for an interview, go with something simple, in neutral tone. Match your attire with your prospective job and keep in mind that you should dress a little better than you would for a day at work and make sure your clothes are neat and clean.

In all instances, wear closed-toe shoes, never wear sandals. Stick with conservative styles, black shoes match everything, women should not wear very high heels.

Nails should be clean. Men’s nails should be kept short and women’s nails should not be too long and kept bare or polished in neutral color. Make-up should be simple and in neutral colors.

Look professional; a woman can carry a small to medium sized handbag and a man may carry a briefcase as he wishes or a folder or portfolio.