Accounting Job Interview

Accounting Job Interview is the way by which an accounting company finds its right candidate for accounting operations. Like any other interview, accounting job interview comprises of a set of questions - both technical and general - that is meant to assess the candidate on his skills and abilities to see if he/she suits the job better. Yes, an accounting job interview can be a stressful ordeal for a new candidate facing it. But remember, every accounting job interview is a two way deal where the company is evaluating the candidate and him/her in turn analyzing the company to see if it is the right place to work. Before delving into the details of accounting job interview questions, a few words on the general attitude a candidate should be showing all through the ordeal.

In the accounting job interview, respond to the needs and of both you and the interviewer. Not one or the other!

In an accounting job interview, listen to the interviewer closely.

Retain your poise throughout the accounting job interview.

In an accounting job interview process, there is a complete diversity of objectives - a person is there to get a job and the accounting job interview panel is scrutinizing each person to see if he/she is the right fit available. So, in such a scenario, the candidate should ideally market his holdings successfully across to the accounting job interview persons in order to gather their attention. And it should not stop with just presenting your resume with all your skills and qualifications, but should extend to describe how it is directly related to the company and the job's specific needs. Let us see some more words of wisdom.
Tip! It is also important that your accounting software have all the features you need. It must have all the modules and reporting categories necessary for your business.

In any accounting job interview, the candidate should be punctual to and properly dressed.

Should show good attitude and must be brief but thorough in the presentation style.

Must be enthusiastic meanwhile maintaining the control throughout.

Accounting job interview questions can be of any sort as asked generally in any interview plus the technical ones. It may start with an ‘introduce yourself' and gradually climbs up to unveil the candidate's personality, attitude and skills to see if the person suits for the profile.

The possible accounting job interview questions can be:

What are your salary expectations?
Tip! It provides you with 100 % correct reports and tools that makes your business accounting simple and help you manage financial data effectively.

Why do you want to leave the previous job and how you got along with your boss and colleagues?

The first accounting job interview question can be answered as ‘in search of a better job or can site career ambitions'. The second one is to prod you to get your general attitude towards your coworkers. Remember, bad mouthing your boss doesn't set well with the expectations of accounting job interview panel.

How you are different from others or why we should hire you? You can answer that by sighting instances where you did a job differently and emerged in flying colors. If you could answer the second one with calm and compose, then you are half way through.

How many hours do you need to do a job or how long do you take to make a decision? The first accounting job interview is to get an idea about the work ethics you believe in and follow and to see if you are willing to put in long hours to finish a job at hand. It is also an indicator of how well he fit into with other workers. If the person works till 7 PM in a company where others leave at 5 PM and vice versa results in conflicting work ethics and such occurrence can have a negative effect on all the employees and the work as a whole.

For an accounting job interviewer, there cannot be a dearth for questions. But how well a candidate listens, responds and presents himself in an accounting job interview is all what matters when it comes to his/her selection or rejection. It is all about acting smart but rationally!

Sonali Sen for http://www.creativeinterview.com Read more about Interviews http://www.creativeinterview.com/Tips-for-Job-Interview.html Copyright 2005 http://www.creativeinterview.com

Considerations Of A Career In Accounting Before You Make The Plunge

It is very important for an accountant to possess knowledge, skills and experience when dealing with customers and their money.

First off, here are some of the required qualifications, Skills and Experience you'll need to attain to realize a career in accounting: 1. Bachelors degree in Business or a related field. 2. Good communication and interpersonal skills are required in the candidates. 3. It very important to posses an effective managerial and planning skills. 4. I hope you like arithmatic because you'll need advanced mathematics knowledge for setting up formulas, pivoting and charting of data. 5. Minimum of two years of related work experience is almost compulsory in accounting jobs, a good portion of this you'll gather from work experience while in school. 6. Lastly the candidate should be able to work independently as well as in groups with others. 7. The candidate should have the ability to maintain a reputable work schedule.

Becoming a Successful Accountant

If you are shooting for a successful accountants career you'll need to have excellent computer skills and be good at oral and written communication in general.

Here are some other pointers to consider: 1. A strong background in math from high school will help you to prepare for a degree in college for accounting. 2. After attaining your high school diploma one has to choose a correct college in accounting. 3. After receiving the bachelors degree in accounting one can receive a Certified Public Accountant certification from the state. 4. You'll need to insure that the college in which you get admitted must fulfill all the requirements of faculty and infrastructure. 5. It is very important in deciding accounting field that suits your interests. The most important fields of accounting are public, government and management accounting. These fields also have numerous subfields. 6. Working at part time jobs or internships in accounting will help you gain experience in the actual accounting field.

Types of Accountants

There are a number of jobs and types of accounting. The different types of accountants are stated below: Bookkeeper: The bookkeepers are considered the bottom of the accounting chain. They generally record the transaction process, enter data etc. Accountant: The accountants generally take the fundamental data and adjust them to the final status. Controller: A controller is the head of the accounting department. Chief Financial Officer: The finance related departments are under the CFO. Certified Public Accountant: The CPA has the power to audit financial statements and report for their accuracy. Other designations: The other designations are "Certified Management Accountant" and "Certified Internal Auditor".

If becoming an accountant is your dream this article most likely won't scare you out of the work ahead. List out what you need to do next and go for it!

Submitted by Chad McDonald to assist tax accountant online researchers needing more info for a certified public accountants career.

Beyond Basic Accounting Debits and Credits--CPA Exam Section Business Environment and Concepts

Good accountants should know basic accounting debits and credits. But a CPA needs to have a broader view of business and that's why the AICPA along with each state Boards of Accountancy decided to add a new segment of the CPA exam called Business Environment and Concepts. This section replaced in part the less relevant Business Law segment.

The new section tests awareness of the general business environment and business constructs that exam candidates need to understand in order to interpret the underlying business causes for and the accounting implications of business transactions. What is more, the new section tests for skills needed to apply that awareness in performing financial statement audit and attestation work and other functions usually performed by certified public accountants that bear on the public interest.

The profession accepted the need for testing in this area of business knowledge because most look to certified public accountants to interpret business concepts. As is true for the entire CPA exam, these concepts are tested in the context of entry-level accountant practice.

There are five specific areas of Business Environment and Concepts that may be tested in detail on the CPA exam.

• Business Structures

• Economic concepts essential to understanding the entity's business and industry

• Financial Management

• Information technology and how it affects the business

• Planning and measurement

Below is summary by section that a CPA candidate will be asked to know:

Business Structures

A CPA examination candidate should be able to:

Identify the general characteristics of various business forms such as Limited Liability Corps or Corporations.

Determine the recommended business form based on given facts and circumstances.

Determine income available for distribution or be able to allocate profit and losses to the owners.

Identify the advantages and disadvantages of various business forms such as S-Corps or Limited Liability Corps.

Distinguish the factors supporting a fiscal vs a calendar year end for financial reporting and federal taxation purposes and List circumstances indicating when a business should be closed.

Differentiate between the rights, duties, legal obligations, and authority of owners and that of management.

Business Economic Concepts

The CPA exam candidate should be able to:

Recognize the effect of Federal Reserve Board actions on the national economy.

Determine the purpose of transfer pricing.

Differentiate between real, nominal, and effective interest rates.

Distinguish the components of the business cycle and recognize circumstances affecting economic cycles.

Recognize circumstances giving rise to changes in exchange rates.

Understand of exchange rate fluctuations on financial position and operations.

Point out the economic circumstances giving rise to inflation, deflation, expansion and recession.

Determine the effect on an entity's net income and financial position from changes in supply and demand.
Tip! Most entrepreneurs are big on dreams and ideas and low on accounting and record keeping. One simple way you can be prepared for tax time is to simply put all records of your business income in one envelope titled “ business income” and all receipts for business in another envelope titled “business expenses”.

Understand economic events and the effect on the business cycle on an entity's financial position and business operations.

Financial Management

The exam will test a candidate's ability to:

Apply capital budgeting tools to make appropriate business decisions. Demonstrate an understanding of inventory management techniques, such as just-in-time and economic order quantity. Calculate the effective interest rate.

Identify and define various business risks, such as credit risk or interest rate risk.

Utilize capital budgeting tools such as net present value, internal rate of return, payback method, discounted payback and discounted annual cash flows, including performing calculations.

Project periodic cash flows given certain facts and circumstances. Recognize the objectives and limitations of capital budgeting tools. Compute current and working capital ratios.

Differentiate between and determine when appropriate to use different forms of financing.
Tip! Public Accounting: Public accounting refers to the accounting service offered by a public accountant to the general public. When a practitioner-client relationship exists, the accountant is referred to as a public accountant.

Analyze the trade-offs between risk and return.

Information Technology

Each applicant will be tested on their ability to:

Point out basic data validation or editing techniques and recognize basic security controls. Understand the role IT plays in financial reporting systems.

Point out the major players involved in a disaster recovery plan and determine how to set one up.

Describe & evaluate risks, limitations, and advantages of electronic commerce applications.

Apply the traditional concept of segregation of duties to IT functions. Distinguish risks associated with the use of an electronic business information system.

Planning And Measurement

A CPA examination candidate should be able to:

Define and calculate joint and by-product costing, variable and absorption costing.

Define and determine appropriate circumstances for using performance measures.

Differentiate between cost-volume-profit analysis, target costing, and transfer pricing.

Perform cost-profit-volume analysis.

Define and differentiate among job costing, process costing, and activity-based.

List the appropriate analytical tool in given circumstances.

Calculate the effect of depreciation in operating and capital budgeting.

Identify and calculate the components of a master budget.

Define calculate, and explain budget variances.

Business Environment and Concepts section of the CPA exam is intend to insure that even new CPAs will understand and think about more than just basic accounting debts and credits.

Jim Prescott, CPA business consultant for over 30 years specializing in small and medium size businesses that range from closely held to publicly traded companies. Jim is a Partner in CPA firm of Prescott Chatellier Fontaine & Wilkinson, LLP that offers audit, accounting, investment advice, tax planning services, estate plans, pension plans consulting and insurance advice. The firm also has a web site about the CPA Exam: TheCPAExam

Current Hiring Trends For Accounting & Financial Professionals

Today's business environment and the current economy are such that many organizations are continuously looking at cost-cutting measures, ensuring that the organization is operating at peak state, is attuned to the rapid changes of high tech as well as on-going development of long-term business solutions and strategies. All of these tasks, not to mention the daily routines of the operations alone, create an ongoing demand for full-time and contract accounting and finance professionals to support and implement these initiatives. Accounting and finance professionals are needed to provide guidance to middle and senior management, enhance operational efficiency and analyze financial data.

Companies - large or small - are seeking accounting and finance professionals with diverse skill set to efficiently and quickly "role up their sleeves", assume various roles and act as the liaison between senior management and staff. To achieve these tasks successfully, accounting and finance professionals are required to establish rapport and work in partnership with various key staff in the organization. Hence, organizations are hiring accountants with solid interpersonal skills - those who are able to "think out of the box", and those who bring along innovative ideas and will be active participants in new initiatives, as the organization's needs to change. With our current economy slowing down in the past few months, we are now in what is called the "employer's market" cycle. Some of the primary factors are: 9/11 the end of the dot-com "hysteria" massive layoffs in companies like Nortel, Air Canada, Ford Motor Company and Lucent Technologies and the volatile stock market. Among the greatest challenges companies face today, is finding qualified competent professionals with that seemingly elusive "chemistry fit" between management and staff, one of the most important keys to effective, efficient, productive and happy work environments.
Tip! It helps you do your accounting tasks quickly. It assists you to run your business without any hiccups.

In an employer's market, there is higher supply and lower demand of qualifies resources. With this advantage employers are able to be more selective when hiring and will take their time to ascertain which candidate possesses the best "chemistry fit" for the corporate culture. We find organizations today seek finance professionals committed to the position hired for as well as to the accounting profession as a whole. As a result, fully designated candidates, or those who are working toward completing their designation are in higher demand. These include: Chartered Accountants (CA), Certified General Accountants (CGA) or Certified Management Accountants (CMA) and those who have earned the Fellow Credit Institute (FCI) designations. To be successful in our current competitive economy, it is imperative for organizations to implement all cost effective measures, be creative and innovative.

Human resources happen to be the number one major fixed cost. What are organizations doing today to make this fixed cost more practical, efficient and effective? One solution is complementing the existing permanent staff with qualified contract/project professionals. Contract employees offer organizations a tremendous cost-effective benefit by utilizing their highly specialized experience needed to complete any current initiatives as well as assisting with the implementations of proposed strategic and long-range plans. Contract/project employees are ideal for special projects - year end work, work surges, system conversions, budgeting and strategic planning, maternity or sick leaves, and bridging the gap while searching for full-time staff. In situations where the position is vacant, what a better way to observe and evaluate the contract employee for permanent consideration and vise versa!
Tip! Private or Industrial Accounting: This type of accounting refers to accounting activity that is limited only to a single firm. A private accountant provides his skills and services to a single employer and receives salary on an employer-employee basis.

Our experience as a recruiting firm indicates that the use of contract/project professionals is expected to increase during the next few years. Converting a fixed human resources expense into a variable expense offers a stronger foothold in the market place for companies looking to gain a competitive edge. Compensation levels in 2002 have stabilized compared to 2001. According to industry surveys, the average starting remuneration for accounting and finance professionals is expected to increase by about 3 per cent. Here are some samples of accounting and finance salary ranges, pending on the company's size and gross annual sales: CFO $90K - $240K VP, Finance $80K - $200K Controller $65K - $160K Assistant Controller $55K - $110K Accounting Manager $45K - $ 80K Financial Analyst $40K - $ 90K In conclusion, for business in today's environment to grow and prosper, the accounting and finance professionals they employ must possess solid technical and communication skills, adaptability as well an outstanding capability to build and develop business relationships with internal an external stakeholders. Organizations are encouraged to be careful with full-time hiring decisions and building a flexible work force through a carefully selected blend of full-time and contract employees.
Tip! Fiduciary Accounting: Fiduciary accounting lies in the notion of trust. This type of accounting is done by a trustee, administrator, executor, or anyone in a position of trust.

For the accounting and finance professional to be successful they must possess solid interpersonal skills and diverse industry experience with progressive companies, adapt to technological advances and the ability to manage a broad range of accounting and managerial responsibilities. Be fully designated or at the very least, enrolled in a recognized accounting program. Knowing that "job security" is a term of the past be open and flexible to a wide range of employment opportunities, be it contract, temporary to permanent or full time situations.

Wishing you the best success!

Tali is the President & CEO of Controllers On Call (http://www.controllersoncall.ca) niche staffing organization specializing in the placement of middle to executive level Accounting, Finance and Human Resources Professionals in either contract or full time positions. Her articles may be viewed in a variety of publications. Tali is happy to answer any employment question which you may have.

Tips to Find an Accounting Job

Where is the best place to find an accounting job? Every time I have ever had to look for a job it has been difficult. It isn't so much that there aren't jobs out there, but it is a matter of finding the ones that are. To find an accounting job, you will want to use three main resources: the internet, the local paper, and an employment service or headhunter. Here are some tips that may help you in your search for that accounting job you want.

The first thing to do in getting your accounting job is to look online. There are a number of job sites on the internet that can help you. Most of them will allow you to sort job openings by location. Then, you can search by keyword so you could type accounting in to find accounting jobs in your area. There are also job sites that specialize in accounting jobs, which may be of great help in your specific situation. So check out the internet for your accounting job as a first step and you just might find yourself without a need to try any other steps.
Tip! It helps you do your accounting tasks quickly. It assists you to run your business without any hiccups.

The next thing you can try in your effort to land an accounting job is to check out your local paper. Many companies that have openings will advertise in the town newspaper and not online. That means you can find open accounting jobs in the paper that may not show up online. Check the classifieds and you should find under jobs that there is a section just for accounting jobs that can be a big help to you. The other advantage to a job you find in the newspaper is that you are going to be more easily able to tell where exactly the job is. Often, jobs online are not specific with contact information, plus there is always the chance that the jobs you are looking at on a website are being put there by an employment agency and not the primary company offering the accounting job.

Third, you can check with an employment agency or headhunter in your area. To find your accounting job, if you use a good company they should not charge you anything. The clients who seek to fill a position, but who do not want to have to deal with the interviewing process pay the companies. You should be able to find a good accounting job if you have the right qualifications and find the right headhunter or agency.
Tip! Private or Industrial Accounting: This type of accounting refers to accounting activity that is limited only to a single firm. A private accountant provides his skills and services to a single employer and receives salary on an employer-employee basis.

Finding an accounting job doesn't have to be difficult. Like with any job search, it is just about knowing where to go to find the openings in your area. Check online job websites, your local newspaper, and finally local employment agencies and headhunters to locate the accounting job that makes the most sense for you.

If you would like to view more of my articles on accounting jobs, please feel free to visit my accounting careers website!

Tips To Start Your Accounting Career

What are the best ways for you to get your accounting career started? When I started my career, I know I was a little intimidated by the process. However, once you know what you are doing and how to go about lining everything up, you can actually you're your accounting career up and running in no time.

The first step to getting your accounting career up and running is to make sure you have the proper education. In order to have an accounting career you will want to make sure you have some sort of accounting education. Check on line and you may be able to find a school or program that can help you with getting your degree. If, though, you already have your accounting degree, you are one step closer to getting your accounting career off the ground.

Once you have your education completed, the next step in getting an accounting career going is to figure out what you want to do, exactly. For instance, you can choose a corporate accounting career, you can work for individuals, or you could even work for a non-profit organization of some kind. In other words, before you get your accounting rolling you will need to figure out what exactly your accounting career is going to be.
Tip! Get immediate and expert help for the accounting tasks - no training necessary. 2.

Once you figure out what type of accounting career you want to get started, you can begin your search for a job. There are three good places to look for jobs that can get your accounting career off the ground: the internet, newspaper, and through a headhunter. Check online job sites to see what types of accounting jobs are available in your area. Finding an entry-level job can be just the boost you need to get your accounting career going.

Another way to find that local job is through one of the local newspapers. Check the classifieds in the paper under accounting. There you can find accounting career entry level jobs that may help you. You can also contact a headhunter in the area. A headhunter specializes in placing people in jobs for their clients. If you have the education required to get into an accounting career, a headhunter may be able to place you with one of his or her clients.
Tip! Private or Industrial Accounting: This type of accounting refers to accounting activity that is limited only to a single firm. A private accountant provides his skills and services to a single employer and receives salary on an employer-employee basis.

Getting any career off the ground is a little bit of a challenge for most anyone. You want to get your accounting career going, and that is something that can be done as long as you know how to go about it. First, make sure you have the education required of someone with an accounting career. Next, figure out exactly what type of accounting career you would like to have, whether it be corporate, private, or non-profit. Finally, it is time for you to get a job and get your accounting career rolling. If you want to build a career, get yourself started by following these simple tips and you will be going before you know it.
Tip! It is also important that your accounting software have all the features you need. It must have all the modules and reporting categories necessary for your business.

If you would like to view more of my articles on accounting jobs, please feel free to visit my accounting careers website!

Accounting Job Descriptions

There are a number of categories in the field of accounting jobs for the job applicant. All of them focus on the financial operation of a company, and offer various and rewarding opportunities.

Those coming straight out of the college campus must look for entry-level jobs like account clerk and pay clerk. However, by virtue of gaining experience they will be able to move higher in the chain and get supervisory positions subsequently. But those with higher qualifications, like a Master's degree in Accountancy, can directly enter the supervisory cadre. The supervisory employee supervises accounting functions and prepares reports and statistics detailing financial results. They must coordinate activities and reports with other departments. However, focusing on one or two areas, like Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Payroll, Budget etc., will enhance the employee's experience. By gaining more experience, the job applicant can find more interesting and better paid jobs.

By having a Master's degree in accountancy, the job applicant can get managerial positions as well. In fact, the role of an Accounting Manager mainly revolves around managing the Accounts Receivable function within the organization's established policies. The manager must work closely with other staff and oversee completion of all work including posting, processing, and verification of receipts, credit claims, refunds, interest charges, and others. The manager must also keep pace with the changing accounting practices that the government or the governing bodies announce from time to time. This will help in discharging duties in a proper way and the company will stand to benefit largely.

For instance, to follow the generally accepted accounting principles, the Accounting Manager is required to take special measures. This is mainly to meet the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) stipulations, as this single procedure will not only eliminate fraudulent means adopted by some companies, but will also help the stock- holders to get financial information without any trouble. Therefore the Accounting Manager must oversee the preparation of the filings and submit them in time to the regulatory authorities. Such work not only enhances employee satisfaction in accounting jobs, but also makes them more loyal to the company. And the company will in turn reward such people with better pay and perks from time to time.

Accounting jobs can be rewarding, both financially and in terms of job satisfaction. To attain a higher position in the field, the applicant will need to have a Masters Degree or on-the-job training. Accounting Managers must work closely with all financial departments in the company, and make sure to follow legal guidelines. This is an important job, which improves the functioning of the company and working conditions for its employees.

Job Descriptions provides detailed information about job descriptions, accounting job descriptions, free resume-writing tips, how to write a resume and more. Job Descriptions is the sister site of Personal Time Management.

Choosing the Best Accounting Schools

Accounting is defined as the measurement of assurance about certain information in the aid of resource allocation for managers and other decision makers. The most popular and most commonly practiced branch of accounting is financial accounting. In this branch of accounting involves processes where recorded, summarized, analyzed, organized, interpreted and communicated to others concerned. Many individuals are enticed to enter the accounting field because it can be a very lucrative job.

Accounting is a very exciting field. It presents many opportunities for growth and development. It is perfect for individual who are fond of solving problems and who are comfortable with working with numbers.

So you wanted to learn accounting and become a professional accountant? Don't know what accounting school is right for you? With the increasing umber of schools and colleges offering accounting courses, the choice of accounting school can get really confusing.

The best thing you can do in choosing an accounting school is to first determine and preferably list down the thing you are looking for in a school. After doing this, the next step is to weigh the pros and cons of each school to determine which one could meet your needs.

The next thing to do is to perform the actual search for the accounting school. You can start by asking people you know, particularly those who have taken up or who are currently taking up accounting. You can visit the schools, college or universities near your location. You should also make very god use of technology. The Internet is a very good place to search the best accounting schools. Not only will it save you time and energy, the Internet can also be a very convenient way to compare accounting schools. Most schools list down course requirements and curriculum on the Internet.

This may seem like very tedious tasks. Yes it definitely would take some time, but you can never be too careful when io comes your education. Below are other tips to find the best accounting school.

Be sure of the things you want to gain by enrolling in the accounting school. Do you want an accounting degree or do just want to simply learn the fundamentals of accounting? If you want a degree in accounting then you muis6 consider schools that offer accelerated levels of teaching. But if you simply want to learn accounting then this is not very important.
Tip! National Income Accounting: National income accounting uses the economic or social concept in establishing accounting rather than the usual business entity concept. The national income accounting is responsible in providing the public an estimate of the nation's annual purchasing power.

If you are busty or if you are already working then it is highly advisable that you choose an accounting school that will give you the greatest flexibility. Do you want to learn from home? Then choose an accounting school that offers distant online learning and courses. Distant learning schools are an excellent choice for busy individuals. If you do not want distant learning then choose schools that offer night or weekend classes.. For sure there are many of those out there.

Choose the schools that offer the best financial plan. Most schools offer financial plans that will help you and other students afford the high cost of getting and education.

Getting the right accounting school is very important. It is the choice that will determine the learning that you will acquire and most probably your future in accounting. So weight your options very carefully. Perform a very good research before you enroll and take up an accounting course.

Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides accounting resources on http://www.aboutaccounting.info.