If you’ve been invited to an interview for a finance job, you’ll want to make sure you’re well prepared and confident – planning out your responses to the questions which you’re likely to be asked can help with this.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the most common interview questions for finance roles, along with an outline of the most relevant job skills to highlight. You can also get further tips on interview preparation here, from body language to researching the role.
Top skills to highlight in finance interviews
Certain job skills can set you apart from other finance candidates. These include:
- Formal qualifications such as accounting.
- Analytical ability.
- Interpersonal skills.
- Leadership experience.
- Knowledge of IT software and finance systems.
- Management experience (depending on the seniority of the role).
- Ability to communicate effectively.
- Problem-solving skills.
- Financial reporting acumen.
- Commercial skills.
What type of questions will I be asked?
No two interviews will be exactly the same, and you can’t predict every question you’re going to be asked. However, you are likely to be asked several behavioural questions to assess your competency based on how you’ve handled past situations, so it’s a good idea to stock up on some examples ahead of the interview. Read our ‘Pre-interview Checklist’ for example questions and tips on how to prepare using the STAR model. Along with behavioural questions, the interviewer will be trying to assess your technical competency for the job, so expect to answer some technical questions related to the role and industry. Research the role thoroughly beforehand and re-read the job description and person specification, to make sure you can show how your experience and finance skills meet the requirements. You could also talk to your Recruitment Consultant or the hiring manager that will be interviewing you - they are likely to know the role well and can give you some extra pointers.
Example questions for finance interviews
Give us an example of an obstacle you had to overcome.
Interviewers will use this type of question to find out how you deal with challenges and how you face negative events. This could include things like interpersonal differences in your previous role, or challenging client situations. Give an overview of the situation, and focus on the outcome – what did you do to resolve it? Using this question to demonstrate your professionalism, problem-solving skills or ability to negotiate gives you the chance to impress your potential new employer at the same time as providing reassurance that you’ll fit easily into their existing team.
What financial systems have you used?
You’re likely to be asked about your experience with particular finance systems –which ones you’ve worked with, how familiar you are with them and how often you use them. Whether it’s Sage 50cloud or Sage 100, potential employers will be keen to find out whether you’re competent with their systems as it will minimise any delays and training costs once you’re hired.
What level of responsibility do you have in your current role?
A potential employer asking this question may want to assess the experience you have in leading a team, managing complex systems or multiple projects, or working on your own and being accountable for key deliverables. For roles at a managerial or team leader level, expect to answer questions about how you monitor team performance, such as goal-setting and performance reviews, and how you have led a team to success – this might include hitting their KPIs, and the accuracy and integrity of your team’s performance.
Employers will focus on the numbers when qualifying your level of responsibility, so have yours ready – from the number of employees you’re responsible for, to the value of the investments you oversee. For a Credit Controller role for example, you may be asked about how much debt is collected per month, or the reduction in debtors’ days you have achieved. For Payroll jobs, you could be quizzed on how many payrolls you manage and their frequency, and for Invoicing roles, the number of invoices you process each week or their complexity.
What are your observations about our company’s financial health, and how can it be improved?
This is definitely a question worth preparing for, as it would be difficult to make a reasoned evaluation without having researched the company in some detail beforehand. Be ready to share some observations about the company’s financial position, such as its liquidity and profitability, and to offer suggestions to improve its financial health, if this is suitable for the role you are interviewing for. You can find a lot of this information on Companies House. Your suggestions should take into account the industry and the current market, so this question is also a great opportunity to demonstrate your financial knowledge and business acumen.
Tell us about the main challenges that the financial industry faces now.
This type of question demonstrates your understanding of the finance industry and if you are up to date with its latest trends. Following industry publications and social media can be a good way to extend your knowledge and ensure you’re aware of the latest news and developments in business and finance. You could also ask your colleagues, getting their observations on what’s happening in the market.
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