Behavioral Interview Strategies for Accountants and Auditors

Behavioral interviews have become a key component in the hiring process, especially for accountants and auditors. These interviews are designed to assess how candidates have handled specific situations in the past, with the assumption that past behavior is the best predictor of future performance. For accountants and auditors, this method allows interviewers to evaluate not only technical skills but also key interpersonal qualities like problem-solving, attention to detail, and ethical decision-making.

Here are some effective strategies to succeed in a behavioral interview as an accountant or auditor:

1. Understand the STAR Method

The STAR method is one of the most widely used frameworks for answering behavioral interview questions. It helps you structure your answers in a way that clearly shows how you handle situations. The STAR method stands for:

• Situation: Describe the context or background of the situation.

• Task: Explain your responsibility or role in the situation.

• Action: Discuss the specific steps you took to address the situation.

• Result: Share the outcome or result of your actions, focusing on what was achieved.

By following the STAR method, you ensure that your responses are organized, focused, and demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to navigate challenges.

2. Review Common Behavioral Questions

Before going into the interview, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with common behavioral questions that interviewers often ask accountants and auditors. Here are a few examples:

• Tell me about a time when you had to handle a difficult financial discrepancy. How did you resolve it?

• Describe a situation where you had to meet a tight deadline. How did you manage your time and resources?

• Give an example of when you had to explain a complex financial concept to a non-financial stakeholder. How did you ensure they understood?

• Tell me about a time when you had to make a tough ethical decision in your role as an accountant or auditor.

• Describe an instance where you identified a process inefficiency. What steps did you take to improve the process?

By preparing answers to these types of questions using the STAR method, you’ll be able to showcase your experience in a clear and concise manner.

3. Focus on Key Skills and Competencies

For accountants and auditors, there are several critical skills that interviewers are likely to focus on during a behavioral interview. Make sure your answers highlight the following competencies:

• Attention to Detail: Accountants and auditors are responsible for ensuring that financial statements and records are accurate. Describe situations where your attention to detail helped you identify errors or discrepancies.

• Problem-Solving: Both accountants and auditors often face complex issues that require creative problem-solving. Focus on situations where you found innovative solutions to financial challenges.

• Communication Skills: Accountants and auditors must often communicate complex financial information to individuals who may not have a background in finance. Show how you’ve effectively communicated financial concepts to non-financial stakeholders.

• Ethics and Integrity: The accounting and auditing professions are built on trust and ethics. Highlight situations where you had to make ethical decisions or handle sensitive financial data.

• Time Management: Deadlines are crucial in accounting and auditing. Share examples of how you effectively prioritized tasks and managed your time to meet deadlines.

4. Use Real-Life Examples

The more specific and detailed your examples are, the more impactful your answers will be. Real-life examples demonstrate your actual experience and provide insight into how you approach challenges. Avoid general statements or theoretical responses. Instead, focus on concrete examples from your work history that illustrate your skills.

For example, instead of saying, “I always make sure my work is accurate,” provide an example like: “In my last position, I noticed a discrepancy in the balance sheet during the year-end audit. I immediately flagged it to the senior accountant, and we discovered a misreported revenue figure. I worked with the team to correct the issue before the final submission.”

5. Align Your Answers with the Company’s Values and Needs

It’s important to tailor your responses to the specific role and company you’re interviewing for. Research the company’s values, mission statement, and any industry-specific challenges they might face. Incorporating these aspects into your answers shows that you understand the company’s needs and are committed to contributing to their goals.

For example, if the company emphasizes sustainability and ethical financial reporting, you could discuss a situation where you helped improve financial transparency or ensured compliance with sustainability reporting standards.

6. Highlight Your Adaptability

The accounting and auditing fields are constantly evolving, with new technologies, regulations, and methods emerging regularly. Interviewers will likely be looking for candidates who can adapt to these changes. Share examples of how you’ve stayed up-to-date with industry trends, learned new technologies (such as accounting software), or adapted to regulatory changes.

For instance, you might mention how you quickly learned a new accounting software system and implemented it for your department or how you navigated a change in tax regulations that impacted your clients.

7. Practice Active Listening

During a behavioral interview, it’s not only important to respond thoughtfully, but also to listen carefully to the interviewer’s questions. Active listening ensures that you address exactly what the interviewer is asking and provides a more relevant and focused answer. If you’re unsure about a question, feel free to ask for clarification before responding.

8. Be Honest and Transparent

Behavioral interviews are designed to assess how you handle real situations, so honesty is key. If there was a situation where you didn’t achieve the desired outcome, don’t be afraid to admit it. The key is to show how you handled the situation, what you learned from it, and how you would approach a similar situation differently in the future. This shows that you are reflective, accountable, and committed to personal and professional growth.

9. Demonstrate Your Knowledge of Industry Best Practices

Especially in auditing and accounting, industry standards and best practices are essential. By discussing how you apply these standards in your work, you show that you have a deep understanding of the technical side of the job, as well as an ability to maintain high levels of professionalism. This could include talking about compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), or internal auditing standards.

For instance, if you were asked about a time you identified fraud or misstatements in financial records, you could reference the audit procedures you followed or how you applied forensic accounting techniques.

10. Prepare Questions for the Interviewer

At the end of the interview, you’ll likely have the opportunity to ask the interviewer questions. This is your chance to further demonstrate your interest in the role and the company. You can ask about the company’s approach to continuing education and professional development for accountants and auditors, or inquire about the challenges the company faces in terms of financial management and how the role you’re interviewing for can help address them.

This will not only give you valuable insights into the job but also show that you’re proactive and engaged.

Conclusion

In a behavioral interview, your goal as an accountant or auditor is to demonstrate your technical skills, problem-solving ability, ethical judgment, and effective communication. By preparing thoughtful, specific examples using the STAR method, aligning your answers with the company’s values, and showcasing your adaptability and knowledge of industry standards, you can make a strong impression and increase your chances of success. Remember that the behavioral interview is an opportunity to prove not just what you’ve done, but how you approach challenges and contribute to the overall success of the organization.