A Accountant in the Finance function is typically expected to perform the following activities as a part of their job. Expect questions delving deeper into these areas depending on your level of experience. This is a representative list and not a complete one; the latter are generally based on the exact nature of the role

•  Preparing Financial Statements: Compiling and analyzing financial data to create accurate and timely financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements
•  Managing Accounts Payable & Receivable: Recording and tracking all incoming and outgoing payments, ensuring timely payment of bills and invoices, and managing customer invoices and collections
•  Performing Financial Analysis: Analyzing financial data, identifying trends, and providing insights to support decision-making, budgeting, and forecasting processes
•  Conducting Audits: Examining financial records, transactions, and internal controls to ensure compliance with regulations, identify risks, and detect any fraudulent activities
•  Preparing Tax Returns: Calculating and filing accurate tax returns, ensuring compliance with tax laws and regulations, and identifying potential tax savings opportunities
•  Maintaining Financial Records: Recording and organizing financial transactions, maintaining general ledgers, and ensuring the accuracy and completeness of financial data
•  Providing Financial Advice: Offering guidance and recommendations to management and clients on financial matters, such as cost reduction strategies, investment opportunities, and financial risk management
•  Collaborating With Stakeholders: Working closely with internal teams, external auditors, tax authorities, and other stakeholders to provide necessary financial information, resolve issues, and ensure compliance

  Accountants in the Finance function are often evaluated using the following KPI metrics. Address atleast some of these metrics in your resume line items & within your interview stories to maximize your prospects (if you have prior experiences in this or a related role). This is not a comprehensive list and exact metrics vary depending on the type of business

•  Revenue Growth: Measures the increase in revenue over a specific period of time
•  Profit Margin: Calculates the percentage of profit generated from sales
•  Accounts Receivable Turnover: Measures how quickly the company collects payments from customers
•  Accounts Payable Turnover: Measures how quickly the company pays its suppliers
•  Cash Flow: Tracks the movement of cash in and out of the company
•  Return on Investment (ROI): Evaluates the profitability of an investment
•  Debt-to-Equity Ratio: Compares a company's total debt to its shareholders' equity
•  Inventory Turnover: Measures how quickly inventory is sold and replaced
•  Gross Profit Margin: Calculates the percentage of profit after deducting the cost of goods sold
•  Budget Variance: Compares actual expenses to the budgeted amount

  Successful candidates for a Accountants role in the Finance function can expect a similar selection process as the one outlined below. Actual process may vary depending on seniority, size/type of company etc.

 Interview Questions

  Common Interview Questions that a Accountants in the Finance function is likely to face. Prepare stories that tailor to your own experiences that may help you answer these questions effectively. This is not a complete list and more questions will be added over time. Use the topic tags in the search box below to filter by specific topics

 Related

• Auditor
• Financial Analyst