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Account Officer Interview Questions

Edited by Indeed Employer Content Team
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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Account Officer interview questions and answers.

  1. Share your accounting credentials, education, and background and how you think they qualify you as a strong candidate. See answer
  2. How do you handle deadlines or prioritize one account over another? See answer
  3. When a customer has a significant rotating balance they owe, how do you go about collecting and ensuring they pay? See answer
  4. Share a time in your career when you made an accounting error—how did you manage it and what was the outcome? See answer
  5. What accounting software are you formally trained in and to what extent? See answer
  6. What methods do you use to explain complex financial and accounting terminology to colleagues from other departments? See answer
  7. Explain the primary differences between auditing and accounting. See answer
  8. What steps do you take to verify financial information and its accuracy and reliability? See answer
  9. Can you explain what bad debt is and the effect it can have on the liquidity of a company? See answer
  10. Share what you view as one of the most important changes to the recent update in financial reporting standards. See answer
  11. Aside from your client accounts, how do you add value to your company and team? See answer
  12. Discuss a specific situation when you used your customer service skills to resolve a customer’s financial concern.
  13. What would you do if a customer contacted you and said there’s an overcharge for a transaction?
  14. What is an accounting process you’ve improved to be more effective in your role that you’d implement here if employed?
  15. How do you view big data’s impact on the accounting industry?
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Hire your next Account Officer today.

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Hire your next Account Officer today.

Post a job
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Account Officer Interview Questions and Answers

Share your accounting credentials, education, and background and how you think they qualify you as a strong candidate.

Experience as an account officer can make for a strong candidate. Your candidate should be familiar with accounting methods, conventions, and software your firm uses to do the job and ensure accurate invoice and bookkeeping.

Listen for:

  • Accounting credentials from an accredited school
  • Solid examples of past accounting experience
  • Detailed knowledge of tax laws in your area

Example:

"I earned my accounting degree from Southern Alberta College and have five years of account officer experience for a mid-sized company. I think the knowledge I possess translates well to the work I'd do for your business."

How do you handle deadlines or prioritize one account over another?

This question shows the candidate's time management skills and ability to multitask and prioritize, especially since your account officer deals with multiple accounts and customers. Deadlines may happen at or around the same time, like during tax season or the end of the fiscal year. A strong candidate knows which accounts to prioritize and in what order.

Listen for:

  • A clear understanding of important deadlines
  • A detailed method for prioritizing accounts
  • A follow-up strategy to keep accounts in order

Example:

"One of my accounts had difficulty sharing monthly invoices regularly. I prioritize his account, created a spreadsheet template for him to plug information into, and had a standing appointment the third Thursday of every month to discuss standout charges. We consistently have invoices on time and generate reports early now."

When a customer has a significant rotating balance they owe, how do you go about collecting and ensuring they pay?

Some account officers are directly in charge of credit control depending on a company. It's possible a client may not pay on time or carry a large rotating balance without giving minimum payments. Handling these situations with care can ensure your organization gets paid without damaging the relationship.

Listen for:

  • Examples of handling similar situations
  • A clearly defined method of collection
  • A well-balanced disposition and friendly demeanour

Example:

"One of our clients was uncharacteristically late with two consecutive billing cycles and had less than the minimum payment. When I called to thank them for their business and ask if there was anything we could help with, I learned they experienced a hardship. We discretely set up a payment plan with smaller monthly minimums and it hasn't been an issue since."

Discuss a specific situation when you used your customer service skills to resolve a customer's financial concern.

Quality customer service is imperative as an account officer. This question serves to assess a candidate's conflict resolution, customer service skills, and persuasive ability.

Listen for an answer to emphasize:

  • Genuine empathy for the customer
  • Conflict resolution experience
  • Developed customer service skills

Example:

"A client called, understandably upset about unauthorized charges on his account, and quick work helped us secure the rest of his funds. After checking records and asking some questions, I verified he recently went on vacation and learned the account's card got compromised during those travels. We reissued a new card number, used the fraud protection program for the unauthorized purchases, and reassured the customer about the safety of his account."

What would you do if a customer contacted you and said there's an overcharge for a transaction?

Account officers work with customers sometimes daily, including for issues or concerns. Your candidate should resolve problems with accuracy and kindness. Strong candidates share how they review an account to find the source of an issue, like a data entry error or a miscommunication, and then talk about how they solved it.

Listen for:

  • A balanced, thoughtful approach
  • A strategy for problem-solving
  • A relatable understanding of the customer's concern

Example:

"Whenever a customer calls to mention a potential mistake on their account, I thank them for checking on it and immediately pull up their records. I review the past two invoices to make sure there are no data entry errors and read the line item in question with the customer. Often, it's a simple misread of an invoice or receipt, though should it be a typo, I adjust the invoice and send an updated one immediately to reflect the change."

Share a time in your career when you made an accounting error—how did you manage it and what was the outcome?

Your account officer may experience errors in their career, and learning how they handle them can help determine their level of professionalism, honesty, and ethics.

Listen for:

  • A cognizant understanding of data errors
  • An ethically balanced approach
  • A mindful confidence

Example:

"In the past, a tax filing I did for a client got audited and we discovered a major data entry error that altered the return drastically. I offered to meet with the client immediately, easing their concerns by showing them the adjusted filing and reviewing it line by line. I refiled, included a statement that it was the tax prepare's error, and refunded the filing fee."

What accounting software are you formally trained in and to what extent?

It's critical your account officer knows accounting software to maintain the bookkeeping and accounts accurately for your company. This question shows their level of experience and accounting software proficiency.

Listen for:

  • Attention to detail
  • Experience with accounting software
  • How they prioritize accuracy and efficiency in their work

Example:

"I have extensive knowledge of Excel, QuickBooks, and FreshBooks programs and led an internal training team for our new hire recruits. I also follow industry social pages to learn new tips for using these programs more effectively."

What methods do you use to explain complex financial and accounting terminology to colleagues from other departments?

This question gives insight into your candidate's communication style and proficiency. A candidate's communication skills can be just as valuable as their technical and accounting skills.

Listen for: 

  • An established communication style
  • An ability to make complex terms simple
  • A desire to provide easy-to-understand examples

Example:

"Financial and accounting terms can be hard to explain, so I enjoy using creative metaphors for complex formulas and terminology, especially for clients without accounting backgrounds. I also like using visual elements in my presentations or reports, like including graphs, charts, and infographics to show stories about numbers."

Explain the primary differences between auditing and accounting.

An account officer may prepare financial records or audit budgets and bookkeeping for other departments or offices, depending on the position. Your candidate should know the difference between accounting and auditing and how they're connected.

Listen for:

  • A firm understanding of the terms
  • Confidence
  • A simple and clearly communicated explanation

Example:

"The two are related, though accounting is the art of your orderly record-keeping of financial statements, transactions, and monies, whereas auditing offers an evaluation to make sure the accounting is correct. "

What steps do you take to verify financial information and its accuracy and reliability?

This question helps establish the financial habits of your candidate and how thoroughly they do their work. Whether it is through industry best practices or self-taught methods, it's important to hear how your candidate checks the reliability and accuracy of financial information that can affect your company.

Listen for:

  • Effective results
  • A firm basis in ethical accounting
  • Specific examples that give detail

Example:

"A service industry client of mine often works with cash payments from customers, so it's important for me to review bank statements to verify deposits into the account that match the bookkeeping. When there is a discrepancy in payroll or the balance sheet, I often review time clocks and reported hours or the projected budget versus actual spend."

Can you explain what bad debt is and the effect it can have on the liquidity of a company?

Your account officer should know basic financial and accounting terms and how they impact a business. It's critical their understanding of the job reflects positively on your company. Asking about common industry terms can help you gauge the depth of your candidate's knowledge.

Listen for:

  • A confident answer
  • A direct correlation of how the accounting term affects a business
  • A deep understanding of the profession

Example:

"Bad debts are direct losses that compete against your revenue and can impact a company's liquidity because they lower your net income. These irrecoverable receivables are rarely collected after payment from a customer."

Share what you view as one of the most important changes to the recent update in financial reporting standards.

A question like this helps determine how informed your candidate is on industry news and financial regulations, which can directly influence your company or business. Staying informed about all levels of financial reporting helps ensure proper financial processes.

Listen for:

  • A deep understanding of financial laws and regulations
  • A relatable mindset of how financial elements affect everyone
  • Knowledge other candidates lack

Example:

"I believe the recent changes to federal tax code and income tax is a major change in recent financial reporting standards. It affects nearly every citizen and business, making it imperative to know the details of the changes for tax season and beyond."

What is an accounting process you've improved to be more effective in your role that you'd implement here if employed?

This question allows your candidate to show their creativity and ingenuity within their field. Hearing what value they plan to bring to the role can establish them from other candidates.

Listen for:

  • Creative solutions
  • Specific examples of an implemented change
  • Quantifiable results of their work

Example:

"I helped establish an automated invoice system for small business clients at my last firm that improved budget forecasting by 10% and I think the concept can work for the medium-sized companies you represent."

How do you view big data's impact on the accounting industry?

Accounting often combines data and estimates, particularly for forecasting. Big data references large volumes of structured or unstructured data related to a business's dealings.

Listen for:

  • An understanding of the term
  • An explanation of big data
  • An example of how they have used it in accounting

Example:

"Big data can be vital to identifying trends in an industry, helping leaders make better-informed decisions and strategic moves. We used it at my last firm to save $1,000 in vendor processing fees."

Aside from your client accounts, how do you add value to your company and team?

This answer showcases how well-rounded your candidate is and if they invest in their workplace. Your account officer can act as a leader in the office, showing skills beyond their daily responsibilities.

Listen for: 

  • A detailed description of leadership skills
  • Specific examples of engagement
  • A friendly and approachable nature

Example:

"I prioritize my work but also balance it with fun and learning. I enjoyed being the social chairperson at my last job, organizing department retreats, professional development seminars, and volunteering for the hiring committee."

Three individuals are sitting at a table with a laptop, a disposable coffee cup, notebooks, and a phone visible. Two are facing each other, while the third’s back is to the camera. The setting appears to be a bright room with large windows.

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