Bookkeeper interview questions
This Bookkeeper interview profile brings together a snapshot of what to look for in candidates with
a balanced sample of suitable interview questions.
Make sure that you are interviewing the best bookkeepers. Sign up for Workable's 15-day free
trial to hire better, faster.
Bookkeeper Interview Questions
On paper, there’s a few things that may give some Bookkeeper candidates an edge over the
others. Professional certification from the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers
(NACPB) or the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers generally means that your
candidates’ knowledge and skills are current. Being a member of a professional bookkeeping
association is also a strong indicator of a candidate’s commitment to their career.
Once you’ve selected your top candidates, use the interview process to evaluate hard skills. The
interview questions below are written to verify that candidates can perform basic accounting tasks
such as processing accounts payable and receivable, reconciling bank statements, checking your
books for errors, and using bookkeeping tools such as QuickBooks. In many cases, relevant
experience trumps duration of experience. For best results, add questions that refer to accounting
practices specific to your industry. You may even want to include a short skills test in your hiring
process.
The interview process is also a great opportunity to assess problem-solving skills, communication
skills, and a mindset of continual learning, all traits of excellent bookkeepers. Keep an eye out for
candidates who can explain their thought processes clearly and concisely. It’s also a good sign
when candidates contribute smart, spontaneous questions of their own to your conversation.
Operational and Situational questions
Talk about your previous work experience as a bookkeeper.
What have you done recently to become a better bookkeeper?
How do you stay updated on regulatory changes that impact on your work?
What sort of financial reports were you responsible for preparing?
Which bookkeeping systems are you familiar with?
How would you rate your computer skills?
As a bookkeeper, how do you avoid errors in your work?
Explain the balance sheet equation.
The ledger is off by $0.80. What process would you use to find the error?
Try Workable for free, for 15 days: www.workable.com, no downloads or credit card required
