21 of the Best Accounting Clerk Interview Questions

21 of the Best Accounting Clerk Interview Questions21 of the Best Accounting Clerk Interview QuestionsIf youre a hiring manager looking to hire an accounting clerk, youll need to be prepared with the right questions to ask candidates during job interviews. Here are 21 accounting clerk interview questions that can help you determine who will be the best fit and contribute the most to the job and to your organization.Job seekers, you would do well to pay attention to this list, too. You should be prepared to answer these queries and also use the time to showcase your accounting and interpersonal skills.Job descriptions for accounting clerk jobsBefore the interview, familiarize yourself with the skills, experience and education required for this role, which should be laid out in the job description. Accounting clerk positions are usually entry level, with a required proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel. While this varies at companies, typical duties for this job includeMatching invoices to purchase orders or vouchersPerforming data entryAssisting with the processing of accounts payable and accounts receivableIn a larger company, an accounting clerk may specialize in a specific area like accounts payable, accounts receivable or payroll. A/P clerks update and maintain expense records, and process and send payments. A/R clerks monitor payment activity, prepare and submit invoices, and deposit receipts. Payroll accounting clerks collect and process time cards, calculate taxes and prepare payroll checks.How much do accounting clerks expect to make in your city?VISIT THE SALARY CENTERSolid interpersonal skillsare also important in this career. Accounting clerks may be the financial record keepers in an organization, but theyre also expected to interact with co-workers, communicate with customers and vendors, solve problems and multitask in this job.So what questions should you ask - or, if youre the candidate, answer?Sample icebreaker interv iew questionsWhat are you most proud of, either personally or professionally?If you googled yourself this morning, what would you mostly likely find?What inspired you to apply for this accounting clerk job?What do you hope to accomplish in your career?Knowledge- and skills-based questionsWhat is the role of the accounting clerk in an organization?What computer programs and software have you used on the job?Have you taken any courses or training in maintaining account records or preparing financial statements?What do you enjoy most about this work data entry, filing documents, reconciling bank statements or processing invoices?What methods do you use to check data for accuracy and avoid errors?How do you handle tight deadlines when youre working as a clerk?Interview questions about work experienceWhat responsibilities did you have in your last job?Are there career skills youve developed on the job that might be useful in this one?What types of financial records or reports have you pr epared, and how was the data used?Do you have a customer service or administrative background?What industry experience do you have?Have you ever worked with confidential documents?Do you have job experience with depreciation software?Soft skills and nontechnical abilitiesWhat sort of work environment do you prefer - quiet solitude or bustling office - and why?How do you stay organized and focused?Why is an eye for detail important in this job?Can you describe a difficult situation youve encountered at work and how you handled it?The interview offers an opportunity to ask and answer questions about the job of an accounting clerk, the experience and skill level of the applicant, and the organization itself. Theres no right answer for each question, above.If youre the job seeker, spend some time getting comfortable about what you might be asked in an upcoming interview. Practice for each question with an answer that shows how youre the right clerk for the job.If youre the hiring mana ger, try to make all of your interview questions count so you dont make the costly mistake of hiring the wrong person. Prepare to be asked some questions, too, during the interview. And know that you have the option of bringing in someone on a temporary basis so you can evaluate their career skills and fit with your company before making a full-time job offer.Find accounting clerk candidates nowIf youre hiring, we can help make the process easier. Browse candidates in your city using our online database, tell us who catches your eye, and let us arrange an interview or placement.Find accounting clerk candidates in Tucson, Ariz.Find accounting clerk candidates in Fort Myers, Fla.Find accounting clerk candidates in Louisville, Ky.Find accounting clerk candidates in Albuquerque, N.M.Find accounting clerk candidates in Charleston, S.C.

Finding a Job Where You Want to Work

Finding a Job Where You Want to WorkFinding a Job Where You Want to WorkLooking to find a job that is in a specific geographic area? Perhaps you are moving somewhere new, or you are looking for a job close to home. Finding a job in your area takes anarray of strategies,including utilizingjob search sitesthat focus onlocal jobs, researching local community boards, visiting career fairs in your city, and checking out your local alumni association or their website. By using multiple strategies, you are more likely to find a job that is right for you and is in the region you want to be in. Read on for more detailed tips on where to look to find jobs at companies in your area. Tips for Finding a Job In Your Area The best way to find jobs in your town or city is to use multiple strategies at once. Read below for a list of techniques to use to find a job in your area. While you might not use all of unterstellung strategies, pick the ones that are right for you. Check out Job Search Engi nes While job search engineswill list jobs available nearly everywhere, you can do a search for jobs just in your local area. Try using your favorite online job search engine or job boards Advanced Search function to specify the zip code and/or mile radius youre willing to consider. You can try a large job search engine like Indeed, or check out a niche job site that fits your specific industry.Visit Local Job Search Sites There are websites that specifically target the local jobmarket. Sites like Craigslist, Geebo, and Jobing, focus on jobs listed for specific geographic locations. Check them out to find listings that may not be posted on national job boards. Check out Company Websites If you know what company you want to work for, check out the company website to see if they have any job listings in your area. Bigger companies tend to allow users to search for openings by geographic location.You can also check out job boards that focus on specific companies. For example, LinkUpsea rches for jobs that are posted on company websites. Use the Advanced Search Option to find jobs by company, or find jobs within a particular location.Try Community Boards IfNextdoor.comisnt available yet in your neighborhood, its likely coming soon. The site has many neighborhoods online, allowing this virtual community board of neighbors to communicate with others in their vicinity. While its primary goal is sharing useful information like Can you recommend a good locksmith? youll also find local residents looking for employees for their businesses. Check State Resources Most states have their own job banks, phone and web directories, and other resources specifically for local job seekers.At an even more local level, you can check out your local Chamber of Commerce website, which typically posts local job listings.Visit Career Fairs Check out career fairs in your local area. Job fairs are a great way to do one-stop career shopping at a single event. Typically, the companies at a fa ir are based near the job fair location, so you are guaranteed to find local jobs. Join an Alumni Association Reconnect with your universitys alumni association through their website. These groups can provide significant employment resources, classes, and workshops as well as positions posted by local employers. Alumni associations dont just keep graduates connected to their school they are also a great source for networking and professional development and may host local events if youre in a large urban area. You might also check out your universitys career services office. Most of them are willing to help students find jobs even after graduation. Network Networking is a terrific way to find almost any job. Talk to connections (including friends, family, and professional contacts) you have at companies of interest. In particular, talk to contacts in your areawho might know about other openings near you.

7 Things All Job Seekers Should Know About Themselves

7 Things All Job Seekers Should Know About Themselves7 Things All Job Seekers Should Know About ThemselvesSearching for a new job can often be a lengthy, frustrating process. Yet, you have a much better chance of success when you take the time at the beginning to understand yourself, your goals and your value. Here are seven things worth clarifying in your mind at the very beginning1. Your career goals. Are you looking for a job or a career path? Your approach will be different depending on if you are either desperate to just take anything for an income flow or if you are in the midst of a career change or if you are young and on the way up or if you or are working just to keep busy. 2. What your next job will mean for your longer-term career. If you dont expect your next job to last for a long time, or if you see it as a stepping stone to something else down the line, you need to consider that what you do now will be at the top of your rsum during your next job search. Ask yourself if the particular role, responsibilities and expected accomplishments you can rack up in the job you now seek will align with the expectations of the next hiring manager you want to impress. If not, you may be raising a red flag that will affect you the next time around. 3. Your value. The value you offer to a perspective employer is comprised of many factors, both in and out of your control. You cant, for example, change the overall supply of and demand for people with your background and skill set. However, you can add to your own value by demonstrating particular unique accomplishments in your field, the value of accounts or clients you can bring with you to your next job, your high position in your own professional circles and so forth. Remember that your compensation isnt based on what you need to live on or what you want to earn. It depends on your overall value in the competitive marketplace of similarly skilled individuals seeking comparable positions in your geographic are a.4. Your skill set. Skills are abilities you utilize to get things done. They can be anything from your ability to use a certain programming language to your ability to persuade customers that your product or service is the best solution to their problems. It is important to be able to differentiate between your skills, responsibilities, actions and accomplishments. It is customary today to provide a list of your top 10 to 15 skills that relate to the work involved with a job to which you are applying. This list often appears near the top of a rsum, typically in two or three columns.5. What you can actually accomplish. Its important to be able to envision yourself in a new role before you try to convince the hiring authority that you are the best possible candidate for the position. When you do, youll be able to include something about what you can accomplish in the first 30, 60 or 90 days in the position in your cover letter and discuss it in mora detail in an interview. Many emp loyers will be wowed when you come into an interview with a PowerPoint presentation that demonstrates your understanding of the role, what you would do in it and your own targets for success.However, dont falsely raise expectations just to get a job. Otherwise, youll be laying the groundwork for your own short-lived employment when you dont produce what your boss had reason to hope for.6. Your shortcomings. Maybe you can do the work, but because of inexperience, it will take you longer to do it than someone who is an old hand. Maybe youve got 80 percent or 90 percent of the background necessary, but you need to stretch to fill the rest. The really solid and valued employee continually strives to turn weaknesses into strengths. When you are asked about areas of weakness, you should be able to acknowledge them and, at the same time, put forth a plan for how you will master these areas of professional competence.7. Your past accomplishments. Accomplishments are the end results of a giv en effort. They are not the actions you took, but rather what happened because you took them. People often fail to distinguish between what their job as been as opposed to what they have done. Chances are strong that other candidates against whom you are competing share similar responsibilities as yours but have achieved different qualitative or quantitative results. When you speak about your accomplishments, you demonstrate your unique ability to turn your skills into results of value. And, ultimately, every employer is looking to hire the people who can offer the highest potential value for their company. When youre clear about your skills, what youve done and what youve achieved, youll be able to position yourself as a person of value and show how your past accomplishments can be the basis for future success at your new job. Happy huntingArnie Fertig, MPA, is passionate about helping his Jobhuntercoach clients advance their careers by transforming frantic Ill apply to anything s earches into focused hunts for great fit opportunities. He brings to each client the extensive knowledge he gained when working in HR staffing and managing his boutique recruiting firm.