Bookkeeper Interview Questions to Ask

A bookkeeper is responsible for some, if not all, of an organization’s accounts. Specifically, bookkeepers record transactions, produce financial statements for supervisors, and more. Therefore, bookkeepers play a vital role in the financial workings of a business.

For this reason, you must hire the right bookkeeper for your company. Below, we’ve compiled a list of bookkeeper interview questions to help you find the perfect employee!

Discover the Best Candidate with These Bookkeeper Interview Questions

1. What type of accounting software are you most familiar with?

Not every bookkeeper will use the same accounting software. It’s crucial to verify the candidate you are interviewing is familiar with the same software your company uses. However, if the candidate has experience with a similar software system, perhaps you could train him/her to use the one your company uses. In the end, this question will help you determine how much experience a candidate has with bookkeeping software.

Here are some of the systems a bookkeeper may be familiar with:

Single-entry
Double-entry
Bookkeeping software
Virtual Bookkeeping

2. What sort of reports do you have experience preparing?

Similarly to the last question, this one will help you evaluate the amount of experience a candidate has. There are multiple kinds of accounts a bookkeeper could be responsible for recording. Some companies have one bookkeeper in charge of all the accounts. However, other companies have more than one bookkeeper that is in charge of different reports. Therefore, it’s important to identify what kind of bookkeeping experience a candidate has and evaluate whether or not they have the skills to work for your company.

Here are some of the reports bookkeepers might be in charge of:

Cash
Inventory
Sales
Purchases
Accounts receivable
Accounts payable
Loans payable

3. Tell me about a time you struggled to meet a deadline. What did you do to achieve your goals?

Mistakes happen in every workplace—big or small. Therefore, evaluating what kind of struggles a person has and how s/he overcame those struggles can be very revealing about that person’s work ethic. In other words, it will reveal whether or not a candidate can find creative solutions to obstacles he or she might face.

4. How do you avoid errors in your work?

Problem solvers are invaluable in the workplace. Nonetheless, a candidate with detail-oriented processes to avoid mistakes is preferable. Be wary of candidates that offer generic and vague answers. This may be a strong indicator that s/he doesn’t take that part of the job seriously. In the end, it’s important to hire a candidate who will avoid making mistakes.

5. If the ledger is off by $0.80, how would you find the error?

This question is very revealing for several reasons. Firstly, it sets the expectation that your company expects error-free ledgers. This sets a high standard for a new hire. Secondly, this question can reveal both the experience and skill set of a candidate. If s/he has a clear process for pinpointing where the error came from, that candidate probably possesses the skills and experience necessary to get the job done right. However, if a candidate is unable to formulate a clear process of finding the error, s/he probably isn’t qualified for the job.

Partner with a Staffing Agency!

Now that you are familiar with the best bookkeeper interview questions to ask, it’s time to start the hiring process! However, this process can be lengthy and costly. The easiest and fastest way to hire or contract a bookkeeper is through a staffing agency!

With a staffing agency, you pay the agency to find the best candidate from their already large pool of candidates. Then, you can have a bookkeeper working for you as soon as the very next day! What does this mean? You save time, money, and energy, allowing you to focus on the important parts of your business.

But which staffing agency should you partner with? Corporate Job Bank is the largest locally owned staffing firm in Arizona. Their incredible customer service, immense talent pool, and timely response make them the perfect staffing partner for you! Contact them today for more information about how they can find you the ideal bookkeeper.