Interview Guides
Interview Questions
Controller
Provide high-level administrativDirect financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.
Download below a PDF version of interview questions for Controller
Top Interview question for "Controller"
Strategic Planning and Organization
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How well has your business/facility/group performed? How did you contribute to this?
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What do you see as the financial strengths and weaknesses in our industry?
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What are the drivers of a successful business? What metrics do you review to know if you’re meeting your goals?
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Tell me a time when you reallocated resources due to a shrinking budget.
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How would you describe the purpose of accounting within the larger framework of an organization?
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What do you do to make sure you maintain up-to-date knowledge of accounting software and practices?
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How do you schedule your day? How do you handle interruptions?
Leadership
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Some people consider themselves to be "big picture people" and others are "detail oriented". Which are you? Give an example of a time when you displayed this.
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What are some characteristics you look for when hiring your staff?
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How do you delegate work?
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Tell me a time you had to motivate your team to complete a complex project.
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What challenges have occurred while you were coordinating work with other units, departments, and/or divisions?
Accounting Knowledge and Technology
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What ERP / Accounting platforms have you used? Have you ever updated an existing platform or implemented a new one?
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What do you consider first when putting together a budget?
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Tell me about the most challenging financial project you have ever worked on.
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Tell me about control policies that you have implemented to improve overall financial performance and ensure legal compliance.
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You discover a discrepancy between the total assets on a balance sheet and the total liabilities and shareholders' equity. What is your process for investigating this discrepancy?
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How did you reduce overall expenses in your previous employment?
Communication
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Describe the reports or presentations you have developed for executive teams.
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Tell us a time you had to deliver bad news to the executive team.
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