Mastering Interview Questions from Top Accounting Firms: Part I

If you’re looking to get into a career in the world of accounting, you’ll need to be prepared for a rather challenging interview process. Top accounting firms want to know that you’re organized, resilient, and able to negotiate fast-paced environments. Along with this, top firms are looking for candidates who are team players and who aren’t afraid to put in a little overtime. To help you prepare, here are some tricky questions to practice.

“Would you consider yourself a team player?”

Whether you’re in audit, tax, advisory, or consulting, you’ll be working with colleagues across different departments, as well as clients. Here, the interviewer wants to see if you can thrive in a team-based culture. As always, here’s an example of a bad answer first:

"Yes, I work well with others."

It’s not the worst thing you could say, but it’s vague and doesn’t demonstrate any real teamwork experience. Instead, draw from any real experience you have and answer with something like this:

“Yes, I consider myself a team player. In my last internship, I worked with a team on an audit engagement, and we had a tight deadline to complete a financial statement review. I took the initiative to delegate tasks based on each team member’s strengths and set up daily check-ins to ensure we stayed on track. We completed the project ahead of schedule and earned positive feedback from the client.”

“What does overtime mean to you?”

Accounting firms are notorious for their demanding workloads, especially during busy seasons. They want to know how you handle long hours and high-pressure situations, which is why they might ask this question. If you find yourself on the other end of this one, don’t answer like this:

“I don’t mind working late sometimes.”

An answer like the one above demonstrates a clear lack of understanding of a potential employer’s expectations, and it’s also on the passive side. What you want to do here is acknowledge the need for extra time spent at work and how you see overtime as an opportunity for growth. Check out this good answer:

“I understand that overtime is sometimes necessary, especially during peak seasons. I see it as an opportunity to contribute to the team’s success and gain valuable experience. While I believe in working efficiently during regular hours, I’m fully prepared to put in extra time when needed to meet deadlines and ensure quality work.”

“Tell me about a time you led a team that encountered some difficulty and how you dealt with it.”

Top accounting firms are looking for future leaders, so they’ll ask this question and other forms of it to assess your ability to manage challenges, adapt, and problem-solve under pressure. First, the bad answer:

“I once led a team for a class project, and we got through it.”

This answer is extremely vague and doesn’t show leadership qualities or problem-solving abilities. What the interviewer is looking for here is a real story from your experiences, whether in a class project, during an internship, or from a previous employer. Here is an example of a good answer:

“During a group project in my finance course, I was the team lead for a financial analysis presentation. Halfway through, one team member stopped contributing, which put us behind schedule. I addressed the issue by meeting with them privately to understand their concerns. They were struggling with the research portion, so I reassigned tasks, pairing them with another teammate for guidance. This adjustment helped us complete the project on time, and we received top marks for our work.”

“Tell me about a time when you had to prioritize different deadlines/commitments.”

Accounting professionals juggle multiple clients, tight deadlines, and shifting priorities. Interviewers want to see how you manage time, stay organized, and make smart decisions under pressure. Here’s an example of a bad answer to this question:

“I always do my best to finish things on time.”

The key here is to provide a real-world example, and the above answer fails to deliver. It’s vague and generic, and won’t win you any points with the hiring manager. Instead, answer with something like this:

“During my internship, I was assigned to assist on two different audit projects with overlapping deadlines. I created a priority list, breaking tasks into urgent and important categories. I also communicated with both managers to ensure expectations were aligned. By setting clear deadlines and using time management tools, I was able to complete both projects without compromising quality.”

“Tell me about a time when you experienced conflict in a team. What did you do?”

Accounting professionals work in collaborative, fast-paced environments, where disagreements are inevitable. Hiring managers want to see if you can handle team conflicts professionally, without escalating tension. If you’re asked this question, don’t answer like this:

“I don’t really experience conflict. I just go with the flow.”

While this answer may seem fine on the surface, in the context of the interview it may suggest that you avoid conflict rather than deal with it effectively—this is something most firms won’t appreciate. Here’s an example of a better way to answer:

“During a group project at my internship, two teammates disagreed on how to approach a financial analysis. Instead of letting the conflict delay our progress, I facilitated a quick discussion, allowing each person to present their reasoning. We then compared both approaches and agreed to compromise.”

“Tell me about a time when you almost gave up, how you felt about the situation, and what you did instead of giving up?”

This question is designed to assess several key traits that are critical to success in the accounting world (and almost any professional environment, really). Here’s an example of a bad answer:

“One time I had a huge workload and I got really stressed. I thought about quitting the job because I felt overwhelmed. I talked to a coworker, and they helped me calm down. Eventually, I just waited for the busy season to pass. It was rough, but I made it through.”

Here, the “solution” was just to wait out the challenges instead of actively overcoming them. Along with this, the response lacks depth and doesn’t demonstrate problem-solving abilities or taking the initiative. Check out this example of a good answer:

“During my first year as a financial analyst, I underestimated several technical challenges relating to a project. With deadlines starting to pile up, I was feeling like I wasn’t cut out for the role. Instead of giving up, I asked a senior analyst for advice and began watching tutorials to gain a better understanding of my tasks. That experience taught me that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed, but with persistence and a willingness to learn, you can turn things around quickly.”

There are plenty more challenging interview questions to go over, so if you’re a student or professional looking to get into a nice career with a top accounting firm, be sure you keep your trusty internet browser locked in here—more to come!

Rob Porter is an Editor at Vault.