Bookkeeper Interview Preparation Guide

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Discuss the programs and methods you have used in your schooling or job experience.

Be prepared to succinctly and clearly define all accounting related terms and explain their interdependence.

The further questions for a standard bookkeeper will involve finding out about their experience in the profession. If the bookkeeper is a novice, his or her educational qualifications will be gone through and authenticated before the interview goes anywhere ahead. Answer factually, detail any interesting or outstanding professors or coursework. When describing job experience, emphasize your role and accomplishments.

It is recommended to read professional accounting material before the interview. This will give you an edge over other candidates since it is not only your accounting background and expertise that matters but also your general knowledge to different technical tasks.

Show that you have a solid approach and deep understanding for dealing with varied accounting reports.

Good or bad? I wish, I think, I feel.

Discuss the programs and methods you have used in your schooling or job experience.

A good bookkeeper will explain the balance sheet has assets, liabilities and equity. This is mandatory for anyone you expect to provide accurate financial reports. Ideally they will tell you the equation is: Assets = Liabilities + Equity. If they can't explain the balance sheet, then ask them to describe an asset and liability account. You won't want someone who doesn't know the balance sheet responsible for month end close, but if someone else is ensuring accuracy, just knowing how assets and liabilities are used will be fine.

This problem is tricky and really depends on what you would like to see in the right bookkeeper. Some won't stop looking until they find it. Sure, there could be numerous things causing any discrepancy so you do want them to spend some time looking for the problem. But how much time? Is spending 2 hours looking for $.92 the best use of time? If we look at return on investment, that's absolutely a bad use of time. If they answer 2 hours, you'll want investigate their tolerance for non-perfect circumstances. If you're in the creative field, an extreme perfectionist may just drive you insane. If, however, they won't look for the error at all, their attention to detail probably isn't strong enough and you should keep looking.
When looking for the error, the ideal candidate will say it's likely a transposition error and they would start there first (transposition errors are divisible by 9). They may just say they would check every line item against the statement, which is perfectly valid.

The right answer for cash basis is debit insurance expense $1200, credit cash or accounts payable. All bookkeepers should get this right.