Accounting Interview Questions & Answers

After getting thru the online stages (application form, numerical reasoning followed by critical thinking, a harder version of verbal reasoning which replaced the e-tray for the 2014-15 intake), my first interview was conducted by a Manager from my chosen area and lasted around 1 hr 15 mins. 20 mins before the interview, I was given a case study to read and had to answer 3 questions stated in the case study - this was the first part of the interview. I was also asked some follow-up questions based on the answers I gave. The second part of the interview was about a long-term project/piece of work I undertook and many follow-up questions based on my example, such as why did I take such action, how did it make me feel, what would I have done differently etc. Final part of the first interview was standard competency questions: why Deloitte, why Indirect Tax, what I'll be doing in the 1st year and to briefly outline the professional qualification.

After learning that I passed the 1st interview (a pleasant surprise), I was then invited for a final Partner interview around a week before Christmas. Around a week beforehand, I was given the presentation topic, with 5 mins of presenting plus up to 10 mins of questioning. After the presentation came some "values-based" questions, such as what would a good day look like, a bad day, what would I do if I had 6 managers sending me emails with urgent tasks to do etc. However, these came up in a more conversational way rather than the Partner reciting thru a fixed list of questions - if anything, it was a very pleasant conversation with the Partner getting to know more about me than "ticking the competency boxes". Surprisingly no commercial awareness questions were asked at all, although my presentation may have covered that adequately.

Actually, the most difficult questions asked were neither the standard competency questions nor the follow-up questions from the long-term piece of work. Rather, they were follow-up questions based on what I said in the case study . . . and I really struggled for time in the case study so had to end up thinking on my feet and relying on what I've read in the business news and apply those to the study. I cannot remember the exact questions as they were all based on what I said.

Follow business news in the run-up to the 1st interview. Although you can theoretically gather all info in the case study, I ended up having to think on my feet and rely on my business knowledge to rescue me in the case study as I ran out of time to do preparation.

For presentation, try to keep it to a level you can understand. I got good feedback from the Partner straight after the presentation because the Partner thought I used calculations appropriately to explain harder stuff and that I also avoided using fancy business jargons you'd find in FT.

See "desscribe your interview" for the case study.

The competency question was fine, they just asked general questions which I have already mentioned during the phone interview.
There was a group exercise/presentation and they expect you to talk. I was too shy and did not want to interrupt anyone and I was also afraid I was going to say something wrong but that is not what they expect from you. I obviously did not get the job and when they called to say I was unsuccessful they mentioned my lack of attitude in the group exercise/presentation.
The last interview of the day was with the manager of the area I applied to. They expected me to know too much about business, to give business advices and suggestions to the fictional company we were talking about. He asked questions which I believe only someone with a lot of knowledge in business would be able to answer, it was quite confronting and I lost all my confidence. I ended up not being able to answer anything correctly. Even though the questions itself were not actually related to the role I was applying to, you are still expected to know a lot about business.

What should (the fictional company) do in order to gain more profit?
What should they change?
What solutions would you give to the company?

Talk during the group presentation, no matter what!
When you go to the interview with the manager, be sure about what suggestions you are going to give to the company. They expect you to know a lot about business, regardless of the position you are applying to.

In the group presentation/exercise they gave us information on a fictional company. We were asked to find the issues with the company (which were very clear and easy to find) but also to give advices on how to proceed.