BOOKKEEPER'S INTERVIEW
To help us evaluate your skills for being a bookkeeper please be prepared to discuss issues related to the following questions, and more. If this looks like it might be a tough interview, that's our intent. We are looking for willing workers and team players, and we want you to be prepared.
CONTEXT ----- COMPLUS Professional Controllers serve clients (owners of "for-profit" businesses in the Chicagoland area - McHenry to Merrillville) which are too big for him/her to run with only a checkbook in the back pocket and too small to hire one of our Controllers full-time (generally 20-100 workers or $2-10 million sales). There is seldom enough work for more than 1-2 bookkeepers.
|
Why do you want this job (rather than just any job)? |
|
Describe your vision of a "good" boss. |
|
What of your characteristics would make you a good bookkeeper? |
|
How do you decide what tasks to do first? |
|
How do you decide when to ask for help? |
|
How do you learn how to use a new computer program? |
|
What do you think about telephone "help" lines? |
|
If I asked you to work extra time, how would you tell me "NO"? |
|
If I were a vendor asking for payment, how would you tell me "LATER"? |
|
Assuming money is available, when do you pay a bill? |
|
How do you decide to what accounts to distribute A/P charges? |
|
Why are invoices and checks pre-numbered sequentially? |
|
Assume product was shipped "today." When should a sales invoice be prepared? |
|
Assume payments were received in the mail "today." When should the money be recorded and deposited? |
|
When should the first "collection contact" be made for a delinquent receivable? |
|
What do you expect to do when you discover that a customer has overpaid an invoice? |
|
Please define "deposit-in-transit?" |
|
Please define "outstanding check?" |
|
Please define "voucher?" |
|
Please define "accrue?" |
|
Please define "post?" |
|
What is the conventional file name extension for a WORD file? |
|
In WORD, under what top-row tool tab are toolbars displayed or hidden? |
|
What is the conventional file name extension for an EXCEL file? |
|
In EXCEL how do you change the width of a column? |
|
Please define "proof" – (the bookkeeping procedure)? |
|
Does an A/R invoice usually produce a debit or credit to receivables? |
|
Does an A/P check usually produce a debit or credit to cash? |
|
What characteristics do you like best and least about (fill-in-the-blank) software? |
|
Why are you worth $______ ? |
By the way, if you're an employer looking for a bookkeeper, you might find some of these questions helpful. Current laws and "best practices" demand that questions asked of a candidate be relevant to reasonable expectations for a successful applicant. COMPLUS clients offer "equal opportunity" and do not discriminate based on race, color, creed, national origin, gender, disability, etc., only on skill.