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Controller Interviews

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Controller Interview Questions

"When hiring a controller, a company will look for candidates who have the business mindset, accounting experience, and essential soft skills to oversee the entire accounting department. Before interviewing for a controllership, prepare to answer questions not only about your knowledge of accounting, but also about your management strategies, communication skills, and knowledge of business operations."

Top Controller Interview Questions & How to Answer

Question 1

Question #1: What would you do if you found a discrepancy in a document an executive provided?

How to answer
How to answer: A controller reports to the top of the management hierarchy. The individual may report directly to a board of directors or a CEO. With this question, your interviewer wants to know how you'll handle a sensitive matter such as this one. Think about ethics. The company interviewing you will want you to demonstrate strong ethics in handling sensitive information.
Question 2

Question #2: Can you tell me about a time you set up accounting or financial controls?

How to answer
How to answer: In answering this question, focus on how you've set up controls at previous jobs to prevent fraud and errors. The interviewer wants to know how your knowledge and skills will improve the company you're interviewing for, especially regarding reducing fraud and financial mistakes. If you don't have previous experience setting up controls, mention industry standards and briefly talk about how you will successfully implement controls for the company in question.
Question 3

Question #3: What is your approach to working with your financial team?

How to answer
How to answer: Highlight your leadership skills as you describe how you work with other financial professionals. Let the interviewer know that you can balance motivating a team to work while insisting on financial accuracy. Demonstrate your soft skills because controllers need to see the big picture, the details, and the financial team's operations.

6,839 controller interview questions shared by candidates

1. Give me a time you demonstrated leadership? 2. Tell me a time you had to work with someone difficult? 3. Tell me a time when you had to go above and beyond or work long hours? 4. Here are two data tables. Tell me what Excel formulas you would use to....Compare, Sum specific categories....Find the mismatches..? (Vlookup, Sumif, Subtotal, etc...)
avatar

Project Controller Consultant

Interviewed at Deloitte

3.8★
Mar 16, 2016

1. Give me a time you demonstrated leadership? 2. Tell me a time you had to work with someone difficult? 3. Tell me a time when you had to go above and beyond or work long hours? 4. Here are two data tables. Tell me what Excel formulas you would use to....Compare, Sum specific categories....Find the mismatches..? (Vlookup, Sumif, Subtotal, etc...)

Phone: What do you think the role as business controller means? Describe your leadership skills. Case: A store manager has a goal of selling more Basic T-shirts. There are three options: make a 3 for two campaign, put the shirts on 30% sale or rearrange the store and but the Basic T-shirts in the entrance. Which option should the store manager go for? How many visitors has a H&M store in a day?
avatar

Business Controller

Interviewed at H&M

3.5★
Oct 18, 2018

Phone: What do you think the role as business controller means? Describe your leadership skills. Case: A store manager has a goal of selling more Basic T-shirts. There are three options: make a 3 for two campaign, put the shirts on 30% sale or rearrange the store and but the Basic T-shirts in the entrance. Which option should the store manager go for? How many visitors has a H&M store in a day?

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