17 Assistant Controller Interview Questions and Answers

Assistant controllers are responsible for the financial health of their companies by preparing financial statements, analyzing data, and providing recommendations to management. They also ensure compliance with government regulations and internal controls.

If you’re interviewing for an assistant controller position, you can expect to face questions about your experience and expertise in financial statement preparation and analysis, as well as questions about your understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). You may also be asked about your experience with accounting software and ERP systems.

To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve compiled a list of assistant controller interview questions and answers.

Are you comfortable with working with numbers and financial data?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have a strong background in accounting and financial management. Use your answer to highlight any relevant experience or education you have with numbers, data analysis and financial modeling.

Example: “I’ve been working with numbers since I was young, so it’s definitely one of my strengths. In high school, I took advanced placement classes for math and science, which helped me get into college where I earned my bachelor’s degree in accounting. Throughout my career, I’ve worked on many projects involving financial data, including budgeting, forecasting and analyzing company performance.”

What are some of the projects you’ve worked on in the past that you’re proud of?

This question can help the interviewer get a better sense of your work ethic and how you approach projects. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific goals you accomplished or any unique challenges you faced and overcame.

Example: “At my last company, we were tasked with creating a new budgeting system that would allow us to track our finances more efficiently. I was excited about this project because I enjoy working on complex issues and figuring out creative solutions. We ended up developing an online budgeting tool that helped streamline our financial reporting process.”

How would you describe your personality?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your personality and how it might fit in with their company culture. When answering, try to be honest while also showing that you can work well with others. Try to focus on positive aspects of your personality rather than negative ones.

Example: “I would describe my personality as outgoing and friendly. I enjoy talking to people and making them feel comfortable. This helps me when working with clients or other departments because I am able to communicate clearly and effectively. I also like to think of myself as a problem solver. I love figuring out the best way to solve issues and help others do the same.”

What is your greatest strength as an assistant controller?

This question allows you to highlight a skill or ability that you feel is important for the role. It also gives you an opportunity to talk about something you are passionate about and how it relates to your career goals. When answering this question, think of a specific skill or quality that you have developed over time and explain why it’s beneficial in your current position.

Example: “My greatest strength as an assistant controller is my attention to detail. I’ve always been very organized and able to stay focused on tasks even when they become challenging. In my last job, I was responsible for managing multiple projects at once, which required me to be highly organized and efficient with my time management skills. This helped me complete all of my work on time while still maintaining high standards.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to manage a difficult coworker.

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your interpersonal skills and how you handle conflict. When answering, it can be helpful to focus on the steps you took to resolve the situation or highlight a specific skill that helped you manage the situation effectively.

Example: “In my last role as an assistant controller, I had a coworker who was very outspoken in meetings. While his ideas were valuable, he would often interrupt others when they spoke and sometimes made them feel uncomfortable. After noticing this behavior for several weeks, I approached him privately and asked if we could meet after work one day. During our meeting, I explained that while I appreciated his contributions, I noticed his disruptive behavior in meetings and wanted to help him understand how his actions affected others.”

If you could change one thing about the way finances are handled in your current company, what would it be?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your critical thinking skills and how you handle change. Your answer should show that you can be innovative, but also consider the impact of any changes on the company’s overall financial health.

Example: “I would like to see more transparency in our budgeting process. I think it would be beneficial if we could have access to all relevant information when creating budgets so we can make informed decisions about spending. This would allow us to better understand where money is going and help us identify areas where we can cut costs without impacting operations.”

What would you do if you noticed a pattern of overspending in one department?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you would use your analytical skills to solve problems. Use examples from past experience to show that you can identify patterns and take action to correct them.

Example: “In my last role, I noticed a pattern of overspending in one department. After looking at the numbers, I found out that the department was using company funds for personal purchases. I reported this to my supervisor, who then spoke with the department manager about the issue. The department manager apologized and promised to make sure it wouldn’t happen again. My supervisor implemented new policies to prevent this from happening again.”

How well do you handle stress?

Assistant controllers often work under pressure. Employers ask this question to make sure you can handle stress and remain calm when working in a high-pressure environment. In your answer, explain how you manage stress and provide an example of a time you did so successfully.

Example: “I am able to handle stress well because I have experience doing it. When I first started my career as an accountant, I worked for a company that was going through some financial issues. The company’s controller left suddenly, leaving me to take over the role temporarily. It was stressful at first, but I eventually got used to the position and helped the company get back on track.”

Do you have any questions for us about the role or our company?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you’ve done your research and are genuinely interested in the position. It’s also a chance for you to learn more about what it would be like to work at this company. When preparing for an interview, make sure to read through the job description thoroughly and do some additional online research about the company. If there are any aspects of the role or company culture that you’re curious about, now is the time to ask.

Example: “I was really impressed by the growth rate of your company over the last five years. I’m wondering if you could tell me a little bit more about how you achieved those results? Also, I noticed that you have a very diverse team here. I’m wondering if you could share with me what steps you take to ensure that everyone feels welcome and included?”

When was the last time you took on a new challenge and how did it turn out?

This question can help the interviewer get a sense of your willingness to learn and grow in your career. It can also show them how you approach new tasks and responsibilities. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific skill or task that you learned recently and how it helped you succeed at work.

Example: “The last time I took on a new challenge was when my company started using SAP for our accounting software. At first, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to learn all of the new processes and procedures, but after some research and practice, I got the hang of it and now feel confident working with SAP.”

We want to improve our data analysis capabilities. If you were in charge of creating a new position, what would it do?

This question is a great way to see how you would use your skills and experience to help the company grow. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about what you enjoy most about your job and how you could apply that to helping the organization as a whole.

Example: “I believe data analysis is an important part of my role as assistant controller because I get to work with numbers every day. If I were in charge of creating a new position, I would create a data analyst position. This person would have similar responsibilities to me but would focus more on analyzing data than entering it into the system. This would allow me to spend less time doing repetitive tasks and more time working with other departments to improve our processes.”

Describe your process for completing a thorough financial report.

The interviewer may ask this question to understand how you approach a task that’s important for the company. Your answer should show your attention to detail and ability to work independently.

Example: “I start by reviewing all of my calculations, then I check them against the original documents. Next, I review the financial report with my supervisor to ensure it accurately reflects the company’s finances. Finally, I submit the report to management so they can review it.”

What makes you qualified for this role?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications for the role. They want to know what skills you have that make you a good fit for their company. Before your interview, think of two or three things that make you qualified for this position. These can be specific skills or experiences you have. Try to relate these to the job description as much as possible.

Example: “I am highly organized and detail-oriented. I also have experience working with multiple teams to complete projects on time. In my previous role, I worked with an accounting team to create monthly financial reports. I also worked with marketing and sales teams to ensure we had all the necessary information to produce accurate budgets.”

Which controller do you most admire and why?

This question is a way for the interviewer to learn more about your career aspirations. It’s important to choose someone who has achieved success in their field, but it’s also helpful if you can find someone whose personality and work ethic align with yours.

Example: “I admire my current controller because she is so knowledgeable and always willing to help me when I need it. She’s been an accountant for over 20 years, so she has seen many different accounting trends come and go. She’s very patient with me as I learn new things, which makes her a great mentor.”

What do you think is the most important skill for an assistant controller to possess?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you possess all of the skills necessary for this role. You can answer by listing several important skills and explaining why they are important.

Example: “I think the most important skill an assistant controller needs is math ability. This position requires a lot of calculations, so I would need to be able to perform them quickly and accurately. Another important skill is communication. An assistant controller must communicate with many different people, including other controllers, accountants and managers. Finally, I think it’s important for an assistant controller to have attention to detail. The information we record in our ledgers has financial implications, so I would need to make sure my work was accurate.”

How often do you recommend financial changes to the chief controller?

The interviewer wants to know how often you recommend changes to the company’s financial policies and procedures. Your answer should show that you are willing to challenge your superiors when necessary, but also that you can work with them to implement positive change.

Example: “I believe it is important to always be open to new ideas and suggestions for improvement. However, I would only make a recommendation if I felt confident in its success. If I thought there was a better way of doing something, I would speak up during our weekly meetings or one-on-one conversations. I would explain my reasoning and ask for their thoughts on the matter. Together, we could come up with a solution that works best for everyone.”

There is a discrepancy in the accounts. What is your process for investigating the issue?

An interviewer may ask this question to assess your problem-solving skills and ability to work independently. Your answer should include a step-by-step process for investigating discrepancies in accounts, including how you prioritize the tasks that need to be completed first.

Example: “I would start by reviewing all of the transactions recorded in each account to determine if there are any duplicate entries or missing information. If I find an error, I will correct it immediately. If I can’t find an error, I will then compare the balances of each account to ensure they match. If there is still a discrepancy, I will investigate the cause further to make sure no other errors exist.”