20 Baker Tilly US Interview Questions and Answers

Baker Tilly US is one of the largest accounting and advisory firms in the United States. With over 2,700 employees in more than 90 offices across the country, Baker Tilly US provides a full range of services to clients in a variety of industries.

If you’re interviewing for a job at Baker Tilly US, you can expect to be asked a mix of questions about your experience, qualifications, and goals. To help you prepare, we’ve gathered a list of sample Baker Tilly US interview questions and answers.

Baker Tilly US Interview Process

The interview process at Baker Tilly US can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least two rounds of interviews, with the first round being a phone screen with a recruiter and the second round being in-person or via Zoom with a hiring manager and/or partner. For some positions, there may be a third round of interviews. Overall, the interview process is professional and straightforward, with most questions being related to your qualifications for the role.

1. What is your experience with preparing financial statements?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with accounting and financial reporting. You can answer by describing a time you prepared financial statements for an organization or company, including any challenges you faced while doing so.

Example: “In my previous role as an accountant at a small business, I helped prepare monthly financial statements to submit to the state government. This was challenging because we had limited resources and needed to complete the reports on time. However, I worked with my team to find solutions that allowed us to meet our deadlines without sacrificing accuracy.”

2. Do you have any experience working with clients in the retail industry?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have any experience working with clients in a similar industry. This can be helpful for employers because it shows that you are familiar with the client’s needs and expectations, which can make your transition into this role easier. Use your answer to highlight any previous retail experience or skills that may apply to this position.

Example: “I worked as a sales associate at a clothing store during my college years. I was responsible for helping customers find the right sizes and styles of clothes based on their preferences. I also helped them find additional items they might like by asking questions about what they were looking for and offering suggestions. These experiences taught me how important it is to listen to the customer and provide solutions to their needs.”

3. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Employers ask this question to see if you have a long-term career plan. They want to know that you are committed to their company and will be there for the long term. When answering, think about what your goals are in life. Think about how working at Baker Tilly US can help you achieve those goals.

Example: “I would like to continue my education and get my master’s degree in business administration. I am passionate about accounting and finance, so I would love to work here while studying. In five years, I hope to have graduated with my MBA and be working as an accountant or financial analyst.”

4. Tell me about a time when you had to work on a project alone and how you handled it.

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your ability to work independently. Use examples from previous jobs or school projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and time management abilities.

Example: “In my last job, I was tasked with creating a new menu for our restaurant. My manager wanted me to come up with five different options for the menu by the end of the week. At first, I felt overwhelmed because I had never done this before. However, I decided to take it one step at a time. First, I researched other menus in the area and talked to customers about what they liked most on our current menu. Then, I came up with some ideas for the new menu and presented them to my manager.”

5. Describe a situation where you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way.

Employers ask this question to see if you have the ability to convince others of your ideas and opinions. This is an important skill for a baker, as they may need to persuade customers to buy certain products or explain why their baked goods are not available. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide specific details about what you said and how it helped convince someone.

Example: “When I was working at my previous bakery, we had a customer who would come in every day and order the same thing. One day, he came in and ordered our chocolate croissant, but we were out of them. Instead of offering him something else, I decided to talk to him about his options. He told me that he really wanted the chocolate croissant, so I offered to bake some more just for him. He agreed, and I made sure to keep extra croissants on hand after that.”

6. Why are you interested in this position at Baker Tilly US?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your background and why you are interested in working for their company. Before your interview, research the job description to see what skills they’re looking for. Use these skills to explain how you can contribute to the team.

Example: “I’m passionate about accounting and finance, so I was excited to find out that Baker Tilly US is a CPA firm. I’ve always wanted to work in an office environment where I could use my math skills to help clients with their finances. When I read through the job description, I saw that you were looking for someone who has two years of experience as an accountant. I have three years of experience as an accountant at Smith & Company CPAs.”

7. How would you describe your client interaction style?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you interact with clients and other people in general. Your client interaction style is an important part of your job, so it’s essential to show that you have strong interpersonal skills.

Example: “I am a very friendly person who enjoys talking to others. I find that my outgoing personality helps me connect with clients and make them feel comfortable. When I first meet a new client, I try to learn as much about them as possible so I can better serve their needs. For example, if they are a family man, I will ask questions about his kids or grandkids. This helps me get to know them on a more personal level and makes them feel more at ease.”

8. Do you have any experience working with international clients?

Employers may ask this question to see if you have experience working with clients from other countries. If you do, they may want to know how you handled the situation and what challenges you faced. If you don’t, they may want to know whether you would be willing to learn about international business practices.

Example: “I haven’t worked directly with international clients, but I am very comfortable communicating in a foreign language. In my last job, I had a client who was French-Canadian. I took a few online courses on conversational French so that I could better understand their needs. The company appreciated my efforts and offered me a promotion.”

9. Have you worked on projects that required you to make decisions based on limited information? If so, tell us about it.

This question can help interviewers understand how you make decisions and whether or not you have experience with making important choices. Use your answer to explain a time when you had limited information but still made an informed decision that benefited the company.

Example: “In my previous role, I was responsible for ordering ingredients for our bakery. One day, we ran out of one of our most popular pastries before lunchtime. We didn’t know why we were running low on supplies so quickly, but I decided to order more ingredients anyway because it was a busy season. It turned out that we needed more supplies because we sold more pastries than usual that day. By ordering more ingredients, we avoided disappointing customers.”

10. Give an example of when you applied accounting principles or standards to solve a problem.

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your problem-solving skills and how you apply accounting principles in the workplace. When answering, consider an example that highlights your ability to analyze data and use financial information to make decisions.

Example: “In my previous role as a senior accountant, I noticed our company’s sales were decreasing while expenses remained high. After reviewing the company’s financial records, I discovered we had been paying for expensive marketing campaigns without seeing any results. I presented my findings to my manager, who decided to cancel the campaign and focus on more cost-effective methods of advertising. This decision saved the company thousands of dollars each month.”

11. Can you give me an example of a time when you set a goal for yourself and reached it?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you are a goal-oriented person. It also gives them insight into what types of goals you set for yourself and how you achieve them. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about the most recent time you achieved a personal or professional goal.

Example: “I recently decided I wanted to learn more about accounting software so I could better understand my business’s financial reports. I signed up for a free online course on accounting basics and spent one hour each night studying after work. After two weeks, I felt confident enough in my knowledge of accounting to ask my bookkeeper some questions. She was impressed with my progress and offered to answer any additional questions I had.”

12. What does corporate culture mean to you?

Employers ask this question to see if you understand what corporate culture is and how it can affect the workplace. They want to know that you will fit in with their company’s values and goals. When answering, explain what corporate culture means to you and why it’s important for businesses to have a positive one.

Example: “Corporate culture is the way people within an organization interact with each other. It’s about having a shared set of values and goals. I think it’s essential for companies to have a strong corporate culture because it helps employees feel more comfortable and confident at work. A good corporate culture also makes it easier to achieve business objectives.”

13. What is your relationship with technology like?

Technology is an important part of the accounting industry, and it’s likely that you’ll need to use technology in your role as a baker. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience using accounting software and are comfortable with computers in general. In your answer, explain which technologies you’re familiar with and why they interest you. If you don’t have much experience with technology, explain what you would do if you needed to learn new systems quickly.

Example: “I’m very tech-savvy, and I’ve been using computers for most of my life. I started working with spreadsheets when I was in high school, so I’m quite comfortable with Excel. I also enjoy learning about new technology, so I’d be open to taking online courses or reading books on other accounting software if necessary.”

14. What kind of tools do you use to keep up with trends in the accounting field?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you are up-to-date with the latest accounting trends. Use your answer to show that you have a passion for learning and staying current on industry news.

Example: “I am passionate about keeping up with the latest accounting trends, so I regularly attend conferences and seminars to learn more about new software programs and strategies. In fact, I recently attended an event where my company announced they would be implementing a new cloud-based accounting system. This information helped me prepare for the change in our processes.”

15. Do you have any experience using tax software?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the industry and how you can contribute to a team. If you have experience using tax software, share what kind you used and why it was beneficial for your work. If you don’t have any experience with tax software, explain that you are willing to learn new systems.

Example: “I’ve worked in accounting for five years now, and I’ve been responsible for filing taxes since my first job as an accountant at a small business. I’m familiar with several different kinds of tax software, but I prefer TurboTax because it’s easy to use and has many helpful features. It also helps me stay organized by providing reports on clients’ financial information.”

16. What do you think will be the biggest challenge in this role?

Employers ask this question to see if you are aware of the challenges that come with a role. They want someone who is willing to face challenges and overcome them. When answering, be honest about what you think will be challenging but also explain how you would handle it.

Example: “I think the biggest challenge in this role will be working under pressure. I am used to having time to create my work, so I know I’ll have to learn to do things more quickly. However, I am confident that I can adapt to this new environment. I am an organized person, so I plan on keeping all of my tools and ingredients ready before starting each day.”

17. What is your experience with managing multiple deadlines?

This question can help the interviewer determine how well you prioritize your time and manage multiple projects at once. Use examples from previous work experience to show that you are able to meet deadlines while still producing high-quality work.

Example: “In my last role, I was responsible for managing multiple deadlines each day. This included ensuring all of our clients received their invoices on time, as well as completing daily tasks like baking and decorating pastries. To ensure I met all of these deadlines, I created a spreadsheet where I tracked which orders were due when. This helped me stay organized and ensured I didn’t miss any important deadlines.”

18. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your personality and how you view yourself. They also want to know if you are aware of any weaknesses that could affect your job performance. When answering this question, be honest and highlight a few strengths and weaknesses that relate to the position.

Example: “I am very organized and detail-oriented, which makes me great at following recipes and measuring ingredients. I am also quite creative when it comes to decorating cakes and pastries. My weakness is my ability to multitask. If there are too many things going on around me, I can get overwhelmed and forget important details. However, I have learned to manage this by breaking large tasks into smaller ones.”

19. What do you know about our company?

Employers ask this question to see if you’ve done your research. They want to know that you’re genuinely interested in the company and its values. Before your interview, read up on the company’s website or do a quick Google search. Try to find out what their mission statement is and how they plan to achieve it. You can also look at recent news articles about them.

Example: “I’m really impressed by Baker Tilly US’s commitment to client service. I noticed that you have won several awards for being one of the best accounting firms in the country. I think it’s important to work somewhere where people are passionate about their jobs. I am excited to be part of such an innovative company.”

20. Are you comfortable communicating by phone, email and face-to-face?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your communication skills. They want to know how you interact with others and if you can communicate effectively in a variety of settings. Your answer should show that you are comfortable communicating by phone, email and face-to-face.

Example: “I am very comfortable communicating by phone, email and face-to-face. I have worked in an office setting for the past five years, so I am used to interacting with my coworkers on a daily basis. In addition, I regularly speak with clients over the phone and via email. I find it easy to communicate clearly and concisely when speaking with others.”