Learn what skills and qualities interviewers are looking for from a director of finance and administration, what questions you can expect, and how you should go about answering them.
As the head of finance and administration, the director of finance and administration is responsible for overseeing the financial health of the company and all of its administrative functions. This position is a key member of the executive team and reports to the CEO.
The director of finance and administration is a critical role in any company, and the interview process for this position is rigorous. The interviewer will want to make sure that you have the skills and experience to handle the many complex responsibilities of this role.
To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve gathered some common questions and answers that will give you a better understanding of what to expect.
The SEC is a federal agency that regulates the financial industry. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience with government regulations and reporting standards. If you do, share your knowledge of these standards. If not, explain that you are willing to learn about them.
Example: “I am familiar with the financial reporting standards set by the SEC. I worked for a company that was publicly traded, so we had to follow all of their guidelines. As a result, I learned how to create reports that met the requirements of the SEC.”
This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you possess the qualities needed for this role. You can answer this question by listing several of the most important qualities and explaining why they are so important.
Example: “The two most important qualities a director of finance and administration should have are leadership skills and communication skills. A director needs to be able to lead their team effectively, which means they need strong leadership skills. They also need to be able to communicate clearly with all members of the organization, including senior management, other departments and outside parties such as vendors and clients.”
The interviewer may ask this question to assess your understanding of the hierarchy in a company and how you would fit into it. Use your answer to show that you understand the importance of both roles and can work well with others.
Example: “The chief financial officer is responsible for overseeing all aspects of finance, including budgeting, accounting and reporting. The director of finance and administration oversees the day-to-day operations of finance and administration departments. I believe these two positions are complementary because they each have different responsibilities. As a result, I think it’s important to maintain open communication between them so they can collaborate on projects.”
The interviewer may ask you this question to learn more about your experience with financial planning and budgeting. Use examples from past experiences to highlight your ability to plan for future expenditures, manage budgets and create forecasts.
Example: “In my previous role as director of finance and administration at a small nonprofit organization, I was responsible for creating the annual budget each year. In addition to developing the overall budget, I also planned for upcoming expenses such as payroll, vendor payments and capital expenditures. I also created monthly projections that helped me identify any areas where we might be overspending or underspending in certain categories.”
This question can help the interviewer understand your ability to make tough decisions that benefit the company. Use examples from your past experience where you helped reduce spending, cut costs or made changes to save money for your organization.
Example: “In my last role as director of finance and administration at a small nonprofit, we had to reduce our budget by 20% due to a lack of funding. I worked with the board of directors to create a plan to reduce expenses while still maintaining important programs and services. We reduced our staff size, consolidated some departments and eliminated some less-important projects. By implementing these strategies, we were able to reduce our budget without affecting the quality of our work.”
This question is a great way to determine what the hiring manager values most in their director of finance and administration. It also helps you understand what they expect from this role. When answering, it can be helpful to think about which areas you have experience with or enjoy the most.
Example: “I would choose accounting because I find it interesting to see how businesses use financial information to make decisions. In my last position, I worked on implementing new software that helped us streamline our accounting processes. This allowed us to save time and money while improving our accuracy.”
The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your ability to identify and resolve problems. Use examples from past experience where you noticed a discrepancy, investigated the issue and resolved it with the help of other team members or senior management.
Example: “In my last role as director of finance for a small nonprofit organization, I noticed that our budget projections were off by $50,000. After discussing the issue with the CFO, we discovered that the accounting department had made an error in calculating revenue. We worked together to correct the mistake and adjust our budget accordingly.”
Directors of finance and administration often have to manage a lot of stress. They’re responsible for making sure the company’s finances are in order, which can be challenging if there are any issues with budgets or accounting practices. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention how you’ve handled similar situations in the past.
Example: “I understand that being a director of finance and administration means I’ll likely encounter some stressful situations. In my previous role as an accountant, I had to work on tight deadlines sometimes. I’m used to working under pressure and I know how to prioritize tasks so I can get them done efficiently.”
The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience working with government agencies and how you handled those situations. Use examples from your past work history or explain what steps you would take if you had no prior experience working with government agencies.
Example: “I have worked with local, state and federal governments on financial matters in my previous role as director of finance and administration for a small business. I helped the company understand its tax obligations and file all necessary paperwork. The company also needed help understanding the requirements for receiving grants and other funding opportunities. I helped them apply for several grants that resulted in millions of dollars in revenue.”
The interviewer may ask you this question to understand how you evaluate the qualifications of potential employees and make hiring decisions. Your answer should include a specific example of how you made an important hiring decision in your previous role, including what factors influenced your choice.
Example: “When I’m evaluating candidates for hire, I look at their education level, professional experience and certifications. I also consider whether or not they have any relevant soft skills that would help them succeed in the position. For instance, when I was director of finance and administration at ABC Company, I hired a new accountant who had a bachelor’s degree in accounting, five years of experience as an accountant and two certifications in tax preparation software. She also had excellent communication skills and was eager to learn more about her job.”
Customer service is an important part of any business, and the interviewer may ask this question to see how you can improve their company’s customer service. Use your answer to highlight your communication skills and ability to work with a team.
Example: “I think it’s important for businesses to have a dedicated customer service department that works with other departments to solve issues quickly. I would create a system where customers could submit questions or concerns online, and then our customer service representatives would respond within 24 hours. If they need help from another department, they can forward the message to them so they can resolve the issue together.”
The interviewer may ask you this question to learn about your experience with using financial software and other tools that help you complete your work. Use your answer to describe the types of software or tools you’ve used in the past and how they helped you complete your job duties.
Example: “In my previous role, I used a variety of different software and tools to complete my work. For example, I used Microsoft Excel for budgeting and forecasting, which allowed me to create reports on company spending and revenue. I also used QuickBooks for managing accounting tasks like invoicing clients and tracking expenses. These tools were essential to my ability to perform my job duties.”
This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you are qualified for this role. Use examples from your experience and education to highlight your skills, knowledge and abilities.
Example: “I have a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis on accounting. I also have five years of experience as a director of finance and administration at my current company. In this role, I managed all aspects of financial planning and reporting, including budgeting, forecasting, cash management and accounting. I am confident that my extensive experience makes me the best candidate for this position.”
This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your background and experience. It’s important to highlight any unique or impressive experiences you have that relate to the position you’re interviewing for.
Example: “I’ve worked in both public and private sectors, so I understand how each operates differently. In my last role as director of finance and administration at XYZ Company, I was responsible for overseeing all financial operations including budgeting, accounting, tax preparation and reporting. This company had over $100 million in revenue per year, so it was important to stay organized and on top of everything.”
This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you understand what’s important in this role. Your answer should include a few key responsibilities of the director and how they relate to the company’s overall success.
Example: “I think the most important aspect of this position is ensuring that the financial information provided by the department is accurate, timely and useful for management. This means I would make sure my team members are well-trained and experienced enough to perform their jobs effectively. It also means making sure we have the right technology in place so our accounting processes can be streamlined and efficient.”
Directors of finance and administration need to be able to make financial projections for their company. This question helps the interviewer determine how often you do this, as well as your level of expertise in doing so. Use examples from past experience to show that you can complete these tasks effectively.
Example: “I usually make financial projections twice a year. I find that this is enough time between each projection to get an accurate picture of the company’s finances. In my last role, I made projections once a quarter, which helped me stay on top of any changes or trends within the company. I also found it helpful to have quarterly meetings with my team members to discuss our progress.”
This question is a great way to test your problem-solving skills and ability to make quick decisions. Your answer should include the steps you would take to identify the cause of the discrepancy, evaluate the impact it has on the company’s financial reports and determine how to resolve the issue.
Example: “I would first analyze the revenue projections for each quarter to see if there are any trends that could explain why we’re not meeting our goals. If I can’t find an explanation, I will then compare the actual revenue with the expenses to see if there are any discrepancies in these areas as well. Once I have identified the cause of the discrepancy, I will work with my team to develop a plan to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”