17 Finance Clerk Interview Questions and Answers

Finance clerks are responsible for a wide range of financial tasks in a company. They may be in charge of bookkeeping, preparing financial statements, or overseeing accounts payable and receivable. They may also be responsible for invoicing customers, handling customer payments, and issuing refunds.

No matter what your role in finance, you’ll likely face some common finance clerk interview questions. In this guide, we’ll provide you with some tips on how to answer finance clerk interview questions, as well as some sample questions and answers.

Are you familiar with the basic accounting principles used in bookkeeping?

Bookkeeping is a fundamental aspect of finance, and the interviewer may ask this question to assess your knowledge of accounting principles. Use your answer to highlight your understanding of bookkeeping processes by describing how you use these principles in your daily work.

Example: “I have experience with all aspects of bookkeeping, including recording transactions, maintaining financial records and preparing reports for management. I am familiar with the basic accounting principles that are used in bookkeeping, such as debits and credits, cash basis accounting and accrual basis accounting. These principles help me understand how to record transactions accurately so I can maintain accurate financial records.”

What are some of the most important qualities for a finance clerk to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the necessary skills and abilities to succeed in this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few of your strongest qualities that relate to the job description.

Example: “I think one of the most important qualities for a finance clerk is attention to detail. This helps me ensure I’m entering all information accurately into the system. Another quality I find essential is communication. As a finance clerk, I often work with other employees who are doing different tasks. It’s important to me that I understand what they’re working on so we can communicate effectively. Finally, I believe patience is an important quality because there are times when I may need to wait for others to complete their tasks before I can move forward.”

How would you handle a situation where you have multiple copies of the same invoice and need to determine which one is the original?

This question can help the interviewer assess your attention to detail and organizational skills. Your answer should show that you understand how to use company procedures for handling duplicate documents, such as using a stamp or other method of marking the original copy.

Example: “I would first check with my manager to see if there is a specific way they prefer us to handle this situation. If not, I would make sure to mark the original invoice so it’s clear which one is the correct version. This helps ensure that we’re submitting accurate invoices to our clients.”

What is the difference between an open and a closed ledger?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of accounting terminology. Your answer should include two or more terms and their definitions, along with an example of how you would use them in your work.

Example: “Open and closed ledgers are the difference between financial records that can be changed and those that cannot. In my last role, I used open ledgers for accounts where we recorded transactions daily. For instance, when I received checks from clients, I entered them into the open ledger so they could be tracked. Closed ledgers were for accounts where we only recorded transactions once per month. This was helpful because it allowed me to see our overall balance at the end of each month.”

Provide an example of a situation where you would use a spreadsheet to solve a problem.

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your ability to use spreadsheets and other financial software. Use examples from previous work experience or explain how you would apply the skills needed to complete a spreadsheet.

Example: “At my last job, I used a spreadsheet to track our budget for the month. Each week, I updated the spreadsheet with new information about expenses and revenue. This helped me stay on top of our spending so that we could avoid overspending in certain areas. It also allowed me to see where we were making money and which departments were performing well.”

If you made a mistake while entering financial data, what would you do to correct it?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you respond to mistakes and whether you have a plan for fixing them. Your answer should show that you are willing to take responsibility for your actions, learn from your mistake and fix it as soon as possible.

Example: “If I made a mistake while entering financial data, I would immediately stop what I was doing and contact my supervisor or manager to let them know about the error. Then, I would work with them to find out exactly where the mistake occurred and correct it by re-entering all of the data correctly. Finally, I would make sure to document the mistake in case there is ever an audit.”

What would you do if you noticed a discrepancy in the company ledger and you weren’t sure how to proceed?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you would handle a challenging situation at work. Use your answer to highlight your problem-solving skills and ability to think critically.

Example: “If I noticed a discrepancy in the company ledger, I would first try to find out if there was an explanation for it. If not, I would ask my supervisor or manager what they would like me to do about it. They may want me to investigate further or correct the error immediately. In this case, I would make sure to document everything I did so that I could provide proof of my actions.”

How well do you perform under pressure and how do you stay calm when things start to get stressful?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your ability to stay calm and focused when you’re under pressure. They want to know that you can perform well even when the work is piling up or a deadline is approaching. In your answer, try to explain how you remain calm in stressful situations and provide an example of a time when you did so successfully.

Example: “I am very organized and methodical by nature, which helps me stay calm during stressful times. When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I take a few deep breaths and remind myself that I have everything under control. If there’s something I need to do right away, I focus on that task first and then move onto other tasks as needed. This helps me avoid getting distracted and ensures that I complete all my work efficiently.”

Do you have experience working with multiple financial software programs?

This question can help the interviewer determine your comfort level with using multiple software programs at once. Your answer should include a brief description of which financial software you’re familiar with and how often you use it.

Example: “I have experience working with three different financial software programs, including QuickBooks, Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. I’m comfortable using all three to complete basic tasks like entering data into spreadsheets and creating reports. However, I prefer using QuickBooks because it’s more user-friendly than the other two systems.”

When performing audits, are there any specific procedures you follow to ensure accuracy?

Audits are an important part of the finance clerk’s job, and employers ask this question to make sure you know how to perform them correctly. Use your answer to explain that you understand what auditing is and how it can help a company save money. Share some specific steps you take when performing audits so the employer knows you have experience with this task.

Example: “I always follow my company’s audit procedures because they ensure I’m looking at all the right information. For example, if there are certain documents I need to look at during an audit, I make sure I check for those first. If there are any discrepancies in the numbers, I report them immediately so we can fix them before the end of the month.”

We want to improve our record-keeping practices. What suggestions do you have for us?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you might contribute to the company’s overall success. Your answer should include a few specific ideas for improving record-keeping practices and increasing efficiency in your department or division.

Example: “I noticed that some of the documents I file are duplicates, which means we’re paying for them twice. If we could find a way to eliminate duplicate records, it would save us money. Another idea is to implement an electronic filing system so we don’t have to spend time organizing paper files. This would also allow us to access important information more quickly.”

Describe your experience working with other employees or vendors to complete financial transactions.

This question can help the interviewer determine how you collaborate with others to complete your work. Describe a time when you worked with another employee or vendor to complete a financial transaction and how it helped you achieve your goals.

Example: “In my previous role, I was responsible for entering data into our company’s accounting software. One day, one of my coworkers asked me to enter some information into their computer so they could submit an invoice to a client. I gladly did this because it allowed me to meet my own deadlines while helping my coworker meet theirs.”

What makes you the best candidate for this job?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their company. Before your interview, make a list of all the skills you have that relate to this role. Focus on soft skills like communication, organization and problem-solving. Also include any hard skills you have, such as accounting software experience or financial modeling knowledge.

Example: “I am highly organized and detail-oriented, which makes me an excellent candidate for this job. I also have five years of experience working in finance, so I know what it takes to succeed in this role. My previous employer even gave me a promotion after two years because they saw my potential.”

Which accounting software programs are you most familiar with?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of experience with accounting software. If you have previous experience working as a finance clerk, mention which programs you used and how comfortable you were using them. If this is your first time working in an accounting role, explain which accounting software you are most familiar with and why you chose to learn it.

Example: “I am most experienced with QuickBooks Online because I worked for my college’s business office where we primarily used that program. However, I also understand the basics of Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets since I took introductory courses on both during my undergraduate studies.”

What do you think is the most important thing that a finance clerk can do to support the company’s financial goals?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your understanding of what it means to be a finance clerk. It also gives you an opportunity to show how you can contribute to the company’s success. When answering this question, make sure that you focus on the importance of accuracy and timeliness in your work.

Example: “I think the most important thing that a finance clerk can do to support the company’s financial goals is to ensure that all their work is accurate and timely. If I am able to provide my manager with accurate information at all times, then they will have everything they need to make informed decisions about the company’s finances. This will help them achieve the company’s goals while ensuring that we are following all relevant regulations.”

How often do you perform audits at your current job?

Audits are an important part of the finance clerk’s job. The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with audits and how often you perform them at your current job. Use your answer to explain what types of audits you’ve performed in the past and highlight any specific skills or training that helped you complete these tasks successfully.

Example: “At my current job, I perform monthly financial audits for our company. These audits include a review of all transactions from the previous month, including deposits, withdrawals and payments. I also compare these numbers to the budget we set each month to ensure everything is accurate. In my last role, I performed quarterly audits on the company’s finances.”

There is a discrepancy in the accounts, but you’re not sure how it happened. What do you do?

This question is a great way to test your problem-solving skills. It also shows the interviewer how you would handle an issue that may arise in their company. In your answer, explain what steps you would take to find out why there was a discrepancy and how you would fix it.

Example: “If I encountered this situation at my previous job, I would first check if the numbers were entered correctly. If they were, I would then look for any other possible errors. For example, maybe someone forgot to enter a transaction or didn’t record it properly. Once I found the error, I would correct it and make sure to note down all of the transactions so I could keep track of them.”