17 Financial Examiner Interview Questions and Answers

Financial examiners ensure compliance with laws and regulations by examining, auditing, and investigating individuals or organizations. They typically work for banks, credit unions, securities firms, and insurance companies.

If you want to become a financial examiner, you will need to have a strong understanding of financial regulations and laws. You will also need to be able to analyze financial records and spot irregularities. During a job interview, you will be asked a variety of questions to assess your skills and knowledge.

To help you prepare, we have compiled a list of the most common financial examiner interview questions and answers.

Are you comfortable working with financial data?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have experience with financial data and how comfortable you are working with it. If you don’t have much experience, you can talk about what you would do to gain that experience.

Example: “I am very comfortable working with financial data because I’ve been doing it for years. In my last role as a financial examiner, I was responsible for reviewing all of the financial statements submitted by companies. I also had to make sure they were accurate and complete. I enjoyed this work because I enjoy math and numbers, so I found it easy to review these documents.”

What are some of the most important skills you have for this job?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you have the skills and abilities needed for this role. Prior to your interview, make a list of all the skills you possess that are relevant to this position. Choose two or three skills to discuss in detail during your answer.

Example: “I think some of the most important skills I have for this job include my attention to detail and problem-solving skills. As a financial examiner, it’s essential to be able to thoroughly review documents and ensure they’re accurate. In addition, I’m good at finding solutions to problems. For example, if I notice something unusual on someone’s tax return, I can use my problem-solving skills to figure out what happened.”

How would you approach an audit where you found discrepancies in the financial records?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your problem-solving skills and ability to work independently. In your answer, describe the steps you would take to complete the audit and how you would communicate with other financial examiners or managers about any discrepancies you found in a company’s records.

Example: “If I encountered discrepancies during an audit, I would first try to find out why there were differences between two sets of books. For example, if I noticed that one set of books had recorded revenue but not expenses, I would contact the person responsible for maintaining those records to see if they could explain the discrepancy. If they couldn’t, I would report it to my manager so we could discuss what actions to take next.”

What is your experience with financial software?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn about your experience with specific financial software programs. They want to know if you have used the same software they use at their company and how familiar you are with it. Use your answer to explain which financial software you’ve worked with in the past, what you liked about it and why you’re interested in working for this company’s financial examiner position.

Example: “I’ve had a lot of experience using both Microsoft Excel and Access. I find these two programs very useful when analyzing data and creating reports. In my last role as a financial examiner, I was responsible for monitoring the finances of several small businesses. Using Excel and Access helped me create detailed reports that were easy to read and understand.”

Provide an example of a time when you identified a risk in a company’s financial statements.

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your analytical skills and how you use them in the workplace. When answering, it can be helpful to provide an example of a risk that you identified and how you helped the company mitigate it.

Example: “In my last role as a financial examiner, I noticed that one of the companies I was examining had a large amount of debt compared to its assets. This could have been a red flag for the company’s ability to pay back its creditors. However, after speaking with the company’s management team, they explained that the company had recently acquired another business and used the debt to fund the acquisition. The company also provided documentation showing that it would be able to pay off the debt within five years.”

If you found a discrepancy in a client’s financial statements, how would you approach them?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your communication skills and how you handle challenging situations. In your answer, demonstrate that you can be empathetic and use active listening techniques when communicating with clients.

Example: “If I found a discrepancy in a client’s financial statements, I would first explain the issue and my concerns. Then, I would offer to help them understand what happened and provide resources for learning more about their finances. If they are uncomfortable or unsure of how to proceed, I would offer to contact their accountant or financial advisor on their behalf. This way, I can ensure that they feel comfortable and confident moving forward.”

What would you do if you were assigned to an audit and you didn’t have any prior experience with the company or industry?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your problem-solving skills and ability to learn quickly. In your answer, demonstrate that you are willing to put in extra effort to understand the company or industry and apply this knowledge to your audit.

Example: “If I were assigned to an audit without any prior experience with the company or industry, I would first do some research on the company’s website and other public sources of information about the business. Then, I would reach out to someone who has worked at the company before and ask them if they could provide me with additional information about the company’s operations. Finally, I would use all of this information to complete my audit as thoroughly as possible.”

How well do you understand accounting terminology?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your knowledge of accounting terminology and how it relates to the financial examiner position. Use your answer to highlight any experience you have with accounting terms, including definitions or examples of when you used them in a previous role.

Example: “I understand accounting terminology quite well because I’ve been working as an accountant for five years now. In my current role, I help small businesses prepare their tax returns by using accounting terminology to explain complex processes. For example, I recently helped a client understand what depreciation is and how it affects their business’s taxes.”

Do you have any experience working with auditors to complete an audit?

Auditing is a common responsibility for financial examiners, and employers ask this question to make sure you have experience working with auditors. Use your answer to explain what an auditor does and how you’ve worked with them in the past. If you don’t have any direct experience, you can talk about how you would approach working with one if you were hired.

Example: “In my last role as a financial examiner, I was responsible for completing annual audits of several companies. My team and I worked closely with our company’s internal auditors to ensure we completed all aspects of the audit process. We also worked with external auditors to complete third-party audits.”

When reviewing a client’s financial statements, what is your process for determining if they are accurate?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you have the skills and knowledge necessary to perform this role. Your answer should include a step-by-step process for reviewing financial statements, including how you use your analytical skills to determine if they are accurate or not.

Example: “I first look at the client’s income statement to see their revenue and expenses. I then compare these numbers to their balance sheet to ensure that all of their assets and liabilities match up with what they reported on their income statement. If there are any discrepancies between these three documents, I will investigate further to find out why. For example, if a company reports more revenue than it has earned, I would want to know where the extra money came from.”

We want to improve our financial examiner training to better prepare our employees for audits. Are there any areas of our training program that you would change?

Interviewers may ask this question to gauge your leadership skills and how you would improve their training program. In your answer, try to be specific about what you would change and why it would help employees perform better in the role.

Example: “I think that one of the most important things we can do is provide our financial examiners with more practice audits. I’ve seen firsthand how much experience helps auditors learn how to find errors and discrepancies in a company’s finances. If we could increase the number of practice audits each examiner does before they start performing real audits, I think it would make them more comfortable with the process and lead to fewer mistakes.”

Describe your experience working with a team to complete an audit.

Working as a financial examiner requires you to work with other auditors and employees of the company. Interviewers ask this question to learn more about your teamwork skills and how well you can collaborate with others. Use your answer to explain that you enjoy working in teams, but also highlight your individual strengths.

Example: “I have worked on several projects where I had to work with a team to complete an audit. In my last role, I was one of three examiners who worked together to review a client’s finances. We each reviewed different aspects of the business and then met to discuss our findings. This process helped us ensure we were all looking at the same information when making our final decisions.”

What makes you an ideal candidate for this financial examiner position?

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 and experiences that make you an ideal candidate for this role. Focus on highlighting your relevant experience and soft skills.

Example: “I am an ideal candidate for this financial examiner position because I have five years of experience as a financial examiner in a large corporation. During my time there, I learned how to perform thorough examinations while maintaining high levels of accuracy and efficiency. In addition, I have extensive knowledge of accounting software and financial terminology. These skills allow me to work independently and efficiently.”

Which industries do you have the most experience working in?

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.

Example: “I’ve worked in both public accounting and private industry, so I understand how each of these sectors works. In my last role as an accountant at a large corporation, I was responsible for reviewing financial statements and ensuring they were accurate. This helped me develop my skills as a financial examiner and gave me valuable insight into what it takes to work in this field.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of this job?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your priorities and how you would approach this role. Your answer should highlight your commitment to accuracy, integrity and customer service.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of this job is ensuring that financial institutions are operating within legal parameters. I take pride in my ability to thoroughly research any situation before making a decision, which helps me ensure that I’m not missing anything when it comes time to make a recommendation. This thoroughness also ensures that I am able to provide accurate information to both the institution and its customers.”

How often do you complete audits?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with audits and how often you complete them. Use examples from your past to highlight your skills, knowledge and abilities in this role.

Example: “In my current position as a financial examiner, I conduct two audits per month. One is an annual audit that looks at all of the client’s finances for the year. The other is a quarterly review that checks on the company’s progress toward goals and objectives set during the previous quarter. These reviews are important because they ensure clients are using their funds appropriately and staying within budget.”

There is a risk that a client’s financial statements are inaccurate. How would you approach them about the issue?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your interpersonal skills. They want to know how you would communicate with clients and other financial professionals about the risk of inaccurate information in their statements. In your answer, demonstrate that you can be empathetic while also ensuring they understand the importance of accurate reporting.

Example: “I have encountered situations where a client’s financial statement is not entirely accurate. I try to approach them as diplomatically as possible by explaining why it is important for their financial statements to be completely accurate. If there are any discrepancies, I explain what steps they need to take to ensure their next statement is correct. This helps me maintain good relationships with my clients and ensures they understand the importance of accuracy.”