17 Opex Manager Interview Questions and Answers

An operations manager is responsible for the day-to-day running of a company or organization. They oversee the staff and make sure they are working efficiently to achieve the company’s goals. Operations managers usually have a background in business administration or management.

If you want to become an operations manager, you will need to demonstrate your skills and abilities in an interview. The interviewer will ask you questions about your experience, education, and skills. They will also ask you behavioral questions to get a sense of how you would react in certain situations.

To help you prepare for your interview, we have compiled a list of the most common operations manager interview questions and answers.

Are you comfortable working with a team of people from various departments to manage the company’s expenses?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you are a team player and can work with others to achieve common goals. Your answer should include examples of how you have collaborated with other departments in the past to manage expenses, reduce costs or increase revenue.

Example: “I am very comfortable working with a team of people from various departments to manage company expenses. In my last role as an opex manager, I worked with a team of five analysts who were responsible for monitoring spending across all departments. We met once per week to discuss our findings and develop strategies to reduce spending on certain areas while increasing revenue.”

What are some of the most important skills for an opex manager to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills necessary to succeed in this role. Use your answer to highlight some of the most important skills for an opex manager and explain why they are so important.

Example: “The two most important skills for an opex manager are communication and organization. These skills allow me to effectively manage projects, teams and budgets while ensuring that everyone on my team has all the information they need to do their job well. I also think it’s important to be able to work under pressure because there may be times when we’re working on a tight deadline or trying to meet a challenging goal.”

How would you go about negotiating a better deal with a current supplier?

This question can help the interviewer assess your negotiation skills and how you might apply them to benefit the company. Use examples from past experiences where you successfully negotiated a better deal with suppliers or vendors, and highlight any specific strategies that helped you achieve success.

Example: “In my last role as an opex manager, I noticed we were paying more for our software than other companies in our industry. I contacted the vendor to discuss this issue, and they informed me of a new pricing structure that would save us money. I asked if they could implement the new pricing structure immediately so we wouldn’t have to pay extra fees for the remainder of our contract. They agreed, and we saved thousands of dollars over the next year.”

What is your process for evaluating potential suppliers before making a decision?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you make important decisions and evaluate information. Use your answer to highlight your critical thinking skills, ability to analyze data and apply problem-solving techniques.

Example: “I start by researching each supplier’s reputation in the industry and their customer reviews. I also look at the company’s financial stability and its history of providing quality products or services. If a supplier has been in business for several years and has positive reviews from previous clients, it shows that they are committed to maintaining high standards. After reviewing these factors, I then compare the cost of each supplier to ensure we’re getting the best value.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to make a difficult decision regarding spending cuts.

When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide a specific example of the decision you made and how it impacted your team. This can help interviewers understand more about your leadership skills and ability to make tough decisions.

Example: “In my last role as an opex manager, I had to cut spending on marketing campaigns that weren’t generating revenue for our company. While I knew cutting these programs would impact our brand recognition, I also understood that we couldn’t continue to spend money on them if they weren’t bringing in new customers. After discussing the situation with my team, we decided to focus on one campaign per quarter instead of multiple at once. This helped us save money while still maintaining some brand awareness.”

If hired, what would be your priorities during your first few weeks on the job?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s work ethic and how they plan to contribute to your company. When answering this question, it can be helpful to list three or four things you would do in your first few weeks on the job. This shows that you are eager to get started and have some ideas of what you want to accomplish right away.

Example: “My top priorities during my first few weeks on the job would be to meet with all of the team members and introduce myself. I would also like to review any current processes and procedures to see if there are any areas for improvement. Finally, I would like to create an actionable plan for improving our Opex department.”

What would you do if you noticed a recurring expenditure that was significantly higher than expected?

This question can help the interviewer assess your ability to identify and resolve issues within a company’s budget. Use examples from past experience where you noticed an unexpected expenditure, investigated its cause and implemented solutions to reduce costs or eliminate them entirely.

Example: “In my last role as an opex manager, I noticed that our marketing department was spending more than expected on social media advertising. After investigating the issue, I discovered that one of our employees had been using the wrong type of ad campaign for their content, which resulted in higher-than-expected expenses. I worked with the employee to correct the mistake and saved the company thousands of dollars.”

How well do you understand accounting terminology?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your knowledge of accounting terminology and how you apply it in your work. Use examples from past experiences where you used accounting terms correctly, such as debits and credits or the difference between a balance sheet and an income statement.

Example: “I have always been interested in learning about financial statements and other accounting terminology because I find them interesting. In my last role, I took an online course on accounting basics that helped me understand some of the more complex terminology. For example, I learned what a debit is compared to a credit and how they affect each other when working with a company’s finances.”

Do you have any experience using financial management software?

This question can help the interviewer learn about your experience with specific software programs. Use this opportunity to list any financial management software you’ve used in previous roles and explain how it helped you complete your job duties.

Example: “In my current role as an opex manager, I use a variety of financial management software to track expenses and monitor spending. My team and I use Oracle’s Financial Management Cloud Service to create budgets, manage cash flow and forecast our company’s finances. We also use Microsoft Power BI to analyze data from our financial reports and identify areas where we can save money or increase revenue.”

When negotiating with a potential supplier, what is the most important thing you should look for?

This question is an opportunity to show your negotiation skills. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific example of how you used your negotiation skills to help the company save money or get better terms from suppliers.

Example: “The most important thing I look for when negotiating with a supplier is whether they are willing to negotiate on price. If they aren’t, then I know that there isn’t much room for me to try and lower their costs. However, if they are open to lowering prices, then I will ask them about other ways we could reduce our costs. For instance, at my last job, I was able to convince one of our suppliers to give us a discount if we ordered more than usual.”

We want to increase our inventory turnover. How would you go about doing that?

This question is a great way to test your analytical skills and ability to make decisions that can positively impact the company. In your answer, you should explain how you would calculate inventory turnover and what factors you would consider when making this decision.

Example: “I would first determine whether we have enough cash on hand to cover our current inventory levels. If not, I would look at ways to increase sales or decrease expenses so that we could meet our financial obligations. Once we had more cash on hand, I would then decide if it was worth investing in additional inventory. For example, if we were selling out of products regularly, I would likely invest in more inventory. However, if we weren’t selling out of our existing inventory, I would hold off on purchasing more until we needed it.”

Describe your process for evaluating the risk associated with a particular investment.

An interviewer may ask this question to assess your risk management skills. They want to know how you make decisions that affect the company’s bottom line and overall financial health. In your answer, describe a specific process for evaluating risk and explain why it works well for you.

Example: “I use several factors when determining whether or not an investment is worth pursuing. First, I consider the potential return on investment. If the ROI isn’t high enough, then I won’t pursue the investment. Next, I look at the volatility of the asset. If the asset has a volatile history, then I will also pass on it. Finally, I examine the liquidity of the asset. If the asset can be sold quickly, then I am more likely to invest in it.”

What makes you the best candidate for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your confidence and self-awareness. They want to know that you have the skills, experience and knowledge necessary for the job. When answering this question, make sure to highlight your relevant qualifications and how they align with the job description.

Example: “I am the best candidate for this position because I have extensive experience managing a team of analysts. In my previous role as an opex manager, I managed a team of five people who were responsible for analyzing customer data. We used our findings to create marketing strategies that increased sales by 20%. My team members always praised me for being a great leader and mentor.”

Which industries do you have the most experience in?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your background and experience. It’s also an opportunity for you to share any unique or impressive experiences that may not be reflected in your resume.

Example: “I have the most experience working with financial institutions, but I’ve also worked with several other types of businesses including healthcare, retail and manufacturing. In my last role as an opex manager, I helped a small business save money by implementing new technology and streamlining their processes.”

What do you think is the most important thing an opex manager can do to help their company succeed?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you understand what it takes to be an effective opex manager. Use examples from your experience to explain how you help your company succeed and why this is important.

Example: “I think one of the most important things an opex manager can do to help their company succeed is to make sure they’re making smart decisions about where money is being spent. I’ve seen companies spend too much on certain areas, which could have been better spent elsewhere. For example, a client once asked me for advice on whether or not they should invest in a new CRM system. After looking at their current budget, I realized that they had enough funds to purchase the software but would need to cut back somewhere else if they did so. In the end, we decided against purchasing the software.”

How often should an opex manager perform a review of the company’s spending?

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with budgeting and spending. Your answer should include a specific time frame for conducting reviews of the company’s expenses, as well as how often you perform these reviews.

Example: “I typically conduct an opex review every quarter. I find that quarterly reviews are sufficient because they allow me to make adjustments to our spending before it becomes too costly. For example, if I notice we are overspending on marketing during one review, I can adjust our strategy or reduce our budget for marketing in the next review. This allows us to avoid wasting money on ineffective marketing campaigns.”

There is a new supplier that wants to offer you a better price on a key item. What would you do?

This question is a great way to test your decision-making skills and how you would handle a challenging situation. Your answer should show the interviewer that you can make smart decisions while also maintaining relationships with suppliers.

Example: “I would first evaluate whether or not we could afford the new price. If it’s something we can’t afford, I would explain this to the supplier and ask if they could offer us a better deal. If they still don’t budge, I would look for another supplier who could provide us with the same item at a lower cost.”