20 PFM Interview Questions and Answers

PFM is one of the world’s leading provider of financial management software and services. PFM has a long history of helping organizations manage their finances, and today they continue to be at the forefront of innovation in the industry.

If you’re interviewing for a job at PFM, you can expect to be asked questions about your experience with financial software and your knowledge of accounting principles. In this guide, we’ve gathered a list of sample PFM interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

PFM Interview Process

The interview process at PFM can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most interviews will start with a phone screening from HR. From there, candidates may be asked to take a mathematical aptitude test and/or a personality questionnaire. Candidates may also be invited to come in for an in-person interview, which could include a writing sample. For some positions, like financial analyst, there may be a second round of interviews. Ultimately, the hiring process at PFM is fairly standard and should not be too difficult for perspective employees.

1. What are some of the biggest challenges facing financial advisors today?

This question can help the interviewer understand your perspective on the financial advisor industry and how you might approach challenges that arise. Use this opportunity to highlight your problem-solving skills, ability to adapt to change and willingness to learn new things.

Example: “The biggest challenge facing financial advisors today is a lack of transparency in the investment process. Many investors don’t know what they’re paying for their investments or why certain fees are charged. I believe it’s important for financial advisors to be transparent about all costs so clients can make informed decisions about which services they want to invest in. This will also help build trust between the client and advisor.”

2. Tell me about a time when you had to make an important decision without consulting your manager, how did you approach it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you make decisions independently and how your decision-making process impacts your work. Use examples from previous roles to highlight your critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities and leadership qualities.

Example: “In my last role as a financial analyst, I was tasked with creating a budget for our department that included all expenses and revenue projections. My manager had already created a preliminary budget before I joined the team, so I used it as a starting point for my own budget. However, after reviewing the numbers more closely, I realized that we would not be able to meet our revenue goals if we continued on the path outlined in the original budget. So, I presented my findings to my manager and together, we decided to scale back some of our marketing efforts to ensure we could reach our revenue targets.”

3. How do you stay up to date on current trends in the financial industry?

Employers want to know that you are committed to your career and continually learning new things. They may ask this question to see if you have a passion for the financial industry and how you stay up-to-date on current trends. When answering, consider mentioning one or two ways you learn about new developments in the field.

Example: “I am passionate about my career and always looking for ways to improve myself as a professional. I subscribe to several newsletters and blogs that discuss recent advancements in PFM software. I also attend conferences and seminars hosted by our company and other organizations within the finance industry.”

4. Do you have experience working with clients?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you interact with clients and whether you have experience working in a client-facing role. Consider mentioning any past experiences that helped you develop your interpersonal skills, such as customer service or sales positions.

Example: “I worked at my college’s financial aid office for two years where I assisted students with their questions about applying for financial aid. This position taught me how to communicate effectively with people who are stressed out and looking for answers. I also learned how to explain complex topics in ways that were easy for others to understand.”

5. Have you ever managed a team before? If so, how did that go?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your leadership skills. If you have managed a team before, they may want to know how that experience went and what you learned from it. If you haven’t managed a team before, you can talk about other ways you’ve led a group or helped others succeed.

Example: “I’ve never had the opportunity to manage a team, but I have been in charge of my own projects at previous jobs. This has given me valuable experience in delegating tasks and helping my coworkers understand their roles. It’s also helped me learn how to communicate effectively with different types of people.”

6. Why do you want to work for PFM?

Employers ask this question to see if you have done your research on the company. They want to know that you are genuinely interested in working for them and not just looking for a job. When answering, make sure to mention something specific about the company that makes it stand out from other companies.

Example: “I am very passionate about helping people save money. I believe PFM is one of the best places to do that because of its dedication to finding new ways to help customers save money. I also love how transparent the company is with its customers. It’s clear that they care about their customers’ financial well-being.”

7. What is your experience with data analysis and interpretation?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you have the skills and experience necessary for this role. Use examples from previous work experiences where you used data analysis and interpretation tools to help make decisions or recommendations.

Example: “In my last position, I was responsible for analyzing financial reports and identifying trends in spending. This helped me identify areas of improvement within our budgeting process. For example, I noticed we were overspending on marketing campaigns by 10% each month. After further investigation, I found out that one of our social media accounts had been hacked and we were paying for fraudulent ads. By using data analysis and interpretation, I was able to save the company thousands of dollars.”

8. Describe a time where you disagreed with a colleague, what was the disagreement about? How did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle disagreements with others and your ability to resolve conflict. Use examples from previous work experiences where you disagreed with a colleague, but were able to come to an agreement or compromise.

Example: “In my last role as a financial analyst, I had a disagreement with one of my managers about our budgeting process. My manager wanted us to use more conservative estimates when creating our budgets, while I preferred using more realistic numbers. We met to discuss the issue, and I explained why I felt it was important to use more realistic numbers in our projections. After hearing my reasoning, my manager agreed that we should continue using more realistic numbers.”

9. Give an example of a time when you had to solve a problem that was not straightforward. How did you approach the problem?

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills. It’s important for finance professionals to be able to solve problems quickly and efficiently, so the interviewer may want to know how you approach a challenging situation.

Example: “In my previous role as a financial analyst, I had to help manage a budget that was not performing well. The company was spending more than it was bringing in, which meant we were losing money. I started by looking at all of our expenses to see where we could cut costs. After analyzing our expenditures, I found that we were overspending on marketing. We needed to spend more on advertising to bring in new customers, but we weren’t doing enough to justify the expense. I presented this information to my manager, who agreed with my assessment and decided to scale back our marketing efforts.”

10. Are you familiar with any of our competitors?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of interest in their company and how you might fit into the organization. If you are not familiar with any of their competitors, consider asking about them to show your interest in learning more.

Example: “I am aware of a few companies that offer similar services as yours, such as XYZ Financials and ABC Accounting Firm. I have never worked for either of these organizations, but I would love the opportunity to learn from them if hired by your company.”

11. Can you tell me more about your background in finance?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your experience and how it relates to this role. Use this opportunity to highlight any unique or impressive experiences you’ve had in finance, including internships, volunteer work or other relevant jobs.

Example: “I started my career as an accountant at a small firm where I learned valuable skills like double-entry accounting and financial modeling. After that, I worked as a senior accountant at a large corporation where I was responsible for managing multiple projects and overseeing junior accountants. In both of these positions, I gained valuable experience with PFM software.”

12. What would you say is your greatest strength and weakness?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to answer honestly. Employers ask this question because they want to know what your greatest strengths are so that you can use them on the job. They also want to know about any weaknesses so that you can work on improving them. When answering this question, be sure to focus on your strengths first.

Example: “My greatest strength is my attention to detail. I am very thorough when working on projects, which helps me ensure that I have all of the information needed to make decisions. My weakness would be my ability to multitask. While I enjoy being able to do many things at once, sometimes I get overwhelmed by having too much going on. In order to overcome this weakness, I’ve learned to prioritize tasks and delegate where possible.”

13. We work with many different types of people at PFM, can you think of a time you worked with someone who was difficult?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you work with others and your ability to collaborate. Use examples from your experience where you worked with someone who was difficult, but also show that you were able to overcome any challenges and still complete your tasks.

Example: “I once had a manager who would constantly change his mind about what he wanted us to do. This made it challenging for me to plan my day because I never knew if we would be working on one project or another. However, I learned to adapt by planning out my week based on the projects I thought we would be working on. If my manager changed his mind, I could easily adjust our plans.”

14. How long have you been working in the financial industry?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your experience and how it relates to the position. If you have been working in the financial industry for a long time, discuss what you’ve learned along the way that has helped you become successful. If you are new to the field, explain why you’re passionate about this career path and what you hope to achieve as you gain more experience.

Example: “I’ve worked in the financial industry for five years now. I started out as an intern at my local bank where I gained valuable insight into the world of finance. After graduating from college with a degree in business management, I was hired by a large investment firm where I continue to work today. Throughout my career, I’ve learned that there’s always something new to learn when it comes to finances.”

15. What tools do you use to keep up with market trends?

This question can help the interviewer understand your ability to stay up-to-date with current financial news and information. Use examples of how you use these tools to benefit your work or research new trends in the industry.

Example: “I subscribe to several newsletters that provide me with daily updates on market trends, company announcements and economic reports. I also have a few favorite websites where I like to read about recent developments in the finance world. These resources allow me to keep up with the latest news and learn more about what’s happening in the economy.”

16. What is your experience with developing financial models?

This question is an opportunity to show your expertise in the field. You can answer by describing a specific model you developed and how it helped your organization.

Example: “In my last role, I was responsible for developing financial models that analyzed our company’s cash flow and budgeting. These models were used to determine where we could save money or increase revenue. For example, one of these models showed us that we could reduce costs by reducing employee overtime. We implemented this change, which saved the company $50,000 per year.”

17. What are your thoughts on the current state of the economy?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of current economic events. It also allows you to show the interviewer that you’re aware of what’s going on in the world and how it affects finance. When answering this question, make sure to focus on facts rather than opinions.

Example: “The economy has been growing steadily for the past few years, however there are still some areas where improvement is needed. For example, unemployment rates have decreased but wages haven’t kept up with inflation. I think we need to find ways to increase productivity while keeping costs low so businesses can afford to pay their employees more.”

18. What kind of projects have you worked on in the past?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your experience and how you apply it in your work. When answering this question, be sure to highlight any projects that are similar to what you would do in this role.

Example: “In my last position as an accountant, I worked on several different kinds of projects. One project was creating a budget for our company’s marketing department. Another project was analyzing our current spending habits and finding ways we could save money. These two projects helped me understand the importance of PFM software.”

19. When were you last involved in a conflict with a coworker? How did you resolve it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you resolve conflicts with others and your ability to work in a team. Use examples from previous experiences where you were able to solve disagreements or misunderstandings with coworkers, managers or clients.

Example: “In my last position as an accountant for a small business, I had a disagreement with one of my coworkers about our budgeting process. We disagreed on several aspects of the budgeting process, including which expenses we should include and how much money we should allocate to each department. After discussing the issue with my coworker, we realized that we both wanted the best results for the company but had different ideas on how to achieve them. We decided to create two separate budgets—one based on my suggestions and one based on my coworker’s suggestions—and present them to the manager for approval.”

20. Do you have experience working with multiple teams at once?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you will work with other members of their team. Use examples from your experience to show that you are a strong communicator and collaborator who is able to work well with others.

Example: “In my previous role, I worked on multiple projects at once. One project was for a client who wanted us to create a budget plan for them while also helping them reduce expenses. My team and I had to collaborate with our IT department to ensure we were creating an accurate forecast based on the data they provided. We also had to communicate with our accounting department to make sure all financial information was correct. By working together, we were able to complete the project successfully.”