Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a clear understanding of why he or she should be hired. The applicant's answer to this question should help you determine if he or she is confident in his or her abilities and is able to communicate his or her strengths.
Sample Answer: I am confident that I can help your company grow. I have a strong background in finance and have worked with similar companies in the past. I am very familiar with your company's products and services.
Question Overview: As a finance manager, you will need to motivate your subordinates. The ideal candidate will have experience motivating others and will be able to explain his or her methods for doing so. The applicant's answer should help you determine what motivates the candidate and if he or she is able to motivate others.
Sample Answer: I will motivate my subordinates by giving them opportunities to grow within the company. I will also provide them with a comfortable work environment and a flexible schedule.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a plan for his or her future. The applicant's answer to this question should help you determine if the candidate is a long-term planner or someone who is more interested in immediate gratification. The applicant's answer to this question should also help you determine if the candidate is interested in your company's future.
Sample Answer: I see myself as a finance manager for a large corporation. I want to be able to work with a team of analysts and help them grow in their careers.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a positive attitude and a desire to work with the company. The applicant's answer to this question should help you determine if he or she is interested in the company's products and services. The applicant should be able to explain why he or she wants to work for the company.
Sample Answer: I am interested in working for your company because I have used your products and services for years. I am familiar with your products and services and would like to be a part of the team that brings them to market.
Question Overview: The applicant should be able to explain the purpose of the company. The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of the company's mission statement and goals.
Sample Answer: Diageo is a global spirits company that produces, markets, and sells alcoholic beverages worldwide. The company is headquartered in London and was founded in 1997.
Question Overview: As a finance manager, you will be working with other employees and managers. The ideal candidate will have experience resolving conflicts at work. The applicant's answer should help you determine how the candidate deals with conflict and if he or she has any experience resolving conflicts.
Sample Answer: I use a variety of methods to resolve conflicts at work. I try to understand the other person's point of view and then explain my own. If that does not work, I try to compromise. If that does not work, I try to find a solution that works for both parties.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have experience managing a team of employees. The applicant's answer should help you determine what level of management the candidate has achieved.
Sample Answer: I am a level 4 manager. I have experience managing a team of 15 employees.
Question Overview: As a finance manager, you are responsible for helping the business. The ideal candidate will have experience in helping the business in some way. The applicant's answer should help you determine how the candidate helped the business. Did the applicant improve efficiency? Did he or she increase revenue?
Sample Answer: I helped the business by improving efficiency. I created a new system for processing invoices and it saved us $50,000 per year.
Question Overview: A zero based budget environment is a company that has no budget for the upcoming year. The ideal candidate will have experience planning in this type of environment. A zero based budget environment can be difficult to plan for as there is no previous year's budget to use as a guideline. The applicant's answer should help you determine how he or she would plan in this type of environment.
Sample Answer: I would start with the previous year's budget and make adjustments based on the company's current financial situation. I would also take into account any changes in the company's goals and objectives.
Question Overview: As a finance manager, it is important to have a creative mind. The ideal candidate will have experience with saving or making money for the company. The applicant's answer to this question should help you gauge how creative the applicant is and how he or she goes about saving or making money.
Sample Answer: I was able to save the company $10,000 by negotiating with vendors and suppliers. I was able to negotiate a lower price for our office supplies and equipment.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have experience overcoming difficult situations. The applicant's answer to this question should help you gauge what a difficult situation is to the candidate compared to the company's view of a difficult situation. The amount of difficulty may vary significantly among candidates. How did the applicant overcome the difficult situation?
Sample Answer: I had to overcome a difficult situation when I was asked to create a financial report in four hours. I stopped working on all non-essential tasks and brought in my assistant to sort through balance sheets while I examined statements of cash flow.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have experience working in a small team. The applicant's answer should help you determine his or her experience working in a small team. The applicant's answer should also help you determine how the applicant worked with other members of the team.
Sample Answer: I have experience working in a small team. I was the only person in my department for two years. I had to work independently and communicate with my supervisor on a daily basis.
Question Overview: As a finance manager, you will be responsible for making the company's financial decisions. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the company's current financial standing and be able to predict future challenges. The applicant's answer should help you determine if the candidate is able to predict future challenges and how he or she will handle them.
Sample Answer: I think the company will face challenges in the next 5-10 years with its cash flow. The company has been investing heavily in research and development, which has increased its liabilities.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a routine for working at his or her current job. The applicant's answer should help you determine if the candidate is a hard worker and if he or she is able to work independently. What is the applicant's work schedule like?
Sample Answer: I work from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. I have a set routine for working on projects. I start by reading through the project requirements and then I create a plan for completing the project.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will be able to handle working in a fast paced environment. The applicant's answer should help you determine if the candidate is able to handle a fast paced environment. The applicant's answer should also help you determine if the candidate is comfortable with change.
Sample Answer: I am comfortable working in a fast paced environment. I am able to handle change and work under pressure. I have been working in a fast paced environment for the past five years.
Question Overview: Diversity, equity and inclusion are important topics in the workplace. The ideal candidate will have experience with these topics and how they affect the workplace. Does the applicant have experience with diversity, equity and inclusion? How does the applicant handle these topics?
Sample Answer: I am very familiar with diversity, equity and inclusion. I have worked with a diverse group of people for many years. I believe that everyone should be treated fairly and equally.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a clear understanding of how to work with other departments to help the company succeed. The applicant's answer should help you determine if the candidate has a good understanding of how to work with other departments and if he or she has a good grasp of the company's goals.
Sample Answer: As a finance manager, I will work with other departments to help the company succeed. I will also be able to provide insight on how to improve the company's financial standing.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a strong resume and a good understanding of his or her strengths and weaknesses. The applicant's answer to this question will help you determine if he or she is a good fit for your company.
Sample Answer: I am a hard worker and I am always willing to learn. I have a bachelor's degree in finance and I have been working as a finance manager for the past five years.
Question Overview: The applicant should be able to explain the differences between these three positions. The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of the responsibilities and duties of each position.
Sample Answer: The Chief finance Officer is responsible for the entire finance department. The Finance Director is responsible for a specific area of finance, such as accounting or budgeting. The Finance Manager is responsible for overseeing the work of the Finance Director.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a solid reason for applying for this job. The applicant's answer should help you determine if he or she is a good fit for the position. What is the applicant's motivation for applying for this job?
Sample Answer: I am looking to move up in my career and I believe this position will help me do that. I am very interested in learning more about financial analysis.