Any tips for interview with CFO and HR Manager?

Any tips for interview with CFO and HR Manager?

I’m on my final round of interviews in a finance accounting role. This is a non-management position with large company.

I’ve been advised that HR will ask about my experience and career related questions.

The CFO will cover my experience and accounting knowledge.

For those who’ve been through similar processes as interviewee or interviewer: 

1) How should I best prepare? Especially for the accounting questions.

2) Is it okay to talk about bigger career aspirations or should I focus only on the present role?

Why women love us:

  • Daily articles on career topics
  • Jobs at companies dedicated to hiring more women
  • Advice and support from an authentic community
  • Events that help you level up in your career
  • Free membership, always

Share your insight

Join an authentic community that helps women support each other at work. Share your professional experience or ask for advice — you can even post anonymously.

5 Comments

Join the conversation
  1. Anonymous

    I am a Director of Accounting. I landed this role three months ago after a long furlough.

    I came in prepared. I answered their questions. I had experience. I listed my accomplishments and I told them about my story (briefly)

    I was honest, I was myself. I had my ducks in a row.

  2. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist

    You're going to be talking about you. You're already the Subject Matter Expert on that!

    LISTEN to the questions and make sure you answer them. I've had candidates talk for 5 minutes and still have not answered the question I asked them.

    If you get nervous or can't quite articulate what you're trying to get across, I recommend you tape yourself asking yourself questions and answering them.

    I promise that answer is going to sound a whole lot better the 20th time you say it than the first. It also allows you to edit your answers if you maybe tend to ramble when you get nervous. Knowing you're prepared can also give you confidence and make you less nervous. I used to practice in the car and in the shower.

  3. Nicole Baker

    Do some research on them via LinkedIn and the company website.

  4. aspoonmore

    Be prepared with real examples to address questions that start with "tell me a time when...." These may be questions about technical elements (tell me a time when you discovered a mistake that was not your own. What did you do?" or about teamwork, initiative, accomplishments. Prepare yourself by reminding yourself of your past accomplishments (and challenging projects/ scenarios), what YOU did, and how it ended or resolved.
    Good luck!

  5. Anonymous

    Know the company, the main managers (CEO, CFO, COO, etc. ). Let them know what you are able to bring to the position and how your background and skills fit with the qualifications they are seeking. As for accounting, give examples of your experience and the how you turned a problem into a positive outcome or how you properly manager your job. Ok to focus on the present role but if they ask you "where do you want to be in five years", then you can advise of your aspirations for the future.

Fairygodboss VIP
Achieve your career goals.
Be part of the largest online career community for women to find jobs, advice, and support — for free.
Fairygodboss members