Tips for Evaluating Candidates for an Accounting Position

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Every hire you make is important, and accounting positions are no exception. It can be a little intimidating to hire someone for an accounting position; after all, this person is going to have access to your company’s most important and private information. How can you be sure you’re making a good hire?

 

Our first piece of advice is this: work with a staffing agency. Staffing agencies like EDI Staffing can not only help you find qualified candidates for your open accounting position, but they can also help you screen those candidates and narrow your pool to the candidates that will be the best fit for your position and your company.

 

While a staffing agency can make all the difference when it comes to your next hire, it’s still important that you know what to look for when evaluating candidates for an accounting position. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

 

Place a high value on experience.

An experienced accounting professional is worth a lot to any team. Candidates with experience will be better equipped to handle the unexpected accounting challenges that come their way. They’re also more likely to be familiar with various software programs and tools, which could help them improve your accounting processes.

 

Look for attention to detail.

If there’s anyone on your team who you want to be a stickler for details, it’s anyone involved in accounting. People with attention to detail are going to be very careful about the accuracy of their work—a must when it comes to handling your company’s numbers. 

 

Test communication skills.

Communication is important for anyone on your team. Your new accountant should be able to communicate with you clearly and effectively. They should also be able to talk to you about your finances in a way that makes sense to you. 

 

Ask the right interview questions.

An interview is your best bet for really getting to know a candidate, but it’s important that you’re prepared with the right questions, or else you might be wasting that precious interview time. Some great questions to ask accounting candidates include:

  • Why did you choose accounting/finance as a career?
  • What skills do you think are most important for someone in the accounting field to have?
  • Tell me about a time you made a mistake. How did you fix it?
  • What is the toughest accounting challenge you’ve faced?
  • How will your past experience contribute to this new position?

 

If you can follow these tips, you’ll increase your chances of making a good accounting hire—one who is knowledgeable, motivated, and a great fit for your team. 

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