Questions to ask accountants as a student

If you are an accountancy student or someone who is thinking about studying accountancy, it can be extremely helpful to get some guidance and advice from established accountants in the field before making your decisions. This can help you have all the up to date information you need to have a clear idea of whether accountancy is the right path for you or to ensure that you are prepared for when you are working in the industry.

The best questions to ask accountants as a student

What can I do with an accounting degree?

An accounting degree can open the door to a wide variety of career paths both in the accounting field and in other finance industries. Talking to people who have gone through the process themselves will help you to understand your options for when you finish your education.

What makes a good accountant?

The answer to this will help you to understand how your skills line up with those of people who have excelled. The accountant you speak to will likely have come across people with a range of accounting skills so they will be able to give you a clear idea of what the common denominators are between the ones who are good at the job.

Should I go into the Big 4 or should I be a public accountant?

This decision can be a big one because it will map out your career goals. An established accountant will be able to give you the pros and cons of each path and help you get a sense of exactly what each one means for your success.

What is the career progression like in accounting?

Accounting can have a variety of career paths with their own progression so having examples of what that looks like from people who have travelled the path before you can be invaluable. The answers to this question can help you to map out your future.

Should I go into public or private accounting?

This is another one of those decisions that can completely change the course of your career. Pay attention to what the accountant tells you about the accounting process and accounting work for each choice, as well as what skills you will need and what your career progression will look like.

What is your favourite part of working in accounting?

This is one of those questions that can't be answered with a simple Google search and is best asked of someone with knowledge and experience in the job. If the best parts of the position sound like something that you would find rewarding in the real world then this can help you to see that this is the best career path for you.

What is the most challenging part of working in accounting?

Similarly, finding out what the most challenging parts of the job are can give you a true insight into what accounting is really like. All jobs have their good and bad elements so you should be thinking about if you have the ability and skills to be able to navigate the challenging parts of the work as well as the best.

What does your day-to-day life look like as an accountant?

This is a helpful question for understanding whether or not the actual work of accounting appeals to you. Doing your own research beforehand can help but nothing can prepare you more than learning first-hand what the position will actually be like.

What is growth like in the accounting field?

Before moving into an industry, it can be a good idea to find out where the field is at present and how it is growing and developing. When you talk to accountants, they will be able to describe the areas in accounting that are developing in which direction and they will be able to direct you to the most relevant accounting industry publications with all of the latest news.

What educational preparation would you suggest for me to achieve my accounting goals?

All accounting involves working with financial data and achieving financial results but different areas of business and accounting might require some niche qualifications/experience which would be expected by hiring managers. Having the right educational background can make a big difference in making it far in your field sooner.

What are the most important soft skills for me to develop for accounting?

It can be just as important to develop the important soft skills that you will need for working within the field. For example, this can include communication skills which can help with dealing with clients, your ability to work in a team, your time management, and many more. An established accountant will have a good idea of which of these soft skills you should focus on developing first.

Accounting interview questions

You might find yourself talking to an accountant in interviews, and you will often be able to ask some interview questions yourself. These accounting interview questions can give you important information about the company and the open position. They are also a way for your hiring manager to better understand how well you will fit in with the business and the job role during the interview. Think of interview questions as your opportunity to take the reigns and find out more information while also showcasing that you are a good candidate. They can also help you to show how interested you are, how much confidence you have, and how much research you have done to prepare for the interview.

Ask specific questions about the company

Companies like to know that you have taken the time to do your research on them and the job role before the interview. If you can ask specific interview questions about the company and the team that you will be working with, this can help to demonstrate how prepared you are for the interview and help you to stand out against the other applicants.

What would you expect me to achieve in my first year working for your business?

This can be one of the most important accounting interview questions because it will show your interviewer that you take your role in their company seriously and it can also help you to understand what will be expected from you. For example, if you are going to be working in accounts receivable, they might expect you to take on a more active role in negotiating payments with clients or developing your own efficient invoicing and payment system.

What opportunities does your company offer for professional development and training?

Your professional development will help both the business and yourself. Asking about the opportunities as one of your accounting interview questions will demonstrate how dedicated you are to staying in their company and will give you an idea of the resources that they will be putting into you.

What are the most important initiatives that your company have been working on in the last year?

Each business or firm has its own challenges and goals, and asking about these as one of your interview questions will help you to understand the inner workings of the company.

What are the most important skills that your company looks for in their employees?

Asking about the skills that the business values can be one of the most important accounting interview questions because it will help you to match your own skillset to the one they are looking for using specific examples.

What is the evaluation process like?

In any job position, there will be a time when your company will evaluate you. Asking about this as one of your interview questions will help you to understand what this will look like.

What are the projects my team are working on right now?

This isn't one of the most common interview questions but it can help you to stand out against other applicants because it shows to your interviewer that you are already thinking about how to get working from your start date. The answers will give be a crucial way for you to understand exactly where your job will start.

The bottom line

If you want to get a sense of what working in accounting is like before you move into the field, getting clear answers from an established accountant can often give you the most important insight. Asking the right questions can also help when you are a candidate in a job interview and the answers can give you a good idea of whether the position is a good fit for you.