Job Interview questions Finance jobs
Careers in finance span a large number of positions including commercial banking, financial planning, private equity, to name just a few. Preparation for interviews in this field is as important as any other and common company research applies and should extend, as far as possible, into looking into the financial side of the business so that you are aware and ready for anything that might come your way.
Aside from the standard interview questions, a job interview for a financial position may include the following:
Experience
A career in finance, particularly for upper level positions will require you to discuss your experience and education within the financial sector. An interviewer is likely to ask how your education prepared you for this career and where you have worked in the past. Employers want to know that you are proficient in the various mathematical principles involved with a career in finance.
If you are a graduate being interviewed for your first financial job, be sure to take the time to mention classes that you took that can help you in the position. Spend time discussing the subjects that you excelled in over all others, as well the highest accomplishments you achieved in your career so far.
Technical background
A potential employer will need to know that you are the correct person for the open position and technical questions will always feature as a way to select the employee based on knowledge. Technical questions are quite straightforward and are simply a test to determine if you’re actually interested in, and knowledgeable about finance.
Also, depending on how much they like you already, they may also be trying to determine how much training they will need to invest in you.
Technical financial questions could include:
- Discuss a cash flow statement
- \What is working capital
- |s it possible for a company to show positive cash flows but be in grave trouble?
- How is it possible for a company to show positive net income but go bankrupt?
- I buy a piece of equipment, walk me through the impact on the three financial statements
- Why are increases in accounts receivable a cash reduction on the cash flow statement? \
- How is the income statement linked to the balance sheet?
- What is goodwill?
- What is a deferred tax liability and why might one be created?
- Within the context of technical questions you are also likely to be asked scenario questions, for example, “How would you choose to buy a particular stock?”
As daunting as scenarios can be they’re an easy way for the interviewer to see if you know and understand best practices and if, through creative quick thinking you are able to come up with a solution or process that has never occurred to them before.
It’s important to answer all technical and standard interview questions in a way that highlights your knowledge of the financial sector you are going to be working in. Use your previous experience as examples of how you over came certain challenges and be sure to be as creative as you can be without going off track.