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Controller Interview Questions

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Controller Interview Questions

When hiring a controller, a company will look for candidates who have the business mindset, accounting experience and essential soft skills to oversee the entire accounting department. Before interviewing for a controllership, prepare to answer questions not only about your knowledge of accounting, but also about your management strategies, communication skills and knowledge of business operations.

Top Controller Interview Questions & How to Answer

Question 1

Question No. 1: What would you do if you found a discrepancy in a document that an executive provided?

How to answer
How to answer: A controller reports to the top of the management hierarchy. The individual may report directly to a board of directors or a CEO. With this question, your interviewer wants to know how you will handle a sensitive matter such as this one. Think about ethics. The company interviewing you will want you to demonstrate strong ethics in handling sensitive information.
Question 2

Question No. 2: Can you tell me about a time when you set up accounting or financial controls?

How to answer
How to answer: In answering this question, focus on how you have set up controls at previous jobs to prevent fraud and errors. The interviewer wants to know how your knowledge and skills will improve the company you are interviewing for, especially regarding reducing fraud and financial errors. If you don't have any previous experience setting up controls, mention industry standards and briefly talk about how you will successfully implement controls for the company in question.
Question 3

Question No. 3: What is your approach to working with your financial team?

How to answer
How to answer: Highlight your leadership skills as you describe how you work with other financial professionals. Let the interviewer know that you can balance motivating a team to work while insisting on financial accuracy. Demonstrate your soft skills because controllers need to see the big picture, the details and the financial team's operations.

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