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The Global Insight

How do I interview a CPA firm?

Author

Christopher Davis

Updated on March 31, 2026

Our Top 13 Questions to Ask When Hiring a CPA For Your Business

  1. Do you have a PTIN.
  2. Who will actually sign my tax return?
  3. Are you, or is your firm, licensed in this state to practice public accounting?
  4. What types of clients do you work with?
  5. What is your tax background and/or specialty?
  6. How do you determine your rates?

How do you kill an accounting interview?

How to nail the accounting job interview

  1. The non-negotiables. A survey by online job site CareerBuilder found nearly half of employers had decided within the first five minutes of an interview if a candidate was a good fit.
  2. Do your research.
  3. Don’t be shy.
  4. In-demand skills.
  5. Ask questions.

What should I expect in an accounting interview?

Here are 22 more accountant interview questions you’ll likely cross paths with:

  • How would you define the role of an accountant?
  • Which skills do you think are essential for accountants?
  • What accounting software solutions are you familiar with?
  • Can you describe an accounting process that you helped develop or improve?

How do you mentally prepare for an interview?

Here are six ways to be sure you’re at your best for your next interview.

  1. Give serious thought to your hard and soft skills.
  2. Think about your top accomplishments.
  3. Invest some time and work with a career coach.
  4. Put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes.
  5. Manage your stress.
  6. Picture yourself in the job.

How to interview for a top accounting firm?

Note: If you work for EY, CBIZ, or another top accounting firm and haven’t yet taken Vault’s 2015 Accounting Survey, there’s still time to do so here. Tell me about a time when you … 1) … disagreed with an authority figure and how you handled it. 2) … received feedback and what did you do with that feedback to be better in the future.

What makes an experienced accountant an experienced hire?

Unlike recent graduates, experienced hires are brought on for their specific industry knowledge and qualifications. The interview process for experienced hires starts when a candidate contacts the company through an existing employee, Web page, alumni program or one of the firm’s experienced-hire recruiters.

How to get a job with the Big Four accounting firms?

Candidates who are not CPAs should tell the recruiter they plan to become certified as soon as possible. Once you catch the eye of a Big Four firm, an experienced-hire recruiter will interview you by phone to review your experience as well as available opportunities, says Cheryl Levy, national director of recruiting for KPMG.

Are there any right or wrong answers to accountant interview questions?

You have to discuss your past experience or how you think you’d act if you encountered various scenarios. Technically, there is no right or wrong answer. However, that doesn’t mean some responses aren’t better than others.