[Peterman25]

Anybody have to use this type of assessment as part of their hiring process? I’m going through the interview process for an Accounting Manager position. This is a first for me. I’m curious if any others have had to go through this or a similar type of experience. I’ll admit that I am just a tad bit nervous about it because I have no clue what to expect. I got hit with a few curveballs during my interview – How did the FASB come to be? Deer in the headlights for me. Thank god I remembered enough from college to have a respectable answer.

BEC 7/14 - PASS
FAR 10/14 - PASS
AUD 1/15 - PASS
REG 4/15 - PASS

AZ license - Official 8/20/2015

[ruggercpa2b]

I interviewed for an audit job last year and they handed me a written test towards the end with questions on controls asking to complete the risk and the testing procedures.

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - NINJA in Training

AUD - 1/6/18
FAR - TBD
REG - TBD
BEC - TBD

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[Anonymous]

When the economy was in a rut around 2009, I was unemployed and applying to 100 jobs a week. I applied to one on Craigslist that included some kind of memory/abstract reasoning test as part of the application, and it was one of the only calls I got back out of the 100s. It was a smallish CPA firm. They also handed me an accounting test when I came in for the interview. They never mentioned there would be one. I ended up getting 100% on that and got the job. Never felt comfortable there, even after 2 years, and they ended up laying me off 2 days after their final insistence there would be no layoffs. The circumstances around this were so shady that other employees quit shortly after

Many years ago, I managed a small insurance claims office. They hired the worst of the worst to take claims – people who could barely speak, let alone write. I used to have to run a find-replace on all claims by one girl who INSISTED on using “willn't” instead of “won't”. When confronted, she insisted it was shorthand (I responded by asking how it could be short hand when it actually has more letters than the correct word but counting to 6 was above her head). I think my favorite accident description of the years I spent there was “random dog vandalized vehicle”. I got so sick of correcting mistakes over and over on the claims that I started giving applicants a spelling test that included such challenging terms as “in front” (who would've thought, in front is 2 words!) and Chrysler (I actually didn't care how they spelled it so long as they didn't put a T in it, it is definitely not the vehicle of the Gods). Anyway, it was THE WORST place to work and I was repeatedly sexually harassed, as were practically all the women there.

Sorry for the long post. My very limited experiences tend to sway me towards the direction of believing it's the companies with the less desirable culture that tend to use tests (personality tests excluded; they're much more common IMO) but that's probably just me.

[fuzyfro89]

Not a formal “test” with multiple choice questions. I've had recent interviews (internally within my company around finance positions) have a few more technical questions during the interviews, and I've also had to walk through some basic case questions. No computations, but walk through how I'd solve it.

“How does higher/lower depreciation affect operating cash flow”

“How does a gain/loss affect operating cash flow”

“If we are funding a subsidiary in a politically risky country, what factors would you consider in the funding structure”

Some were a bit basic finance/accoutning questions, and others (like #3) were a bit more abstract. Probably just looking for how you think and if you have some ideas along the right path. of course, you don't have to get all 6 “correct” factors, but make a quick case and support at least some points.

I didn't have to solve anything though with exact numbers though. I do think companies do that more for experienced (outside) hires, MBA hires, and sometimes even at the undergrad level for more competitive positions.

[ScarletKnightCPA]

Going for a corporate accounting position, there was a test for accounting bookkeeping stuff. Question I remember was accounting for bond issue and the interest on the bond and the amortization of bond premium/discount using straight line method.

Far: 76 (Wiley Test Bank)
Aud: 77 (Wiley Test Bank)
Reg: 61, 76 (Wiley book, Wiley Test Bank)
Bec: 86 (Wiley Test Bank)

MBA in progress

[TNCPA16]

I have only had 1 interview where I ever had to take a test. It was the very first “real” interview I had – for an internship-type position with the IRS. My interview was literally an hour of having this guy read me accounting questions that I had to answer on the spot (no multiple choice either!) It was awful. The best part? He told me I wasn't even eligible for the position, since they only hired seniors and I was a junior at the time. To this day, it still goes down as the WORST interview I have ever had.

[taxgeek83]

I had a job interview that entailed an oral quiz (maybe three questions, I think) and a written letter that required research to complete. I wasn't even through college yet, and got completely stuck on one of the oral questions. I muddled my way through it and ultimately ended with “You know, I'm not 100% sure, but I'd be happy to go look it up and get back to you.”

Got the job. 🙂

[cpagal]

@taxgeek Sometimes that is the best answer because it shows that you are going to make sure the job gets done correctly instead of just guessing so you don't look bad. It is a great character trait.

FAR - 08/30/15 - 90
AUD - 11/12/15 - 92
REG - 01/19/16 - 82
BEC - 02/29/16 - 83

Passed all on 1st attempt using GLEIM (full program) and NINJA (MCQ only)!!!

Louisiana Licensed CPA

[Anonymous]

I had to take a Prove It! test many years ago when applying for a staff accountant position. It was through Robert Half and they made me take an accounting and excel test through Prove It! Apparently I performed horribly because the Robert Half girl said “it's okay, many applicants straight out of school don't do well on these” lol. I never got a call back for that job

[Anonymous]

I guess it depends on what the position entails and how badly I want to work for the company, but there are some “tests” that would annoy me enough that I wouldn't want to work for the employer in question.

I can understand testing someone who is applying for a bookkeeper or staff accountant position to make sure they have done similar work before and actually have some understanding of how to do the job. I've had to hire for these positions before, and it is pretty absurd how many people think “accounting” means depositing checks at the bank. It's one thing to train someone to use your particular G/L package. It's entirely another to have to teach them what debits and credits are.

But using weed-out tools like that to narrow down the pool of applicants for a management level accounting position is ridiculous. The CFO ought to be able to conduct a proper accounting interview and not rely on HR to dish out skills tests to seasoned, licensed CPAs.

[law0915]

I had to do one with CB Richard Ellis a long time ago. I didn't get the job, but the test was accounting for different transactions-exactly debits and credits. I have an degree in accounting from ASU-a relatively prestigious business school (W.P. Carey), so that alone should vouch that I knew my debits and credits. As a CPA, I'd be annoyed if I were given this test as a condition of employment. A company wanted to do a Gallup test as a condition to an in person interview after two phone interviews to see if I fit the company and I just withdrew from the opportunity. They asked some questions like “how competitive are you?” and other uncomfortable questions in the phone interview. Now that I'm a CPA I've got more attitude and demand more from employers and to let them know it's their loss due to idiocy and I'm not desperate for a job..and I won't work for cheap 🙂

REG 77 Feb14
BEC 13*, 79 Aug14
FAR 64**, 76 Nov14
AUD 89 Feb15

*Exited exam after first testlet
**Only studied F1-F6 out of 10 Becker chapters

Licensed Arizona CPA

[Peterman25]

Alright..So I was given 4 tests and had to do them online at home. It took me almost 4 hours to complete these tests over the course of 2 nights. This doesn't include the 2-4 hours of trying to brush up on a few topics before taking these tests. It made me feel like I was taking CPA exams all over again. CAN'T I PLEASE BE DONE WITH TESTS?!?

Anyway…these were the tests. I received zero indication of what would be on these tests. Needless to say, it was no..meh, I just passed the CPA exam, how hard can this be? If you aren't deep into these subjects on a day to day basis they were difficult tests.

General Accounting – 55 questions. understanding of DR and CR, AR, AP, some financial ratio analysis and understanding of other accounting concepts.

Excel – 55 questions. Rather straight forward, but you have to do things their way..using the ribbons at the top, etc. It was like Excel Proper. They should understand that there are multiple ways to get to things in Excel.

Financial Analysis – 40 questions. Pretty much all about ratio analysis. My worst test. Very difficult and CPA exam like.

Accounting Terms – 17 questions. Again, more understanding of accounting terms and concepts.

BEC 7/14 - PASS
FAR 10/14 - PASS
AUD 1/15 - PASS
REG 4/15 - PASS

AZ license - Official 8/20/2015

[law0915]

If they would've asked me historical questions like how did the FASB come to be, I would have been so annoyed, let them know I'm a CPA and don't need to regurgitate history facts that aren't relevant to the position and would have got up and left. What's the point of the CPA credential? I thought it was to vouch for a level of assumed expertise and hard work.

REG 77 Feb14
BEC 13*, 79 Aug14
FAR 64**, 76 Nov14
AUD 89 Feb15

*Exited exam after first testlet
**Only studied F1-F6 out of 10 Becker chapters

Licensed Arizona CPA

[Peterman25]

If they would've asked me historical questions like how did the FASB come to be

I had that question during the job interview…I was able to piece together an answer that made sense. But yeah..there are tons of accounting things that I don't do all day every day and that is what I feel like I am being questioned about.

BEC 7/14 - PASS
FAR 10/14 - PASS
AUD 1/15 - PASS
REG 4/15 - PASS

AZ license - Official 8/20/2015

[law0915]

That just seems a bit excessive to me…I've never seen that done. Then again, I was irritated when a job asked me to present before my interview about how I used analysis to solve a problem. My sister was like “DUDE you don't want to do a 5 slide presentation to get a $30k bump in salary!?” lol it's beside the point, I had to put it together and practice and make up a problem from corporate finance. Would I take all these tests probably, but I would have been pissed during the interview if they started asking BS questions like that…technical ones, fine, but come on. Ughhh…

REG 77 Feb14
BEC 13*, 79 Aug14
FAR 64**, 76 Nov14
AUD 89 Feb15

*Exited exam after first testlet
**Only studied F1-F6 out of 10 Becker chapters

Licensed Arizona CPA

[law0915]

These tests make sense in what you'd be doing for sure, but BS that they make you do it. You've passed the CPA exams…It should be waived for CPAs or those that have passed.

REG 77 Feb14
BEC 13*, 79 Aug14
FAR 64**, 76 Nov14
AUD 89 Feb15

*Exited exam after first testlet
**Only studied F1-F6 out of 10 Becker chapters

Licensed Arizona CPA

[Author]

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