[ParanoidAndroid]

How do I prepare for this besides the Q&A session?

I will be interviewing with a manager and a partner in audit..I’ve been waiting for this kind of opportunity for three years..I went to a small university in the middle of nowhere and never thought this could happen..I’m super nervous.I must get the job…plz help!

CPA for life...

[acamp]

Remember, the interview is more about being personable than accounting knowledge (although I've heard of some interviewers asking accounting questions). I was asked lots of situational questions, about working in a team, etc. In the week or so leading up to my interviews I reviewed a lot of my large college projects to refresh the details. Having refreshed I was able to adapt some of these projects to fit their questions. They'll say something like, give me an example of a time you dealt with adversity in a group setting. Right away I was able to talk about about a project where we were developing an exit strategy for investors of a medium sized company (that was not in a position to go public), and I talked about the various ideas we had and how one group member wanted to do one thing and we had to explain that it was a little off the plane…now that group member was just tossing out an idea, and it was not adversarial in the least, but with some tweaks it got the question answered nicely.

Point is, its nice to be able to have some adaptable ammo. Completely making up a story, very difficult. Having some real stories you reshape to fit the question is nice 🙂

Self proclaimed: Highest ratio of Replies to Others v. Posts Created on A71

California CPA - Big4 Aud Manager Alum - Private Accounting at Startups

FAR, REG and BEC with Ninja Notes + WTB Only

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[acamp]

Remember, the interview is more about being personable than accounting knowledge (although I've heard of some interviewers asking accounting questions). I was asked lots of situational questions, about working in a team, etc. In the week or so leading up to my interviews I reviewed a lot of my large college projects to refresh the details. Having refreshed I was able to adapt some of these projects to fit their questions. They'll say something like, give me an example of a time you dealt with adversity in a group setting. Right away I was able to talk about about a project where we were developing an exit strategy for investors of a medium sized company (that was not in a position to go public), and I talked about the various ideas we had and how one group member wanted to do one thing and we had to explain that it was a little off the plane…now that group member was just tossing out an idea, and it was not adversarial in the least, but with some tweaks it got the question answered nicely.

Point is, its nice to be able to have some adaptable ammo. Completely making up a story, very difficult. Having some real stories you reshape to fit the question is nice 🙂

Self proclaimed: Highest ratio of Replies to Others v. Posts Created on A71

California CPA - Big4 Aud Manager Alum - Private Accounting at Startups

FAR, REG and BEC with Ninja Notes + WTB Only

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Anonymous]

Just be yourself. One office interview I had with a partner at big 4 just talked about baseball for 50% of the interview. Another one I had with a different big 4 drilled me with questions about weird situations having nothing to do with accounting, but more to see problem solving skills. This was the type of questions that asked “how many tennis balls can fit inside this room.” you don't have to know the answer, just make an educated conjecture based on good problem solving techniques.

Also, have some stories prepared to answer different types of questions. These can be experience with dysfunctional teams, going the extra mile, etc.. My guess is that the interview will be more personable to see if you fit in. If this is a second interview and now you are on the office interview, they are just going to see if you fit in and the recruiter was right about you.

Also have good questions prepared! goodluck!

[Anonymous]

Just be yourself. One office interview I had with a partner at big 4 just talked about baseball for 50% of the interview. Another one I had with a different big 4 drilled me with questions about weird situations having nothing to do with accounting, but more to see problem solving skills. This was the type of questions that asked “how many tennis balls can fit inside this room.” you don't have to know the answer, just make an educated conjecture based on good problem solving techniques.

Also, have some stories prepared to answer different types of questions. These can be experience with dysfunctional teams, going the extra mile, etc.. My guess is that the interview will be more personable to see if you fit in. If this is a second interview and now you are on the office interview, they are just going to see if you fit in and the recruiter was right about you.

Also have good questions prepared! goodluck!

[ParanoidAndroid]

The interview/office tour will last 1.5 hours. I had two long conversations with the recruiter before this and this is not a typical opportunity since someone declined his/her offer and now they need to fill the position. The first contact with the recruiter was back in February and it's been a long process, but I'm very excited about this opportunity!!! =]

Questions:

-The recruiter said the salary is in the 50s..Does this typically come up as a question during the partner/manager interview? If so, what do I say? I'm a CPA, but don't have any public accounting experience.

-From what I've read the partner/manager interviews are separate, but given that the whole thing is only 1.5 hrs I'm wondering if I'll meet with both at the same time…

I really want to make a career in public accounting….any advice is welcome =]

CPA for life...

[ParanoidAndroid]

The interview/office tour will last 1.5 hours. I had two long conversations with the recruiter before this and this is not a typical opportunity since someone declined his/her offer and now they need to fill the position. The first contact with the recruiter was back in February and it's been a long process, but I'm very excited about this opportunity!!! =]

Questions:

-The recruiter said the salary is in the 50s..Does this typically come up as a question during the partner/manager interview? If so, what do I say? I'm a CPA, but don't have any public accounting experience.

-From what I've read the partner/manager interviews are separate, but given that the whole thing is only 1.5 hrs I'm wondering if I'll meet with both at the same time…

I really want to make a career in public accounting….any advice is welcome =]

CPA for life...

[fuzyfro89]

Hardest part of office interviews is you really don't know what to expect. Some interviews are very relaxed and they will just have a casual conversation with you. Others will ask you more typical behavioral questions “tell me about a time…why do you want to join this firm.. why audit/tax.. what have you done so far”. Usually the other part of the interview is where they will let you ask questions, so be prepared to have some thoughtful questions to ask. It helps to just get them talking about their own career decisions, why they chose their firm, what makes a great associate, etc.

You have to be ready for anything, but also to be yourself. Their aim is to put you at ease and try to get at your personality to see if you are a fit. You need to be able to sell yourself and your fit into the firm. Good luck!

[fuzyfro89]

Hardest part of office interviews is you really don't know what to expect. Some interviews are very relaxed and they will just have a casual conversation with you. Others will ask you more typical behavioral questions “tell me about a time…why do you want to join this firm.. why audit/tax.. what have you done so far”. Usually the other part of the interview is where they will let you ask questions, so be prepared to have some thoughtful questions to ask. It helps to just get them talking about their own career decisions, why they chose their firm, what makes a great associate, etc.

You have to be ready for anything, but also to be yourself. Their aim is to put you at ease and try to get at your personality to see if you are a fit. You need to be able to sell yourself and your fit into the firm. Good luck!

[jschoy]

@ParanoidAndroid may I ask if this was for a entry audit associate position or were you interviewed as an “experienced” associate? I am in similar position, any feedback on how it went would be insightful!

--
CA Candidate, MA Native
REG - 11/2013
AUD - TBD
FAR - TBD
BEC - TBD

[jschoy]

@ParanoidAndroid may I ask if this was for a entry audit associate position or were you interviewed as an “experienced” associate? I am in similar position, any feedback on how it went would be insightful!

--
CA Candidate, MA Native
REG - 11/2013
AUD - TBD
FAR - TBD
BEC - TBD

[F15hy]

Make sure you know about the firm and ask questions back. I've done a fair amount of interviewing for my firm and when they don't know anything about us and they don't have any questions, it makes them seem disinterested and we were just one of the many firms they were interviewing with. Let them know how much you would love to work for them, speak with passion and confidence, and come prepared with questions, even if you know the answers. It makes you actually look interested. And obviously, dress to impress!

CA Candidate

B-79 (4th Attempt, finally killed you Nov 2013)
A-81 (3rd Attempt, Feb 2014) AND I AM DONE!!!!!
R-80 (1st Attempt, Feb 2013)
F-77 (2nd attempt, Jan 2014)

Becker, Becker Final Review, NINJA 10-Point Combo
($M.O.B$)

CA Ethics-92%

[F15hy]

Make sure you know about the firm and ask questions back. I've done a fair amount of interviewing for my firm and when they don't know anything about us and they don't have any questions, it makes them seem disinterested and we were just one of the many firms they were interviewing with. Let them know how much you would love to work for them, speak with passion and confidence, and come prepared with questions, even if you know the answers. It makes you actually look interested. And obviously, dress to impress!

CA Candidate

B-79 (4th Attempt, finally killed you Nov 2013)
A-81 (3rd Attempt, Feb 2014) AND I AM DONE!!!!!
R-80 (1st Attempt, Feb 2013)
F-77 (2nd attempt, Jan 2014)

Becker, Becker Final Review, NINJA 10-Point Combo
($M.O.B$)

CA Ethics-92%

[mystical guy]

The job is yours to lose. Treat it as a date. As everybody says, it's all about selling your personality and also showing that you can handle at least 55 hours and up to 100 hours per week. Confidence, light humor, eye contact, being relaxed, showing interest in who these people are, and trying to find out a little bit about the job and who you'll work with (from the manager) and about the firm (partner). Of course, ask only the questions you can't Google.

All the best!!

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[mystical guy]

The job is yours to lose. Treat it as a date. As everybody says, it's all about selling your personality and also showing that you can handle at least 55 hours and up to 100 hours per week. Confidence, light humor, eye contact, being relaxed, showing interest in who these people are, and trying to find out a little bit about the job and who you'll work with (from the manager) and about the firm (partner). Of course, ask only the questions you can't Google.

All the best!!

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[Author]

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