Sample Questions To Expect While Interviewing For Accounting Jobs In Kenya

Accounting jobs in Kenya are the most sought jobs in Kenyan job sites that you can think of.
Funny enough, despite the fact that the accounting industry is an ever green platform, thousands of graduates are released into the market each year from the Kenyan university making the industry very competitive.
So as an accountant, the only option you have left is to stand out as you apply for jobs and stand out during the interview! There is no alternative.
ALSO READ >>> 7 Job Interview Tips That Will Help You Stand Out
You have to prepare well enough for that interview, arm yourself with the necessary interview tool and be at your best.
Let’s look at some of the sample interview questions that you should expect in accounting Job interviews.
1. Why do you want to work with this company?
It is a total disaster to appear in an interview room unprepared or without enough information about the company.
Spending time applying for several jobs in Kenya requires that you at least set apart some time to research about those companies.
So in such a question, make sure you talk of how your skills and experience will help solve their current problems giving examples.
You can learn about their problems from company reviews and public company feedback.
Show your enthusiasm about joining their company and impress them
2. What do you consider to be the biggest challenge facing the accounting profession today?
This question tests your analytical skills and your ability to reason beyond numbers. So there is no one right answer to it, but you should be able to demonstrate knowledge of and commitment to your profession by having a well-thought-out and intelligent answer.
The interviewer wants to see if you are familiar with the accounting industry in Kenya and its challenges and that you care about your job enough to have an opinion.
3. Which current accounting applications are you familiar with?
There are countless accounting software packages out there, and you can’t possibly know them all.
This question is set to test if your accounting practice is best industry practice and if you are updated on current trends.
If you only know how to use one software package that could look bad even if the application itself is well-regarded.
Know enough about the tools of your profession to have an opinion on which are good and which are not so good and be ready to defend your answers.
4. How do you ensure that you do not forget details and ensure accuracy when you prepare monthly journal entries, record transactions, etc.?
This question might not be exactly as it is but be sure that something related to efficiency with numbers and keen eye for details will pop out.
And as we know, almost everybody forgets small details sometimes except accountants, who can’t afford to.
So, what do you do to make sure you don’t forget or unintentionally alter important numbers?
If you happen to be that smart person who doesn’t need any special method, be sure to explain this so that your interviewer knows you are not simply trying to make yourself look good.
Otherwise, explain the mechanisms you use to keep yourself on toes.
5. Finally, Behavioral questions are common will accounting job interviews
Questions like;

1. Describe a time when you had to explain a complex accounting issue to a customer without an accounting background. How did you help that person understand the situation?
2. Describe a time when you faced a particularly demanding deadline to prepare a financial statement or report. How did you react? What was the result?
3. Describe a time when you had to work exceptionally hard to provide great service to a customer or client. What did you do and what was the outcome?

These questions as well have no right or wrong answers. They test your ability to think, experience personality and character traits. Find out more on behavioral questions here
In general,
Ensure that you’re familiar with accounting concepts like accounting practices and principles financial data reporting and analysis, management accounts, Auditing practices and principle Budgets etc.
You don’t want to bite you tongue when the interviewer asks you of the relevant accounting laws & standards that you’ve never heard about!