Skip to contentSkip to footer

Controller Interviews

Salaries
Interviews

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 #1: What would you do if you found a discrepancy in a document 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'll 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 #2: Can you tell me about a time you set up accounting or financial controls?

How to answer
How to answer: In answering this question, focus on how you've 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're interviewing for, especially regarding reducing fraud and financial mistakes. If you don't have 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 #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.

6,841 controller interview questions shared by candidates

Accounting phone questions: -What is balance sheet, income statement related questions -Where would you put the debtors, assets or liabilities HQ interview: 1st round: behavioral questions, what did you take action in a event ... kinda questions. Where you didn't agree with a team member, where you flex the company rules to achieve a goal(and another way around).... 2nd round: behavioral questions similar to same round and some technical questions such as describe me the changes when exxon sells gas.
avatar

Controller Analyst

Interviewed at ExxonMobil

3.5★
Dec 21, 2014

Accounting phone questions: -What is balance sheet, income statement related questions -Where would you put the debtors, assets or liabilities HQ interview: 1st round: behavioral questions, what did you take action in a event ... kinda questions. Where you didn't agree with a team member, where you flex the company rules to achieve a goal(and another way around).... 2nd round: behavioral questions similar to same round and some technical questions such as describe me the changes when exxon sells gas.

Viewing 1351 - 1360 interview questions

Glassdoor has 6,841 interview questions and reports from Controller interviews. Prepare for your interview. Get hired. Love your job.