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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.

6,830 controller interview questions shared by candidates

Test: 30 minutes, timed. you get a yellow pad and a pencil; since org was founded in 19th century it apparently hasn't progressed. Provide the cash flow statement and ending inventory given the following info: Activity for Scooter Repairs, a new business investors invest $250k and company borrows additional $250k from a bank. company buys $50,000 in scooter parts company buys cap asset for $100k; salvage $10k, useful life 10 years, so $750/mo depreciation during first month repaired 600 scooters at $300 apiece = $180k . 75% paid cash and 25% paid credit ($45k). Used $75 in parts for each repair = $45k Rent $25k and Utilities $15k during month prepaid next month's rent of $25k before month's end Bought an additional $35k in spare parts before month's end Before month's end paid $101,250 to bank; $100k in principal and $1,250 in interest for month. EOM cash $283,750.
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Controller

Interviewed at The Actors Fund

3.8★
Jan 20, 2014

Test: 30 minutes, timed. you get a yellow pad and a pencil; since org was founded in 19th century it apparently hasn't progressed. Provide the cash flow statement and ending inventory given the following info: Activity for Scooter Repairs, a new business investors invest $250k and company borrows additional $250k from a bank. company buys $50,000 in scooter parts company buys cap asset for $100k; salvage $10k, useful life 10 years, so $750/mo depreciation during first month repaired 600 scooters at $300 apiece = $180k . 75% paid cash and 25% paid credit ($45k). Used $75 in parts for each repair = $45k Rent $25k and Utilities $15k during month prepaid next month's rent of $25k before month's end Bought an additional $35k in spare parts before month's end Before month's end paid $101,250 to bank; $100k in principal and $1,250 in interest for month. EOM cash $283,750.

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