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.

6,837 controller interview questions shared by candidates

During the third interview, the president pulled out a set of financials. He asked what my process would be to look deeper into the number and figure out if it was inflated, deflated, or reported correctly.
avatar

Assistant Controller

Interviewed at Paladin Capital of Tennessee

4.2★
Jun 18, 2024

During the third interview, the president pulled out a set of financials. He asked what my process would be to look deeper into the number and figure out if it was inflated, deflated, or reported correctly.

Can you make gut decisions? What's short selling? If I gave you a bottle of water (which he didn't) how would you be able to tell the distance to the ground? If I gave you a job offer - can you make a decision in 15 minutes? He didn't ask about my qualifications - he didn't even look at my resume! He's head was buried in the questionnaire - no eye contact! The receptionist mentioned that they are interviewing 15 candidates per day! Do yourself a favour and do not apply!
avatar

Controller

Interviewed at Orbixa

3.2★
Feb 17, 2015

Can you make gut decisions? What's short selling? If I gave you a bottle of water (which he didn't) how would you be able to tell the distance to the ground? If I gave you a job offer - can you make a decision in 15 minutes? He didn't ask about my qualifications - he didn't even look at my resume! He's head was buried in the questionnaire - no eye contact! The receptionist mentioned that they are interviewing 15 candidates per day! Do yourself a favour and do not apply!

Viewing 981 - 990 interview questions

Glassdoor has 6,837 interview questions and reports from Controller interviews. Prepare for your interview. Get hired. Love your job.