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Accounting Mock Interview

Question 13 of 30 for our Accounting Mock Interview

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Question 13 of 30

In what instance would you use LIFO compared to FIFO?

"Inventory methods all depend on the type of inventory method used and how the inventory is managed. In food service or most hospitality fields, you'd use First In First Out to ensure nothing expires and is counted as waste. Whereas in a manufacturing company's inventory where nothing expires and all raw materials are the same life expectancy, you'd be able to use Last In First Out. So looking at your company, it all depends on the type of inventory method you have in place and the type of goods."

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How to Answer: In what instance would you use LIFO compared to FIFO?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Accounting job interview.

  • 13. In what instance would you use LIFO compared to FIFO?

      How to Answer

      This is an inventory-based question. LIFO, or Last In First Out compared to FIFO, First In First Out.

      If you have personal experience, always draw on that for an answer. If you don't have personal experience, then provide an analogy that would help explain not only the difference, but the importance. Understanding various industry inventory methods is important for this. A food service business will always want to use FIFO, whereas a manufacturing company that doesn't have products that expire will use whatever is most convenient. The Accounting method changes based on the inventory method. While not a lot of companies use LIFO due to the government's indecision on whether to accept it and the additional documentation it requires, the tax implications are less compared to FIFO.

      Written by Bobbi Witt on January 8th, 2021

      Entry Level

      "I've never personally used Last In First Out, but have taken courses regarding the different inventory methods. There are certain industries that have to use FIFO, like the food service industry. They need to ensure their product doesn't expire and is counted as waste. This ensures higher profits for the amount of product you have. If you have a manufacturing company where nothing expires, then the inventory method can change.

      As far as accounting goes FIFO generally has higher tax implications because costs generally go up over time so you are being taxed at the current rate of inventory costs not when the inventory was bought. If you use LIFO you will be taxed at the rate you purchased the most recent inventory. This will lessen the tax implication for the inventory."

      Written by Bobbi Witt on January 8th, 2021

      Answer Example

      "Inventory methods all depend on the type of inventory method used and how the inventory is managed. In food service or most hospitality fields, you'd use First In First Out to ensure nothing expires and is counted as waste. Whereas in a manufacturing company's inventory where nothing expires and all raw materials are the same life expectancy, you'd be able to use Last In First Out. So looking at your company, it all depends on the type of inventory method you have in place and the type of goods."

      Written by Bobbi Witt on January 8th, 2021

      Experienced

      "This will depend on the current inventory system in place. LIFO has its tax benefits but the higher the profit, the higher the tax implications will go either way. The industry matters and the products matter. For costing issues, using LIFO if costs increase the last items sold are the most expensive, while if the costs decrease, the last items sold are the least expensive.
      It's also important to know to whom to report your financials. The IFRS doesn't allow for LIFO method of inventory management, while the IRS allows it with stipulations. LIFO has a lot higher standard of record keeping in case the older inventory stays in the system for years."

      Written by Bobbi Witt on January 8th, 2021

      Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

      Anonymous Answer

      "In inventory management, I would use First In and First Out to ensure that older merchandise is sold first. I would never use Last In First Out."

      Marcie's Feedback

      Okay! Be sure to include a definition of LIFO so the interviewer knows that you're familiar with the meaning of the term. Can you think of any hypothetical situation when you might use LIFO? If not, that's fine, but talk more about when you would use FIFO and why you would opt to use that instead. Include real-life examples if possible. Good job!
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