How to Answer: Tell me about any disputes you have surrounding material costs for a particular project you worked on.
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Cost Accountant job interview.
24. Tell me about any disputes you have surrounding material costs for a particular project you worked on.
How to Answer
The interviewer would like to know about a time that you have had to dispute material costs. Assure the hiring manager that you are capable of managing any material cost disputes. Keep your reply concise and avoid speaking negatively about any conflicts that have come up in your current role.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Entry Level
"I am new to my career as a cost accountant and have not had the experience of a dispute surrounding material costs. If I were to come across a situation like this, I would dig into the data until an explanation was found. If I needed a second set of eyes on the situation, I would ask for assistance."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I worked on a project this year where the material and labor costs were both being disputed by the client. In this situation, I went through every line and was able to uncover a few areas that were not aligning. I am accustomed to working around disputes such as this and feel confident in my abilities to do so."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Experienced
"I worked as a cost accountant for a construction company a few years ago where disputes surrounding material costs were the norm. I handle disputes like this by referring to my tracking budget compliance sheets."
Written by Rachelle Enns
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