MockQuestions

Cost Accountant Mock Interview

25 Questions Created By

To help you prepare for your Cost Accountant interview, here are 25 interview questions and answer examples.

First Question

25 Cost Accountant Interview Questions

10 Interview Questions With Sample Answers

1.   Why did you choose Cost Accounting rather than another field of accounting?

How to Answer

Because there are so many choices when it comes to types of accounting, the hiring manager should have a good understanding of why you specifically chose cost accounting. Talk to the hiring manager about your choice and why you are pleased with it.



Written by Rachelle Enns

Entry Level

"While completing my accounting degree, I found that I performed the best when it came to cost analysis, business analysis, and strategic planning. These components are all important when it comes to being an effective cost accountant."

Written by Rachelle Enns

Answer Example

"I chose cost accounting over other accounting fields simply due to my interest in business costs when it came to production and manufacturing. I find the business analysis components to be very intriguing."

Written by Rachelle Enns

Experienced

"Cost accounting is very interesting to me because I love to see a business grow more complex and require a stronger eye on their products and profitability. I like that, as a cost accountant, I can make a great impact on the profitability of an organization."

Written by Rachelle Enns

2.   How will you earn the trust of your coworkers?

How to Answer

Workplace relationships are essential to nurture. Talk to the interviewer about how you plan to earn the trust of your new co-workers, should you be offered the position.

Written by Rachelle Enns

Entry Level

"I will win my new coworkers over by going above and beyond the expectations given to me. I want to be a helpful team member that they can always come to."

Written by Rachelle Enns

Answer Example

"I feel that the best way to earn the trust of my co-workers is to be helpful, always do what I promise, and be honest with them at all times. Strong relationships have to be built on these principles."

Written by Rachelle Enns

Experienced

"Trust is something you earn over time with people. I will lead by example and be transparent in my communications. Trust happens when people deliver on doing what they say they will do. I take the approach of under promising and over delivering to accelerate the trust process. With strong trust, teams can accomplish great things together."

Written by Rachelle Enns

3.   Have you ever broken a confidentiality agreement?

How to Answer

Companies will have confidentiality agreements for a variety of reasons. These could be to protect their trade secrets or to ensure that you do not bring clients over on the occasion that you leave their company. Talk to the interviewer about your thoughts on confidentiality agreements.

Written by Rachelle Enns

Entry Level

"No. I have only once had a confidentiality agreement and had no problem adhering to it."

Written by Rachelle Enns

Answer Example

"I never have, to my knowledge, broken a confidentiality agreement. Despite my reasons for leaving a position, I would never choose to hurt a previous employer in any way."

Written by Rachelle Enns

Experienced

"No. I have only once had a confidentiality agreement and had no problem adhering to it."

Written by Rachelle Enns

4.   How do you handle stress on the job?

How to Answer

Are you someone who can handle stress on the job? How do you manage the stressful times? Talk to the interviewer about your ability to control pressure in the workplace.

Written by Rachelle Enns

Entry Level

"Stress is part of any demanding job and I embrace it to the fullest. I take good care of myself personally and prioritize my workload to maintain a healthy balance in my stress levels."

Written by Rachelle Enns

Answer Example

"I handle stress very well, and when you call my references, they will attest to this fact. When I am under pressure on the job, I focus on the task at hand and make sure not to get distracted. Staying on deadline is very helpful, and I will delegate when necessary to alleviate some stress."

Written by Rachelle Enns

Experienced

"Stress is par for the course when dealing with the financial health of any company. I lean on my team, put a lot of trust in their abilities, and I believe in myself. This helps greatly with my stress levels because I go into a project assuming the best, versus assuming the worst."

Written by Rachelle Enns

5.   What role do you usually take in team projects?

How to Answer

The interviewer truly wants to understand the role that you naturally take on, when put into a team-based environment. If you tend to take the lead, let the interviewer know this, but avoid sounding overbearing. If you usually like to generate new ideas and allow someone else to execute them, share your creative side but express that you prefer for others to take the lead.

Written by Rachelle Enns

Entry Level

"When it comes to team projects I do not mind taking a backseat and, rather than being the leader, being more of an administrator. I like to organize data and analyze progress rather than lead others."

Written by Rachelle Enns

Answer Example

"I am usually the 'ideas person' in team projects. In my current position, I am not the most seasoned cost accountant, but I am highly creative. This means that, in most projects, I am great at creating a strategic plan but am most comfortable passing the final client-facing tasks to our more extroverted personnel."

Written by Rachelle Enns

Experienced

"I like to take the lead on team projects. I am very vocal and organized which makes me a natural leader."

Written by Rachelle Enns

6.   Why are you looking for a new accounting position?

How to Answer

When an interviewer asks you this, make sure you always keep your answer positive. If you are leaving your position because you don't like your boss, be sure to phrase it more eloquently. Remember - it's always a safe bet to focus your answer on career growth and exciting opportunities.

Written by Rachelle Enns

Entry Level

"I recently graduated with my Bachelor's in Accounting and completed my summer internship with Company ABC. I am now looking for a full-time, permanent opportunity."

Written by Rachelle Enns

Experienced

"Since the company merger last year, the workplace culture I admired so much, is no longer there. I am on the search for a supportive and positive environment where I can continue to flourish."

Written by Rachelle Enns

7.   What are your salary expectations?

How to Answer

Before your interview, make sure you have researched the median salary for the position (and location). You can look at salary reviews on Glassdoor.com or Payscale.com.

Always make sure you give a salary range, not just a number. Providing a range allows you to negotiate down the road if you are given an offer. However if you just tell the employer you are looking for $50K it doesn't leave room for negotiating later on. Also, make sure the lowest number of your range is something you are comfortable with!

Another great option is to tell the interviewer what you are currently earning and tell them that you are seeking a competitive offer.

Written by Rachelle Enns

Entry Level

"I am new to my career as a cost accountant, so I would appreciate a salary that aligns with my balance of experience and education. I understand that to be in the $55K range for this city and size of an organization. What are you offering for this role?"

Written by Rachelle Enns

Answer Example

"I am currently earning a base salary of $68K per year plus an opportunity for bonus, based on my results. I am looking for a position that will offer me competitive growth and salary."

Written by Rachelle Enns

Experienced

"I am looking for a position that not only offers excellent benefits and salary but also the potential for profit share and performance-based bonuses, which I understand fits in line with your company's policies. I'm looking to be in the ballpark of $80k when it is all said and done, which I think is reasonable given the amount of experience I bring and the responsibilities that I will have."

Written by Rachelle Enns

8.   What questions do you have for me about this cost accountant role?

How to Answer

It's always a great idea to have questions ready for the interviewer. Review the company website and other online resources to ensure the questions you are asking are not mundane, or redundant. The last thing an interviewer wants to hear is a list of items you could have found the answers to from merely watching a video on their company site.

Written by Rachelle Enns

Entry Level

"Here are some sample questions:

- When would you like to have this position filled?
- How long has this role been vacant?
- Is this a replacement search or a newly created role?
- What is your favorite part about working here?
- What is the company's primary goal for this position in the next 12 months?
- Is there anything from my background and experience that I can clarify for you?
- What do you see as the most significant change in this industry over the past three years?
- Is there any reason why you would not hire me?"

Written by Rachelle Enns

Answer Example

"A few questions come to mind. Who would you say your biggest clients are at this time and are there new markets that your firm plans to break into in the next few years?"

Written by Rachelle Enns

Experienced

"Thank you for asking - I do have a few questions. What is top of mind when it comes to filling this role? Also, what types of career growth opportunities would follow this position? And lastly, do you have internal candidates who are also interviewing for this position?"

Written by Rachelle Enns

9.   How do you explain complicated concepts to those who may not understand?

How to Answer

The interviewer wants to know that you are capable of explaining complex ideas without being condescending to your co-workers or talking over their heads. Give the interviewer an example of how you break down information to make it more easily digestible for the average person.

Think of a presentation about a complex topic, as a proposal to solve a challenging problem. The solution may seem obvious to you, but everyone else in the room is scratching their heads trying to figure out what you're talking about. When you can define key terms and phrases to make them more relevant to your audience, you have skill! Not everyone can do this.

Prepare an example that demonstrates your communication skills and your ability to convey complex information in easy to understand terms.

Written by Rachelle Enns

Entry Level

"Keep it simple silly! If you cannot explain a concept simply, then you do not understand it well enough. I recently rolled out a complex compensation plan with many anomalies. I took the approach to share a broad overview and provide detail for reference. I often try to make analogies or share complex information in the form of a story."

Written by Rachelle Enns

Answer Example

"I find that when there is a complicated concept to teach, visual aids are always the way to go. Did you know that 65% of people are visual learners and that presentations with visual components are 43% more persuasive? I took a course on creating effective info-graphics and will often implement those in my presentations."

Written by Rachelle Enns

Experienced

"I try to use written and verbal examples. If possible, I like to have hands-on examples, but that is not always feasible. Communicating in more than one way helps those with different learning styles."

Written by Rachelle Enns

10.   How do you handle a larger than average workload?

How to Answer

The interviewer wants to be assured that you can handle the workload required of you in this position and that you will not become overwhelmed if/when workloads unexpectedly increase. When workloads increase, stress levels do too. How do you react?

Written by Rachelle Enns

Entry Level

"Here are some suggestions on how to handle a large workload:

- List your tasks and prioritize them
- Think of which tasks add to the company's bottom line, and start there (Closest to the money!)
- Exhale. Relax for a minute and collect yourself
- Organize your tasks by which ones you can complete independently and which ones you need help with
- Take sufficient breaks, so you do not exhaust yourself
- Communicate your struggles with your leadership or team"

Written by Rachelle Enns

Answer Example

"When I have a large workload on my plate, I do not stress over the tasks that are in front of me. Rather, I make a simple plan of which tasks are a high priority and which tasks are a lower priority. The higher priority tasks, I complete first. Through this system, I can focus on my tasks individually, rather than stress out by the multitude of tasks ahead of me."

Written by Rachelle Enns

Experienced

"Confidentiality agreements are necessary and important to protect an organization. I understand the need for confidentiality and take those factors very seriously. I have never broken the trust of my employer."

Written by Rachelle Enns

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