SUMMARY
CONTENTS
Interested in applying for graduate programs in the accountancy industry? Are you exploring professional opportunities in the accountancy industry? The guide below is for you.
The text below provides a full accountancy assessment process preparation and practice guide for those applying for jobs, internships, and graduate programs in the accountancy industry globally.
Our website provides scientifically validated practice assessment tests, interviews, and assessment centre exercises that can be used to practise and prepare for the recruitment and assessment process.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Deloitte Assessment Guide
KPMG Assessment Guide
PwC Assessment Guide
Ernst & Young Assessment Guide
Goldman Sachs Assessment Guide
Mazars Assessment Guide
Should you practice to prepare for accountancy assessment tests? Research shows 60-80% of candidates are rejected based on their aptitude test results. It is proven that practice increases your chances of getting hired.
A study found that candidates who do not practice assessments tend to fail at the first hurdle of psychometric assessments (54%-84%). This study looked at the Top 100 global employers (Bradley et al., 2019).
Companies in the accounting industry use different assessment tests to measure your cognitive abilities. These tests may include the following:
These tests sift out 50-80% of candidates at this stage. Some accountancy organisations may send a report on your performance and areas where you need to improve.
Prepare for your accountancy interviews by running mock interviews and answering typical accounting interview questions. For accountancy interview practice, use the following:
Use the STAR+R method for your answers and practice each answer several times. Review your responses and enhance your interview skills.
Our video interview practice platform provides interview questions that test your skills and knowledge in specific industries. It is similar to other popular employer interview platforms like HireVue and Pymetrics.
Companies in the accountancy industry typically use an assessment centre to measure your potential and compatibility with the company and the role. These exercises may include:
Continue reading to get answers to these critical accountancy questions:
Ensure you practice assessments similar to accountancy tests by clicking on any of the assessments below to stay ahead!
Practice for your upcoming accountancy online assessments with all of our above practice tests as part of our Go Premium package.
Before we break down the various accountancy job tests, let’s find out more about the accountancy industry!
The accountancy industry is the sector that provides financial reporting, auditing, tax, and advisory services to businesses, governments, and individuals, ensuring compliance, transparency, and strategic decision-making across all industries.
The accounting industry, including the Big Four, consists of different key areas, such as financial accounting, management accounting, auditing & assurance, tax & forensic accounting, advisory, and consulting.
The accountancy industry receives thousands of applications yearly. The top companies in the accounting industry that you can apply to include:
Good to Know: The companies listed above are just a few of the many organisations operating in the accountancy industry. Check out our step-by-step employer guides for 150+ of the world’s largest organisations, including accounting companies like the Big 4.
What skills do these accounting firms look for? Keep reading to find out below!
The accountancy industry looks for different skills and competencies in candidates. Depending on the role, companies in the accounting industry will look for some of the following skills and competencies:
Numerical & Quantitative Skills
Ability to process financial data, perform calculations, and interpret financial statements accurately.
Financial Reporting & Accounting
Understanding of IFRS, GAAP, and financial statement preparation.
Auditing & Compliance
Knowledge of audit procedures, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance.
Taxation & Regulatory Knowledge
Understanding corporate tax laws, VAT, and compliance frameworks.
Data Analysis & Financial Modelling
Proficiency in analysing financial trends and building financial forecasts.
Accounting Software & Technology
Skills in accounting software and apps such as Excel, SAP, QuickBooks, and automation tools.
Risk Management & Internal Controls
Ability to identify financial risks and implement control measures.
Business & Commercial Awareness
Understanding of industry trends, economic factors, and financial decision-making.
Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving
Assessing financial issues, identifying risks, and providing solutions.
Attention to Detail
Ensuring accuracy in financial records, audits, and reports.
Communication & Interpersonal Skills
Being able to explain financial information clearly to stakeholders and clients, and speak well with customers.
Ethics & Professionalism
Adhering to ethical guidelines, confidentiality, and regulatory standards.
Time Management & Organisation
Handling multiple deadlines and financial reporting cycles efficiently.
Companies in the accountancy industry use assessment tests from well-known test providers to assess you for these various skills.
Read on as we explore the top test providers that accounting firms use below.
Some well-known test providers are used in the accountancy industry recruitment process to hire you. These providers most often include:
Now, let’s go ahead and cover the accountancy assessment tests that these test providers create for accounting companies to use below.
Accountancy assessment tests are used by accounting firms and organisations to assess your skills and competencies. The tests you will be required to take will vary depending on the role, the level of the role, and the company’s specific hiring process.
Accountancy assessment tests you can expect to take for many accountancy roles include the following:
Good to Know
Accounting firms such as the Big 4 may also use technical tests, personality tests and/or game assessments. These tests assess your accounting or coding knowledge as well as your work preferences and behaviours.
For your complete accountancy assessment practice, prepare with GF today!
Let’s break down each of the accountancy online assessment tests and find out how you can pass them, starting with the accountancy numerical reasoning test.
An accountancy numerical reasoning test evaluates your ability to perform financial calculations and make logical decisions based on quantitative data using questions on charts, graphs, and data tables.
An accountancy numerical reasoning test aims to measure your ability to carry out basic arithmetic calculations and interpret numerical data.
Watch our short video below to understand more about this style of accountancy psychometric test!
Let’s cover our top actionable tips to help you pass a numerical accountancy online assessment.
Practice a FREE numerical reasoning test question with us in preparation for this accountancy test, or attempt our example numerical reasoning question below!
Accountancy Numerical Reasoning Test Example
Did you get the correct answer? Check the bottom of the page to find out.
Ensure to try and apply each of the tips we gave above while practising our example numerical test question to see how they help you during your accountancy numerical test.
Need more practice questions for your accountancy online assessment test? Get access to more with us!
Another psychometric test you may also have to take for most accountancy roles is an accountancy verbal reasoning test.
Let’s find out more about what these tests typically involve below.
An accountancy verbal reasoning test typically involves reading short paragraphs and determining if the statements that follow are ‘true’, ‘false’, or whether you ‘cannot say’. The passages you will read may be accounting or business-related.
An accountancy verbal reasoning test aims to measure your ability to read, comprehend, analyse, and interpret written information. This test may also assess your command of the English language and written communication skills.
Our short video below explains more about this accountancy online assessment test.
Read on for helpful tips we have curated to help you pass your accountancy online test.
Practice a FREE verbal reasoning test with us to understand how this accountancy assessment test may be presented, or have a go at our free example verbal reasoning question below!
Accountancy Verbal Reasoning Test Example
Did you get the right answer? Check the bottom of the page to find out.
Ensure to try and apply each of the tips we gave above while practising our example verbal test question to see how they help you during this accountancy online assessment.
Want to boost your skills ahead of this accountancy online assessment test? Practice more verbal reasoning questions with us!
Another accountancy aptitude test you may be required to complete for an accountancy role is an accountancy logical reasoning test.
An accountancy logical reasoning test is an assessment that involves analysing shapes or diagrams to identify patterns and determine what comes next in the sequence. This accountancy test may also come in a numerical or written format.
Good to Know: Accounting logical reasoning tests may also be called inductive, deductive, diagrammatic, or abstract reasoning tests. Read our linked info pages to understand how these different logical tests may be presented.
An accountancy logical reasoning test aims to measure your ability to recognise patterns, analyse sequences, and apply logical rules to solve problems, as well as your logical thinking and pattern recognition skills.
Check out our short video below for more key details on the accountancy logical reasoning test.
Let’s go ahead and cover tips that will help you pass this accountancy job test.
Practice a FREE logical reasoning question to improve your logical skills, or attempt our accountancy logical reasoning test example below.
Accountancy Logical Reasoning Test Example
Ensure to try and apply each of the tips we gave above while practising our example logical test question to see how they help you during this accountancy test.
Practice more logical reasoning test questions with us to improve your logical skills before you take this accountancy job test.
Another accountancy online test you may be required to take for many accountancy jobs is the accountancy situational judgement test.
An accountancy situational judgement test requires you to choose the best and worst responses or actions to potential workplace scenarios, typically related to the accounting role you applied for.
An accountancy situational judgement test measures your problem-solving, decision-making, and customer service skills, as well as your ability to handle workplace scenarios related to accounting jobs.
Watch our short video below to understand an accountancy situational judgement test more.
Read on for helpful tips to help you pass the accountancy situational judgement test.
Practice for this accountancy test using our practice situational judgement test questions!
In most cases, after the assessment stage, you will be invited to complete some accountancy interviews. Let’s find out more about this stage below!
Accountancy interviews are typically conducted to get to know you better in aspects that the assessment tests did not cover, such as experience and personality. The interview may also assess your technical knowledge and cultural fit with the company.
Accountancy interviews can come in different types. You can expect accounting firms to use the following types of interviews:
Phone Interview
This is typically a short chat over the phone. It is often used at the beginning of the hiring process in the accounting industry.
Video Interview
This interview is conducted virtually. Many accounting companies use video interviews to interview candidates before the final recruitment stage.
Scenario-Based Interview
This interview in the accounting industry involves analysing financial data and making recommendations.
Competency-Based Interview
This accounting interview focuses on your past experiences using pre-determined questions relating to specific skills.
Partner Interview
This accounting interview assesses your strategic thinking, ethics, and client management skills.
Technical Interview
This accountancy interview tests your accounting principles, financial reporting, and auditing knowledge.
Prepare for your accountancy video interviews by practising with our video interview tool!
Below are important tips to help you pass your accountancy interviews.
Let’s use the tips above to practice some common accountancy interview questions.
Some common accounting interview questions include:
Watch our short video below for tips on how to answer the common accounting job interview question, ‘Tell me about yourself’:
Read on as we give more tips and example answers to some of the accounting interview questions above.
How to Answer: Choose a relevant strength that aligns with accounting and pick a genuine weakness that shows your self-awareness. Highlight your improvement by explaining how you are actively addressing the weakness.
Good Answer:
My key strength is attention to detail. Accurate accounting ensures compliance, and during my internship, I spotted a slight but critical balance sheet discrepancy, preventing potential reporting errors for one of the firm’s major clients.
A weakness I’ve been working on is spending too much time dotting on my work. While accuracy is essential, I used to be overly meticulous, which sometimes affected my efficiency. To improve, I’ve been using structured review checklists and timing reviews to keep myself on schedule.
How to Answer: Use the STAR+R method to structure your response to this accounting job interview question logically. This helps to structure your responses effectively by providing a clear and concise explanation of how you handle challenges.
Situation
In my previous role as a financial analyst, a client challenged an expense classification in their financial report, insisting it should be recorded as an asset instead of an expense.
Task
My responsibility was to ensure accurate financial reporting while maintaining a positive client relationship.
Action
I carefully reviewed the accounting standards (IFRS/GAAP) and explained why the cost did not meet the capitalisation criteria. To maintain transparency, I provided relevant documentation as well.
Result
The client appreciated the clarity and agreed with the correct classification. This strengthened our professional relationship and ensured compliance with accounting standards.
Reflection
This experience reinforced the importance of clear communication, patience, and using evidence-based reasoning when handling financial disputes.
Discover even more accountancy interview questions to practice with for your next accountancy interview using our Question Identifier Tool!
After the interview stage, many accounting firms may go ahead and invite you to an accountancy assessment centre.
An accountancy assessment centre is typically used by many firms as the last stage of their recruitment process. The accounting assessment centre involves participating in some exercises with other shortlisted candidates to measure your potential and skills.
An accountancy assessment centre will require you to complete some exercises. The accountancy assessment centre may be held online or at a specific location and may include the following exercises:
Practice accounting assessment centre exercises with GF to improve your skills and performance.
Let’s go ahead and find out more about the accountancy assessment centre exercises, starting with the accountancy case study exercise.
An accountancy case study exercise involves reviewing reports or business cases to analyse, identify problems or findings, and provide recommendations to resolve them. This exercise may also be called a written exercise.
An accounting case study exercise measures your ability to analyse data, identify key risks, and make good decisions by providing quality recommendations. It also measures your problem-solving and attention-to-detail skills.
Read on for tips we have curated to help you pass this accountancy exercise.
After the case study exercise, you may be asked to participate in an accountancy presentation exercise.
An accountancy presentation exercise typically involves you creating and delivering a presentation based on a given topic that will be assigned to you before the exercise. In some cases, your presentation will be based on your case study.
An accountancy presentation exercise measures your ability to analyse information, structure key points, organise a presentation, and communicate effectively under time constraints.
Below are 7 top tips to help you ace the accountancy presentation exercise.
The next activity you may face during the accountancy assessment centre is an accountancy group exercise.
An accountancy group exercise involves you getting paired with other candidates to analyse a given issue or scenario. This accountancy assessment centre exercise puts you in a team and evaluates how the analysis is carried out.
An accountancy group exercise measures your ability to collaborate, communicate, and work effectively in a team setting.
Let’s go ahead and cover tips that can help you pass an accountancy group exercise.
Watch our video below for a proper breakdown of what an accountancy group exercise is about and more tips on how to pass it.
The next accountancy assessment centre exercise you can anticipate is the accountancy role-play exercise.
An accountancy role-play exercise involves you getting inserted into a scenario and being expected to act out how you would handle the situation to resolve the problem.
An accountancy role-play exercise measures your ability to communicate effectively, handle client concerns, resolve conflicts, and make informed decisions.
Below are quick tips we have curated to help you ace the accountancy role-play exercise.
After the exercises, many accounting firms look to end the assessment centre with a final interview.
An accountancy final interview is usually the final stage of the accounting hiring process, where you meet with senior managers, HR managers, or team leads. This accountancy interview will typically look to understand more about you.
An accountancy final interview will typically measure your technical skills, industry knowledge, potential, and cultural fit before the firm makes a hiring decision.
Read on for important tips to use for your accountancy interview questions and answers to help pass your accountancy final interview.
Below are some questions you could ask in an accounting final interview:
Prepare for accountancy interview questions with our accounting industry interview question and answer practice sets to improve your technique!
And with this, we have covered all you need to know about accountancy assessment tests and the accountancy recruitment process of many global accounting companies.
But wait, before you go!
Keep reading below for common FAQs about accountancy assessment tests.
Most accountancy assessment tests last between 20–60 minutes, depending on the type, format, number of questions or sections.
The difficulty of accounting assessment tests varies by role and firm, but they are typically time-pressured and require strong numerical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Yes, accountancy tests for graduates and experienced professionals differ as they are usually assessed for different things and at different levels. Graduate-level tests may focus on cognitive abilities, while experienced hire tests may focus on expertise.
Many accounting firms have a waiting period (e.g., 6–12 months) before you can reapply. Some allow retakes, while others use a one-time elimination process.
Yes, some firms (e.g., PwC and Deloitte) use game-based psychometric tests to measure cognitive abilities, decision-making, and risk tolerance in a more interactive format.
Do you want to pass your accountancy online assessment tests the first time? Sign up to take numerical, logical, verbal reasoning, and situational judgement practice tests today with GF, the only aptitude practice test expert providing practice test solutions to over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe. Practice with peace of mind without commitment to a full 100% money-back guarantee if you do not pass your job tests. Correct answer to example questions: Numerical Reasoning Question: C Verbal Reasoning Question: B Logical Reasoning Question: C
Do you want to pass your accountancy online assessment tests the first time? Sign up to take numerical, logical, verbal reasoning, and situational judgement practice tests today with GF, the only aptitude practice test expert providing practice test solutions to over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe.
Practice with peace of mind without commitment to a full 100% money-back guarantee if you do not pass your job tests.
Correct answer to example questions:
Numerical Reasoning Question: C Verbal Reasoning Question: B Logical Reasoning Question: C
Start Preparing Today
