Finance and accounting · Updated
Bookkeeper interview questions
12 bookkeeper interview questions, why UK employers and practices ask them and what a strong answer covers, from VAT returns to managing several clients.
Getting your CV ready too? Read the bookkeeper CV guide.
Bookkeeper interviews check that you can keep a set of books accurately and independently. Expect practical questions on reconciliations, VAT and payroll, and questions about managing deadlines, especially if you'd look after several clients in a practice. Some employers ask you to do a short exercise in Xero, QuickBooks or Sage.
Bookkeeping questions
1. Talk me through your monthly bookkeeping routine.
Why they ask: It shows you work in an organised, complete way.
A strong answer covers: processing sales and purchase invoices, bank and credit card reconciliations, reviewing the aged debtors and creditors, payroll journals, and checking the trial balance.
2. A bank reconciliation doesn't balance. What do you do?
Why they ask: It's a common problem.
A strong answer covers: checking the opening balance, looking for duplicate or missing transactions, transposed figures and wrongly dated entries, and fixing the cause rather than forcing it.
3. How do you prepare a VAT return, and what checks do you make first?
Why they ask: VAT is a core bookkeeping task.
A strong answer covers: completing reconciliations first, reviewing VAT codes on unusual transactions, comparing with previous quarters, and submitting under Making Tax Digital.
4. What's the difference between the standard, flat rate and cash accounting VAT schemes?
Why they ask: Clients use different schemes.
A strong answer covers: standard accounting on invoices issued and received, cash accounting on payments, and the flat rate scheme as a fixed percentage of turnover with limits on reclaiming input VAT.
5. How does CIS work?
Why they ask: Relevant for construction clients.
A strong answer covers: contractors deducting tax from subcontractors' payments, verifying subcontractors with HMRC, monthly returns and payment statements.
6. What do you do at year-end for the accountant?
Why they ask: Bookkeepers often prepare records for year-end accounts.
A strong answer covers: reconciling all balance sheet accounts, listing accruals and prepayments, confirming fixed asset additions, and answering queries.
Working style questions
7. How do you manage deadlines across several clients?
Why they ask: Practice bookkeepers juggle many deadlines.
A strong answer covers: a deadline tracker, chasing records early, and prioritising VAT and payroll dates.
8. What would you do if a client hadn't sent their records on time?
Why they ask: It's one of the most common problems.
A strong answer covers: reminders in advance, explaining the consequences such as late filing penalties, and escalating to the practice manager if needed.
9. Tell me about a process you've improved for a client.
Why they ask: Efficiency is valued.
A strong answer covers: moving a client to cloud software or receipt capture apps, bank feeds and rules, and the time saved.
10. How do you make sure your work is accurate when you work alone?
Why they ask: Bookkeepers often have no reviewer.
A strong answer covers: checklists, reconciliations, reviewing reports for anything unusual, and asking questions when unsure.
Fit questions
11. Which software are you most confident in?
Why they ask: Systems determine how fast you'll be productive.
A strong answer covers: Xero, QuickBooks or Sage experience, any certifications, and receipt capture apps you've used.
12. Why bookkeeping, and where do you want to go next?
Why they ask: They want to know your plans.
A strong answer covers: enjoying keeping things in order and helping businesses, and any plans such as AAT or setting up your own practice.
Questions to ask them
- How many clients would I look after, and of what type?
- Which software do the clients use?
- Does the role include payroll and VAT?