[Anonymous]

How would you answer this interview question.

[titoav15]

If my potential employer asked me this, I would not want to work for them… It does not sound like a good question to ask during the interview, to me it sounds like tell me your faults.

BEC: 5/21/14 82! PASSED HALF WAY THERE!
FAR: 4/2/15 80! Almost there!
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REG: TBD

[Mamabear]

Areas of improvement or weaknesses is a common interview question. You need to find a way to make a fault into something that could be construed as positive. I remember one manager saying, “Don't spend dollars chasing pennies” when I was working on a reconciliation that I could only get down to an immaterial difference, but not to $0. It was a weakness that I spent time on something that wasn't material, but it is a positive that I do not just accept unreconciled differences as common occurrences because that could mean that I don't think unreconciled differences matter when it fact it could be two material differences in opposite directions netting to an immaterial amount. Another weakness that can be viewed as a positive is that I am out of the box thinker and am constantly looking for ways to improve inefficiencies. The reason that could be a weakness is because I spend time during close out (tight time frame) trying to improve a process when at that time I need to just get the job done the way it has always been done and then go back during a non time sensitive part of the month and focus on how to make it better before the next month end close out. It shows that you want to improve, but you realize that month end is not the time to make improvements to processes and procedures. It doesn't have to be something that you consistently do, but something you did once and learned from.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
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FAR (04/12/14) 81
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[Missy]

Everybody has areas where they can improve, including managers themselves. The important part of your answer is to demonstrate you have thought it over and are willing and able to take steps to improve. A good answer would be something like my manager would like me to be more proficient with vlookups, do I've been using a website on my own time that's really improved my understanding of them.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Anonymous]

Yeah you don't want to be too honest here. Never say communication, working with others or attention to detail or anything that remotely relates to those topics. It really depends on your situation though. When I was asked this question when I was leaving public id say experience – I've never done a recon or a journal entry before but then go to explain that I tested them and am a quick learner….etc. so it is good to state a “fault” and then explain why it won't matter or how you are working on it. Another good thing is to say excel IMO (ONLY if you know vlookups snd pivot tables) because no one knows all there is to know about excel and shows that you still want to improve while also incorporating that you know Vlookups and Pivottables (which are things most accountants will have to know how to do). And 99% of employers will ask questions like this (about weaknesses, mistakes…negatives) so to exclude any employer that asks is silly, just be sure to be prepared. It's stupid but all part of the game – and you don't want to give a cheesy answer (I.e I'm a perfectionist) either. Be honest but not too honest. Good luck!

[Author]

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