Accounts Receivable Manager

Accounts Receivable Manager interview questions:

Accounts Receivable Managers are responsible for overseeing the collection of payments and ensuring that invoicing procedures align with accounting regulations. Depending on the company’s size and structure, they may also have the responsibility of supervising a team of Accounts Receivable Clerks.

Candidates typically hold a degree in Accounting or Finance. While not mandatory, candidates with additional certifications like CPA demonstrate their commitment to the field. To assess candidates’ proficiency with spreadsheets and the formulas they frequently use, you might consider incorporating an Excel test into your hiring process.

When evaluating candidates, prioritize those with strong time-management skills, as they need to effectively organize workloads and meet deadlines. Additionally, candidates with analytical thinking abilities are better equipped to accurately process extensive data. If the role involves team management, assess candidates’ capacity to set objectives and evaluate their team members’ performance.

Role-specific questions:

• Which accounting software have you utilized in your previous roles, and how have these tools supported your daily responsibilities?
• Can you provide a concise overview of the key stages involved in the journal entry process?
• How frequently do you perform bank reconciliations, and what is the rationale behind this frequency?
• Describe the typical accounting reports that you generate as part of your regular duties.
• What specific information do you ensure is included in invoices for services rendered in your previous positions?

Operational and Situational questions:

• If you encountered a billing discrepancy, what would be your initial course of action or the first aspect you’d investigate?
• Can you outline your approach to negotiating with a client who has an outstanding debt?
• Describe the steps involved in concluding the accounts receivable period.
• What time management strategies or advice would you offer to a newly onboarded Accounts Receivable Clerk?
• What specific data or information would you utilize to forecast payments for the upcoming month?
• Can you share examples of the goals you would establish for your team, both on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis?

Behavioral questions:

• When sharing your team’s results, do you prefer to provide a detailed report or deliver a verbal presentation, and why?
• What is your approach to handling inconsistent payments from clients?
• Could you describe your process for assessing employee performance? Additionally, could you share an instance when you had to deliver a negative performance review to a team member?
• Have you ever encountered a situation at work where a mistake you made resulted in financial costs to either yourself or your company? If so, could you describe the scenario and what you gleaned from that experience?
• How do you ensure the accuracy of your work, and what strategies do you use to meet all deadlines?
• In order to stay current with changes in finance legislation, what methods or resources do you typically rely on?