How to Prepare for an Interview with a U.S. Accounting Firm

Getting invited to interview directly with a U.S. accounting firm is an exciting step. It's also your opportunity to show the client more than what's written on your resume.

By this point, they've already seen your experience and qualifications. The interview helps them understand how you work, how well you know your accounting processes, how you communicate, and whether you could be a good fit for their team.

If you have an upcoming client interview, here are a few ways to prepare.

1. Get to know the firm before the interview

Don't go into the call knowing only the company name.

Spend some time reviewing the firm's website and any information your recruiter has shared with you. Understand the services they provide, the types of clients they work with, and anything you can learn about their team or values.

Then go back to the job description.

Ask yourself:

What is this firm actually hiring me to help with?

For example, if the role involves supporting multiple small-business clients, month-end close, reconciliations and financial reporting, think about examples from your own experience that demonstrate those skills.

The goal isn't to memorize the company's website. It's to understand enough about the business and the role that you can have a meaningful conversation.

2. Be ready to explain how you actually do the work

One of the biggest mistakes candidates can make is giving answers that are too general.

If you're asked about bank reconciliations, month-end close, bookkeeping, payroll or preparing financial reports, don't stop at:

"Yes, I've done that before."

Be prepared to explain how you do it.

You might talk about:

The steps you follow
How frequently you perform the task
How many clients or entities you've handled
The accounting software you use
How you identify and resolve discrepancies
How your work is reviewed
How you make sure deadlines are met
A specific challenge you've encountered and how you handled it

Your interviewer is trying to understand the depth of your experience, not simply whether a task appears on your resume.

3. Know your accounting software

Before your interview, review the systems listed in the job description and be honest about your level of experience with each one.

For example, if you've worked extensively with QuickBooks Online, be prepared to explain what you've actually used it for, rather than simply saying you're proficient in QBO.

The same applies to tools such as Xero, Bill.com, Gusto, Ramp and other accounting or cloud-based platforms.

And if the firm uses something you haven't worked with before, that's okay.

Don't pretend to have experience you don't have. Instead, explain your experience with similar systems and how you've learned new tools in previous roles.

4. Prepare examples from your experience

Before the interview, think of several situations you can draw from naturally during the conversation.

For example:

Managing multiple clients: How did you organize competing deadlines?

Finding an error: What did you discover, and what did you do about it?

A difficult reconciliation: How did you investigate and resolve the discrepancy?

Communicating with a client: How did you explain an issue or request missing information?

Learning something new: How did you get up to speed with unfamiliar software or a new process?

You don't need to memorize scripted answers.

Having a few real examples in mind simply makes it easier to give specific answers when you're nervous.

5. Show that you can communicate well remotely

Technical accounting experience matters, but so does communication.

When you're working remotely with an international accounting firm, your manager or client needs to know that they can rely on you even when you're thousands of miles away.

During the interview, show that you can:

Explain your thoughts clearly
Listen carefully before answering
Ask questions when something isn't clear
Give proactive updates
Raise problems instead of waiting for someone to discover them
Communicate professionally with clients and teammates

If you've already worked remotely or directly with U.S. clients, share examples of how you communicate and stay aligned with them.

6. Don't forget the basics of a virtual interview

A strong interview can easily be disrupted by avoidable technical issues.

Before the call:

Test your internet, camera and microphone. Make sure everything works before interview time.

Know the meeting platform. Whether you're using Google Meet, Zoom or another platform, make sure you can access it.

Choose a quiet, well-lit space. Keep your background clean and minimize interruptions where possible.

Dress professionally. Treat the virtual interview the same way you would an in-person client meeting.

Have your resume and the job description nearby. You can also keep a few short notes beside you, but avoid reading answers from a script.

And most importantly, join early.

At TeamUp, we normally encourage candidates to be ready around 15 minutes before their scheduled client interview so there's enough time to resolve any last-minute technical issues.

7. Be yourself

Preparation is important. Sounding rehearsed isn't.

Your interviewer isn't only assessing your technical skills. They're also getting a sense of what it would be like to work with you every day.

Be professional, but let your personality come through.

If you're excited about the opportunity, show it. If something about the firm's work genuinely interests you, say so.

Listen to the interviewer, engage with the conversation and answer thoughtfully rather than trying to give the answer you think they want to hear.

8. Prepare questions for the client

An interview is also your chance to understand whether the opportunity is right for you.

Prepare a few thoughtful questions in advance.

You could ask:

What would success look like in the first 60 to 90 days?
What does a typical day or week look like in this role?
How many clients would I be supporting?
How does the team normally communicate and collaborate?
What does the month-end workflow look like?
What are the biggest challenges you would like the person in this role to help solve?
How do you provide feedback and training?
Are there opportunities to take on additional responsibilities as the role develops?

Try to ask questions that haven't already been answered during the interview or in the job description.

One final reminder

You don't need to have a perfect answer to every question.

A good interview is a conversation.

Know the firm. Understand the role. Refresh your technical knowledge. Think through examples from your experience. Test your setup. And then focus on having a genuine conversation about what you know, how you work, and what you could bring to the team.

And if you're interviewing for an opportunity through TeamUp, remember that your recruiter is there to support you. We'll usually share additional context about the client and role before your interview, so make sure to review those notes carefully and reach out if there's anything you'd like to clarify.

You've already made it to the client interview. Now it's time to show them why. 💙

💡 TeamUp Tip

Your interview prep may look different for every client.

When you're interviewing through TeamUp, pay close attention to the preparation notes your recruiter sends you. We often customize these based on conversations we've had directly with the client, including what they're looking for, how their team works and the areas they may want to explore during your interview.