Pre-Employment Accounting Assessment Test Online Preparation – 2024
If you are applying for a position in an accounting department or with an accounting firm, chances are good that you will be required to take a pre-employment accounting test to show employers what you know and do not know. This can be daunting to prepare for when you do not know what to expect. This article will help you to understand what you can expect and how to go about preparing for these sorts of tests.
What Is the Accounting Assessment Test?
The accounting assessment test may vary some from provider to provider, but regardless of who makes the test, the assessment is meant to show employers what you do and do not know. Employers are interested in knowing what weak areas you have and how well your knowledge matches up with what is required for the job. It often covers accounts receivable, accounts payable, and bookkeeping. Many financial and accounting firms use this sort of test, but they are primarily used by agencies or assessment companies.
What Is the Accountant Test’s Content?
An accounting assessment can cover any of the following topics: journal entries, cash flow, dividends, account balancing, documentation, financial statement analysis, inventory, account types, accounting ratios, credit terms, provisions, and fair presentation.
On a general accounting test, you will not know for sure which topics will be covered, so brushing up on everything is important. The difficulty level of the test will depend on the job applied for and the job’s level. The test is usually forty multiple-choice questions on job-specific requirements and responsibilities. The format of the test and the test question style is unlike most other tests candidates take.
The best thing you can do to prepare is to practice. Brush up on all areas of accounting since the general tests will not tell you what areas will be tested on. Additionally, be prepared to be given the test in the interview and to be asked questions during interviews that will focus on some areas from the test. Employers like to spring the test on candidates in pencil and paper format at interviews.
Things to Take Note Of
There are a few things that are especially important to know when applying for positions that require this test and while preparing for it. Often, the interview is used to supplement the test. It may even be used, partially, for administering the test. Since this is the case, review the information below to prepare better for this exam and the interview.
Some common questions that relate to the test include:
How do you avoid errors and review your work?
How have you ever helped reduce company costs??
How do you evaluate risks?
Which accounting programs are you familiar with?
Since the interview may also include the test, you need to be finished with your practice and preparation before you show up for that interview. It might be the only chance you get to prove you know what you are doing, so make the most of it. Practice until you feel confident with all levels of question difficulty to be best prepared for a surprise test.
Knowledge or at least familiarity with QuickBooks and Oracle is one thing you should make sure you have too. It will make you stand out from other, less-prepared applicants. These two programs are ones commonly used by small to middle-sized companies in the private accounting sector.
Conclusion
The test may seem overwhelming, and it is not an easy test by any means due to the vast variety in material. But it is possible to do well if you practice and prepare appropriately. Do sample problems and practice assessments online during your pre-employment preparation stages. And do your best to be prepared for the test during the interview if necessary. Then go into that interview and your pre-employment accounting test with confidence knowing that you are prepared and can do a good job.