Accounting tests measure the competencies and character of individuals applying for an accounting-based job role.
Accounting tests assess job applicants on their ability to demonstrate the essential skills required to succeed in an accountancy position.
Accounting requires an aptitude for mathematics, but the ability to perform equations isn't the only skill employers should be testing their applicants for. Business acumen, analytical abilities, self-motivation, problem-solving and outstanding communication are also integral competencies in an accountant; none of which are easy to measure via a resume.
Industry accounting tests will typically cover topics such as reasoning skills for numerical, verbal, abstract and financial abilities, as well as decision-making styles, motivations, personality, comprehension and confidentiality.
These tests are usually sent once a candidate has submitted an application form for their chosen accounting role. Tests are often under timed conditions, based on multiple-choice answers and candidates have around two or three days to complete them.
Due to the timed nature of the tests, applicants achieving a high score not only prove their hard skillset but the ability to perform accurately under pressure - another attractive trait for a financial professional.
Effective accountants do a lot more than arrange tax returns. Those that excel, and bring a positive impact to a company's performance, have an excellent analytical and strategic mindset.
Proactive, self-motivated and sharp-minded, accountants' competencies are complex, which is why a recruiter will benefit from using aptitude tests to identify the strongest candidates for the demanding role.
Finding the best candidate out there can be tricky. Most will have qualifications and work experience to compare, but it's hard to know how an individual would perform under pressure on the job.
An accounting skills test removes this obstacle and gives companies the ability to distribute skills tests to a vast number of candidates, receiving comparative data back to analyse. The results will give a clear and unbiased ranking of your most promising candidates. This improves the quality of hires in an effective and streamlined way.
The test will highlight how adept a candidate is with essential skills required of an accounting professional such as an outstanding numerical aptitude, good attention to detail, data analysis, critical thinking and situational awareness.
Candidates that don't meet the expected benchmark for the role can be removed from the talent pool, eliminating the need to carry out more personal interviews than necessary.
Job roles accounting skills tests would be suitable for include:
Results for the Accounting Test along with other assessments the candidate takes will be compiled to produce a candidate report.
The report is automatically generated and available both online and as a downloadable pdf so they can be shared with other team members and employees alike.
The following tests are useful in measuring the quality of your hires for accounting positions:
A numerical reasoning test measures potential employees to work with numbers quickly and accurately. They will face a series of timed, mathematical questions that tend to be perceived as challenging due to the time restrictions as opposed to content.
Numerical reasoning tests require a good understanding of calculations such as ratios, fractions and percentages - all of which an accountant would be required to work with daily. However, the real emphasis is placed on demonstrating the ability to interpret data in the form of graphs and tables to find the correct answer or solution.
Situational judgement tests (SJTs) may be role dependent and are commonly used for leadership positions as they offer insight into candidates motivations, approaches to conflict resolution and applied problem-solving.
SJTs present a series of hypothetical workplace scenarios, candidates must select a single resolution from multiple-choice responses within a set amount of time. This also lets a recruiter know how a candidate is likely to make decisions whilst under pressure - which will be necessary to a senior accounting employee.
This is all about being able to predict outcomes and trends with confidence. An abstract reasoning test measures a candidate's ability to think with fluid intelligence, meaning, they can find relationships between patterns, shapes or data, and are then able to apply that relationship to predict what comes next.
As you can imagine, this comes in handy within financially focused roles and enables an employee to plan for the income and outgoings of a business with a degree of confidence. The test requires a unique blend of logical and creative thinking, so you can be sure that a candidate performing well on this time-pressured test would make an effective hire.
Personality tests can be used as an indicator that a candidate is a good cultural and team fit – for example how well they will build rapport, how likeable you are and how aligned to company values you are.
The traits you are tested on are related to the qualities you might expect for a team-oriented and client-facing role such as an investment manager, bookkeeper or accounting clerk. An ideal accountant would demonstrate skills in the following, which a personality test can identify:
A verbal reasoning test assesses a candidates ability to comprehend large amounts of written or oral information, identifying if the information is true, implied truth or completely false.
Candidates scoring highly on this test will have excellent communication skills which are essential to accounting-based roles for managing client relationships, interactions with professional bodies and maintaining positive teamwork.
Job knowledge tests will be extremely specific and measure how immersed a candidate is in the world of accounting. It will look at financial news, business trends and most importantly accounting regulations. This highlights candidates most prepared with the latest knowledge to help them succeed in their role.
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Neuroworx provides evidence-based recommendations for tests to use for over 750 jobs. Our recommendation engine leverages data from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
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Origins
A typical recruitment process for an accounting firm might look like this:
The key skills required to be successful in an accounting role include:
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