An accounting skills test is an assessment that measures a candidate’s knowledge and abilities in accounting principles, practices, and software. These accounting skills tests evaluate skills such as bookkeeping, financial reporting, data analysis, and expertise with programs such as Excel.
If you’re a recruiter or hiring manager, you know how hard it can be to spot top performers early in the process. That’s why more teams are using skills assessments. They’re quick, reliable, and reveal a lot more than a resume can.
Whether you’re looking to fill an accounting position or striving to lead projects with more technical accounting skills or expertise, this guide has the information you need to succeed in making that next accounting team hire.
With accounting skills assessment tests, you can ensure that your potential hires have the accounting expertise required to succeed in their jobs. These tests not only measure technical skills but also strategic planning and advanced financial analysis abilities.
Evaluating Technical Expertise: These tests assess understanding and application of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), proficiency in using accounting software, and data analytics capabilities, among other key digital skills required by finance leaders.
Gauging Soft Skills: Beyond just numbers, these tests evaluate leadership skills, critical thinking abilities, and communication skills – all essential for problem-solving and leading projects or teams in the accounting profession.
Saving Time & Resources: Pre-employment testing helps filter out unqualified applicants early on, saving valuable time and resources spent on interviewing unsuitable candidates.
Identifying Skill Gaps with EmployTest
Even good candidates have areas they need to improve. Testing makes those gaps visible.
Platforms like EmployTest give you more than just pass-or-fail results. You’ll get a breakdown of which skills are strong, which need work, and whether the person is ready for the role or would need extra training.
That’s especially helpful when you’re weighing one great resume against another.
Essential Accounting Skills Tests for Entry-Level Accountants
Securing an accountant, particularly for a junior-level position, can be challenging. With numerous candidates possessing similar qualifications and experiences, it is necessary to identify those who truly understand basic accounting principles and can apply them effectively in real-world scenarios.
Pre-employment math tests are an effective way to gauge core competencies required by entry-level accountants. These tests provide an objective measure of a candidate’s aptitude, including understanding financial statements, bookkeeping basics, and tax laws.
Key Thought: An accounting skills assessment or test is important for evaluating potential hires’ technical accounting skills and soft skills. These tests can save time and resources by filtering out unqualified applicants early on, while also identifying skill gaps that may require additional training. For entry-level accountants, numerical aptitude, digital literacy, and familiarity with GAAP are essential core competencies to assess during pre-employment testing.
Core Competencies Required by Entry-Level Accountants
The first step for hiring managers to find the right candidate involves understanding what skills are necessary for success in an entry-level accounting role. What are some of the core competencies that every budding accountant should possess?
Math Skills: An excellent grasp of mathematics is non-negotiable when it comes to accountancy roles.
Understanding Financial Statements: Proficiency in preparing and interpreting financial statements such as balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, etc. is an absolute must.
Tax Laws & Regulations Knowledge: A good understanding of tax laws and regulations applicable to businesses is another important skill set required by entry-level accountants.
Familiarity with Accounting Software: Familiarity with popular accounting software, like QuickBooks or Sage 50cloud, can give candidates an edge over others.
Beyond these technical skills, though, lies a set of soft skills which include attention to detail, strong organizational abilities, and effective communication, all equally critical for succeeding in this profession.
The Role of Pre-Employment Math Tests
Truth is, not everyone who says they’re “good with numbers” actually is.
Math tests are a fast way to check numerical reasoning and problem-solving. They give you a clearer view of how someone works through real-world tasks.
EmployTest’s math assessments include questions on:
Basic operations like addition, subtraction, percentages, and fractions
Reading and analyzing data
Solving time-sensitive calculations
Accuracy under pressure
These aren’t just school-style tests. They’re designed to reflect the kind of math tasks your hires will deal with on the job.
Key Thought: To hire the right entry-level accountant, it is important to assess their core competencies such as numeracy skills, understanding of financial statements, knowledge of tax laws and regulations, and familiarity with accounting software. Pre-employment math tests can be a valuable tool in evaluating candidates’ aptitude for numerical reasoning and their ability to handle time-sensitive tasks efficiently. Incorporating these tests into the hiring process provides objective insights that go beyond resumes or interviews alone.
Advanced Accounting Skills Tests for Senior-Level Accountants
As accountants move into more senior roles, they’re no longer just running reports. They’re making decisions that affect the whole company.
That means you need a deeper way to assess them.
The Professional Success Aptitude Test from EmployTest is built for exactly this. It goes beyond numbers to measure leadership potential, decision-making, and communication.
Key Responsibilities of Senior-Level Accountants
The role of a senior accountant extends far beyond simple number crunching. These professionals are often tasked with overseeing entire finance departments, making key decisions that can significantly impact an organization’s bottom line.
Financial Analysis: Advanced financial analysis involves examining an organization’s financial statements in order to identify trends and make recommendations for improvement.
Budget Planning: Senior accountants play a key role in budget planning by analyzing past spending patterns and forecasting future needs.
Risk Management: They also help manage risk by identifying potential financial threats and developing strategies to mitigate them.
Audit Supervision: In addition, these professionals often oversee internal audits to ensure compliance with laws and regulations as well as company policies.
To do all that well, they need more than technical skill. They need to be strategic thinkers, strong communicators, and calm under pressure.
These are all traits that are difficult to gauge through traditional interviews or resume reviews alone. A good test helps you spot that.
Using Aptitude Tests for Hiring Decisions
Aptitude tests, unlike standard pre-hire tests, are focused solely on technical competencies or basic math skills assessments commonly used at entry levels.
An Aptitude Test measures higher-order cognitive abilities, including logical reasoning & analytical skills, in addition to assessing communication proficiency.
The test consists of several sections designed specifically around core competencies required by advanced-level accountancy roles:
Analytical Reasoning: Evaluates a candidate’s ability to interpret data accurately & make informed decisions based on it.
Critical Thinking: Assesses how effectively candidates can solve problems using logic & reasoning.
Numerical Reasoning: Measures a candidate’s aptitude towards handling complex numerical information & performing calculations under pressure.
These tests offer a smarter way to screen candidates for roles that require leadership and critical thinking. That way, you’re not just hiring someone who can do the job. You’re hiring someone who can improve how it’s done.
Key Thought: Senior-level accountants have advanced responsibilities that go beyond basic number crunching, such as financial analysis, budget planning, risk management, and audit supervision. EmployTest’s Professional Success Aptitude Test is a valuable tool for assessing the critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and communication skills necessary for success in these roles.
Partner with EmployTest for Effective Accounting Skills Tests and Pre-Employment Testing
Don’t take chances when adding new hires to your accounting team. By usingpre-employment and aptitude tests, you can evaluate candidates’ abilities accurately and efficiently. Accounting skills aptitude testing saves your company time and money during the search for qualified applicants.
Trust EmployTest to provide you with the tools and expertise necessary for effective pre-employment testing. By partnering with us, you can streamline your hiring process, identify top accounting talent, and build a strong and successful accounting team.
