Describe an experience you’ve had working on a team.

As an audit intern / professional, you will be working on a small team. Interviewers use behavioral questions like this to assess your teamwork skills and ability to overcome conflicts and obstacles to achieve goals. Having the ability to work together with a team towards a common goal is key. Focus your answer on a specific experience that showcases qualities like collaboration, handling problems constructively, and the ability to adapt your style and contribute positively to a team environment.

Why are you interested in this audit internship?

With this common question, interviewers want to assess your motivation for applying for the job and give you an opportunity to demonstrate that you have put in the time to prepare for the interview. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the role and how it specifically aligns with your skills, values, and long-term career goals in auditing / accounting. Show that you have done your research on the city, firm, clients, etc. and are genuinely excited.

What do you think are the most important accounting concepts or principles for conducting a financial statement audit?

This type of technical question assesses your basic accounting knowledge. While technical questions are few and far between for internship roles, it is not unheard of for an interviewer to ask this type of question. Do not over-index in preparing for technical questions. Technical questions are more commonly asked for experienced hires.

For this response, be prepared to explain principles and frameworks like GAAP and PCAOB and how auditors use them to evaluate risk, develop procedures, and opine on financial statements. Emphasize how following established standards facilitates transparency and accuracy in reporting.

You discover an inconsistency in a client’s records during fieldwork. How would you address this?

Situational and behavioral hybrid questions allow interviewers to envision you handling real on-the-job scenarios. For this example, the interviewer wants to assess your judgment, decision-making, ethics, communication skills, and ability to resolve problems constructively. The best type of response in this scenario would involve: first alerting your team lead to the finding and comparing notes on its potential impact, outline the next prudent step like pursuing additional evidence to determine if an error exists before confronting the client. Focus on sharing the tactful, ethical approach you would use in discussions to resolve the issue productively.

What audit skills or personal qualities do you think are most important for an auditor to possess? Why?

Successfully performing assurance procedures requires making sound judgments and maintaining attention to detail.

Attention to detail is crucial for thoroughly gathering and examining evidence and identifying any issues or inconsistencies. Attention to detail is equally as important as having strong analytical abilities.

Analytical abilities allow the auditor to identify inconsistencies and key trends in large data sets, critically assess findings, determine next steps, and aggregate adequate support for conclusions in an efficient manner.

Another important trait is Professional skepticism. Professional skepticism is the process in which auditors leverage their experience and expertise to analyze data/information at face value with no emotion and in a skeptical manner. 

Communication and collaboration skills allow auditors to clearly convey observations, discuss next steps, hold important conversations with the client management team, build agreement on action plans and findings, and integrate seamlessly with the team. Mastering the diverse blend of technical qualities, analytical capabilities, and communication / soft skills enables auditors to perform at their best.

How would you respond if you were instructing a client’s accounting staff during fieldwork and they refused to provide requested supporting documentation for certain transactions?

I would maintain composure and seek to find another solution. I would explain to the employee why selected items require verification so they have a clear understanding of our goals.

If apprehension continued, I would consult my supervisor. The next step would be to politely ask them to convey reservations to company leadership. If they end up not complying, I would document procedures performed and impediments faced. The ultimate goal is to obtain adequate information to fulfill the audit objectives, while still keeping the client happy.