Filling your accounting or finance positions during The Great Resignation can be challenging. Many employees are leaving their jobs for opportunities that better align with their goals, values, and interests.
Fortunately, understanding what candidates are looking for in accounting or finance positions helps guide your approach to hiring. These suggestions can help.
Implement these tips for filling accounting or finance positions.
Be Involved in the Entire Hiring Process
Clarify exactly what you are looking for in a candidate. This provides a foundation on which other members of your hiring team can help source candidates.
For instance, assume you need to hire an accounting clerk. You might develop a list of the required and preferred skills as a guide for your hiring team.
Your list of required skills for an accounting clerk might include:
- Knowledge of basic finance, accounting, and bookkeeping principles
- Proficiency in mathematics
- Ability to learn new technologies
- Time management skills
- Attention to detail
Your list of preferred skills for an accounting clerk might include:
- Formal accounting training
- Experience in administrative or accounting roles
- Proficiency with budgeting and bookkeeping software
- Collaborative work style
- Strong communication skills
Stating exactly what you are looking for helps your hiring team properly source active and passive candidates. Narrowing down your pool of qualified candidates saves time when reviewing resumes and deciding whom to contact for interviews.
Build Candidate Relationships
Get to know active and passive candidates on a personal level. This increases their interest in filling your accounting and finance positions.
Learn all you can about a candidate’s education, skills, experience, goals, and interests. Find out what motivates them to work, what they like most and least about their jobs, and what attracts them to an employer.
Focus on how one of your opportunities fits with the candidate’s background. Emphasize what the candidate would gain by coming to work for you.
Focusing on your candidates’ wants and needs encourages them to want to work for you. This increases your likelihood of adding top talent to your team.
Ask Relevant Interview Questions
Pay attention to a candidate’s hard and soft skills and behavioral intelligence during an interview. For instance, if you need to hire an accounting clerk, you might ask:
How do you maintain quality control with your work?
Candidates should thoroughly check their work to ensure accuracy. Listen for cross-checking or strategies for quality control and attention to detail. Minimizing errors saves time and money.
How do you manage to work under tight deadlines?
Candidates should be able to juggle multiple projects and manage workflows while under pressure. They must work efficiently, delegate tasks, and request support when needed. Listen for a positive attitude while facing challenges, the ability to prioritize work, and effective time management skills.
How do you present financial data to nonfinancial professionals?
Candidates should feel comfortable sharing financial information in a calm, effective manner. Their audience should be able to understand and apply the information to their situation.
Need Help Filling Accounting or Finance Positions?
Being involved in the entire hiring process and building candidate relationships help source qualified candidates and encourage them to apply to your accounting or finance positions. Asking relevant interview questions lets you find the best candidates to add to your team.
For additional help filling your accounting or finance positions, partner with Casey Accounting & Finance Resources. Find out more today.
