Interview a candidate

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Permalink Reply by Justin Young on April 22, 2009 at 9:25am

As an Excel developer/trainer I can suggest a few Excel questions:

BASIC
Do you use Named Ranges?
Are you familiar with SUMIF?
Can you write IF statements?
Do you know how to use AutoFilter?
Are you aware of the Precision as Displayed option?

INTERMEDIATE
Do you know DATEDIF? (A little known and undocumented function that is essential for calculating with dates)
Do you know the Analysis Toolpak? (contains more useful functions for working with days and dates)
How do you perform calculations that do conditional sums on with multiple criteria? (valid answers: improvise with SUMIF (ingenious but limited), use SUMIFS in Excel 2007 (fine), use array formulae (a strong user).
Do you use PivotTables? A lot of people are overly reliant on PivotTables. They use them to filter and sum conditionally. You could ask "what are some alternatives to PivotTables?" Good answers would be: Data Tables, Database functions and the Advanced Filter.
Know how to create a data validation drop down list?

ADVANCED
Are you familiar with Excel's database functions?
Do you know MS Query?
Are you confident with array formulae?
Are you familiar with any Add-ins? (software that enhances Excel - much of which is industry specific).
Do you know how to write VBA?
Are you aware of the Advanced Filter?
How often do you Excels Data table feature (familiarity is a good sign)
Do you know about avoiding multiple nested IFs by using MAX/MIN formulae?
How often do you use INDEX and MATCH (any use is good; regular use a sign that they are confident).

I hope that helps.

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Permalink Reply by avinesh on June 29, 2009 at 1:11pm

CHECK OUT ALLINTERVIEW.COM

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Permalink Reply by Pradip on August 7, 2009 at 5:41am

thanks mate...sorry didnt get a chance to reply sooner....very helpful

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Permalink Reply by Abee on July 11, 2009 at 4:22am

Hi there,

Having worked as a management accountant for the last few years, the formulae that we used in our day-to-day roles were:

-sum functions/sumif functions
-linking cells from one worksheet to another
-creating graphs and charts (for management reports)
-if statements
-vlookups/hlookups
-creating named ranges
-pivot tables

Of course, if anyone can write basic programmes in VBA - it's always a plus! :o)

Hope that helps.

Abee

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Permalink Reply by Pradip on August 7, 2009 at 5:42am

Abee - thanks.... we did eventually employ a good chap... knows his stuff...i am pleased....

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Permalink Reply by muchireva davison on October 5, 2009 at 6:44am

here are examples of questions.
1) what are the major functions of the financial manager? what does the fuctions have in common?
2) how does the notion of risk and reward govern the behaviour of financial managers.
3) what do you understand by the term corporate governmence?
4) can you explain what is involved i.e. separaion of capital budgets from revenue

by Muchireva Davison

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Permalink Reply by lovepreet on February 26, 2010 at 5:34pm

hi sir m doing an indian cfa..can u plz guide abt the cos where i can applying for job..

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Permalink Reply by RUPAL CHOTALIA on March 14, 2010 at 5:43am

really helpful site to gain d knowledge and expertise...

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