How Do I Recruit the Right Accounts Manager? Seeking Advice on Interview Process and Candidate Selection

Hi Seniors,

I need to recruit an Accounts Manager for our company (ours is a software Pvt Ltd Company). I have absolutely no idea of how to go about it. What's the interview process - do we need to have an aptitude test for the applicant? If yes, what sort of questions should be included?

What are the key details to look for in an accountant? What are the other details that I should be keeping in mind while recruiting for this position? Also, should I be looking at applicants only from the Pvt Ltd companies, or is it fine to consider applicants from other industries like Public sectors, Hotels, Manufacturing, etc.?

If our Seniors could please shed some light on this, it will be extremely useful. I will be looking forward to your replies.

Thanks in advance.

Please ensure the following while selecting the accounts manager:

1) The candidate should have a basic degree plus a postgraduate degree in commerce with a specialization in advanced accounts, auditing, etc., coupled with professional qualifications like CA, ICWAI, ACS, etc., if required for your company's operations.

2) An experienced accountant without CA and other qualifications may also suit your requirements.

3) The candidate should be familiar with accounting software like Tally and other SAP-related software if needed.

4) General appearance of the candidate, family background, etc., can be ascertained during the interview.

5) Inquire about the achievements that the candidate made during their past experience.

6) Ascertain the confidence level of the candidate in their work.

7) Inquire about the candidate's past reporting functions, etc.

8) Inquire about the candidate's experience in implementing systems and procedures.

9) Inquire about their experience in finalizing accounts, handling audits, and ensuring statutory compliance.

10) Any other information required for your company.

The above may be sufficient. You do not need to ask about general knowledge and waste the time of senior candidates whom you are considering for the Accounts Manager position.

Hi,

Thanks a million. Just one question, is it okay to hire a candidate from a different industry such as manufacturing, hotels, or the public sector, or is it best to choose someone from the IT industry itself? Will the tax procedures and other aspects be the same across different industries?

Also, how many years of experience should one have in finalization of accounts, handling audits, and ensuring statutory compliance?

Hi. As far as the accounts manager is concerned, varied industrial experience would help any organization, whether it is software or any other industry. However, government-served people may find it difficult to adjust to the needs of private companies, especially to a software setup. Anybody with more than 10 or 15 years of experience in finalizing accounts, coordinating with audits, etc., would easily handle the requirements of your present needs since they might have been exposed to various problems of statutory, legal, taxation, etc., apart from accounting and practice.