--- title: "Finance Manager Interview: My 41 Point Pre-Interview Checklist" description: My 41 point checklist to help you prepare for your 1st round interview as a finance manager. Counts down from 15 days before the big day. [2024] --- [Skip to content](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/pre-interview-checklist-finance-manager#main-content) ![Logo](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo.jpg?width=120&height=51&name=Logo.jpg) - [Home](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/) - [Course Details](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/course-details) - [Blog](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/) - [Course Details](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/course-details) - [Blog](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice) - [Buy now](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/buy-now) [Buy now](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/buy-now) 29 Feb 2024, 20:51:41 # Finance Manager Interview: My 41 Point Pre-Interview Checklist [Stephen](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/author/stephen) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/pre-interview-checklist-finance-manager) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/pre-interview-checklist-finance-manager) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/pre-interview-checklist-finance-manager) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/pre-interview-checklist-finance-manager) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/pre-interview-checklist-finance-manager) Here is my recommended checklist to help you prepare for your first round interview for a finance manager or financial controller job. You can also check out my associated blog post [5 Tips to Ace your Finance Manager Interview](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/ace-your-finance-manager-interview-5-essential-tips-for-sucess) ![40 Checklist: Finance Manager First Round Interview](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Woman%20ticking%20on%20a%20checklist%20-%20isolated%20over%20a%20white%20background.jpeg?width=473&height=600&name=Woman%20ticking%20on%20a%20checklist%20-%20isolated%20over%20a%20white%20background.jpeg) If you want a printable version, you can download it from this [link](mailto:stephen@firsttimefinancemanager.com). Don’t be overly concerned if you can't answer all of the questions below, if not, you can always use them as a guide to ask questions about the business during the interview itself. Remember to show your enthusiasm for the job with a positive attitude throughout. This checklist assumes that you have already have a first round interview. For more insights on the necessary steps to take before securing an interview, you can read my article and checklist: ‘What should I do before I apply for a role as a first-time finance manager or financial controller’  ## 15 days before the interview  ### Company Ownership & Management Structure  - I’ve researched the legal structure of the company including related companies and their locations. - I’ve researched whether the Company is mainly owned by private individuals, family, part of structured funds or other.  - I know if there is debt and what that potential funding was needed for. - I’ve researched the management structure and who the likely decision makers in the business are.  - I know a basic company history, where the company has come from and where it might be going. - I’ve researched the website and social media to find out about their mission, vision and company values.  ###  Product & Market Fit  - I know what the main products and/or services that the company sells. - I know the type of customers that the company sells to (i.e. individuals or corporate entities) and where those customers are located.   - I have a sense as to what the main revenue lines in the business are.   - I have a sense as to what a typical customer journey might look like and so how the company makes money. I've shadowed the customer journey if possible by trialling the product, demo or sample.    - I’ve done some research on industry financials and have a sense of revenue growth in the industry along with benchmarks and typical margins for these types of companies ### Industry - I’ve completed some online research on the industry for trends such as changes in technology, mergers, and alternative product offerings.   - I’ve listed the main competitors and how their offerings differ to this business. - I’ve looked to see if there are any upcoming legal regulations or laws which may affect the business in a positive or negative way.  - I checked out industry / trade websites and looked at the type of language used in the industry as well as any hot topics.  - I have a healthy list of positives notes as well as a few company challenges if necessary.  ##  10 days before the interview  ### Company Financials  - I’ve reviewed the financial statements of the company. - I’ve made notes on the profit and loss and have a sense if the company is making money. - I know the key income and expense elements that make up their profit & loss account or income statement.  - I have a sense of the cost of sales, and customer acquisition costs associated with delivering the product. - I have a sense of the company balance sheet and how healthy it is, the cash position and potential funding requirements that may be needed.  - I’ve found any industry or company specific accounting policy's etc and reviewed my own knowledge of them.  ###  Interviewers   - I have found out who the people are that are interviewing me. - I know their role in the business (or helping the business if their not an employee) and the area that they work in. - I have reviewed their LinkedIn profiles and their bio’s on the company website.  ##  5 Days before Interview  ### Re-read the job description  - I’ve prioritized the top three requirements on the job listing and have a list of examples to prove how I can complete these requirements. I’ve structured my responses using the [STAR method](https://capd.mit.edu/resources/the-star-method-for-behavioral-interviews/ ) (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to provide a clear and concise explanation of my achievements.  - I understand from the job spec who I will be reporting to and who will be reporting to me. - I have mapped out my earlier work experience, to the structure of the job role so that when I talk about myself I can relate it more closely to their requirements.  - Where I don’t have specific work experience, I’ve mapped out academic, project work or similar experiences to prove I am capable of that skillset.  - I’ve written up some example questions I think they could ask including common questions for the role and then practiced my responses.  - I have a bullet list of my strengths and weaknesses (and how I work on them)  - I have listed out my specific knowledge of new systems and technology to demonstrate these skills.   ## 3 days before the interview  ## Mock Interviews - I’ve organized and had a few ‘mock’ interviews with friendly colleagues to practice my interview technique  ## 1 day before the interview ### Get ready for tomorrow! - I have reconfirmed the time & location of the interview. - If in person, I’ve planned my route to ensure that I am at least 30 minutes early for the interview. - If online, I’ve ensured it's a quite space that won't be interrupted, that I have checked that the microphone and screen work, and what's in the background shot when I'm online. I have a backup device in case there is issues with my main technology.  - I have selected what I want to wear and checked that it's the right outfit for the business culture. ##  Day of interview  - I have my notes and any other preparation with me before I go (or laid out in front of me if online).  Good luck! And remember, if you don't land the job, always seek feedback from the interviewers on areas for improvement.   [Interviews](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/tag/interviews) ## Related posts [![Ace your first finance manager review](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/hubfs/Human%20resources%20team%20during%20job%20interview%20with%20woman.jpeg)](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/ace-your-finance-manager-interview-5-essential-tips-for-sucess) [Interviews](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/tag/interviews) ## [Ace Your Finance Manager Interview: 5 Essential tips for Success](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/ace-your-finance-manager-interview-5-essential-tips-for-sucess) [Stephen](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/author/stephen) 23 Feb 2024, 19:38:23 2 minute read: I sit on lots of panels where we interview for finance manager roles. A job listing... 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[Read more](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/effective-data-structure-in-excel-for-first-time-finance-managers) [![6 Practical Skills Small Business Finance Manager](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/hubfs/Side%20view%20of%20three%20artists%20working%20on%20computer%20at%20the%20office.jpeg)](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/the-6-practical-skills-of-a-small-business-finance-manager) [Small Business Finance Manager Skills](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/tag/small-business-finance-manager-skills) ## [The 6 Practical Skills of a First Time Finance Manager \[2025\]](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/the-6-practical-skills-of-a-small-business-finance-manager) [Stephen](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/author/stephen) 9 Feb 2024, 11:23:56 4 minute read: Want to be a better small business finance manager / financial controller in 2025?... [Read more](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/the-6-practical-skills-of-a-small-business-finance-manager) [![Creating Financial Controller Checklists ](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/hubfs/71CwWiCJhuL-319x479.jpg)](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/financial-controller-checklist) [Small Business Finance Manager Skills](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/tag/small-business-finance-manager-skills) ## [How to build your own financial controller checklist](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/financial-controller-checklist) [Stephen](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/author/stephen) 26 Apr 2024, 13:26:45 5 minute read: In this article I talk about my experiences of building checklists in the finance... [Read more](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/financial-controller-checklist) [Follow us on Facebook](mailto:stephen@firsttimefinancemanager.com) - [Home](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com) - [Course Details](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/course-details) - [Blog](https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice) --- 123 Waverly Pl., Boston, MA 02135 Copyright © 2026, First Time Finance Manager ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Stephen", "url" : "https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/author/stephen" }, "dateModified" : "2025-05-27T17:19:33.383Z", "datePublished" : "2024-02-29T20:51:41.000Z", "headline" : "Finance Manager Interview: My 41 Point Pre-Interview Checklist", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/tips-and-advice/pre-interview-checklist-finance-manager", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://firsttimefinancemanager.com/hubfs/Logo.jpg" }, "name" : "FTFM" } } ```