Tests by Industry

Pre-Employment Tests
For Accounting Services

When hiring for roles in accounting, identifying capable, reliable staff is crucial. Pre-employment tests can quickly identify the kind of staff that have the personality to excel as well as the aptitude to learn quickly and to successfully perform the responsibilities associated with the job.

The Statistics

Accountants and auditors are expected to experience 10% job growth between 2016 and 2026
Financial specialists are also expected to experience 10% job growth between 2016 and 2026
The largest accounting firms experienced turnover at an average rate of 17% in 2016

Why Use Pre-Employment Testing

Accounting firms hire for a number of different positions, including accountants themselves, auditors, analysts, accounting clerks, and receptionists. Often accounting companies find it particularly challenging to hire and retain talented, reliable support staff. That's why many accounting firms rely on Criteria's employment tests to hire receptionists, administrative assistants, and clerical staff. Pre-employment testing allows employers to filter through large applicant pools and reduce time-to-hire while simultaneously improving overall quality of hire.

What Tests to Use

One of the tests that accounting firms use most frequently for their support staff is the Criteria Basic Skills Test (CBST). This test helps ensure candidates have the basic communication skills, attention to detail, and overall “job readiness” required for the role.

For customer-facing positions in accounting, many firms also administer the Customer Service Aptitude Profile (CSAP). The CSAP is a personality test that measures traits like patience and diplomacy which are correlated with comfort and success in customer-facing roles.

Some employers also choose to administer other skills tests such as typing, data entry, and general computer skills tests for support staff roles that will involve regular computer use.

When hiring for accountants or analysts, most firms administer the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT). The CCAT assesses an applicant's critical thinking skills, problem solving ability, and their ability to apply new information. These abilities are critical for analytical roles that require independent decision-making.

To assess personality fit for accountant or analyst roles, companies often use the Employee Personality Profile (EPP). The EPP evaluates a candidate's personality and compares it with traits that have been correlated with success in accountant and analyst roles using benchmarks specific to those positions.