Chartered Accountant Interview Questions UK: 8 Real Questions and What Interviewers Want

Applying for a Chartered Accountant job in the UK? Here is what you are likely to be asked. These questions come from our Chartered Accountant question bank of 25 questions, written for UK employers at mid-level level.

Eight Chartered Accountant interview questions, and what the interviewer is thinking

1. Talk me through how you prepare a corporation tax computation for an owner-managed company client.

Why they ask: They want to see that you can move confidently from accounting profit to taxable profit without missing the common adjustments.

2. An owner-manager asks you how they should pay themselves this tax year. How would you advise them on salary versus dividends?

Why they ask: Profit extraction advice is one of the most frequent conversations in practice and shows whether your tax knowledge is current.

3. What does a typical week look like for you as a qualified accountant in practice?

Why they ask: They want to check your experience matches the reality of the role and that you can balance compliance, review and client work.

4. What are the current company size thresholds in the UK, and what do they mean for the accounts a client files and whether they need an audit?

Why they ask: Size classification drives almost every compliance decision for a practice client, and the thresholds changed recently.

5. How do you review a set of year-end accounts prepared by a junior before they go to the partner or client?

Why they ask: At mid-level you are expected to review others' work, so they want a structured and sceptical approach.

6. How do you deal with an overdrawn director's loan account at the year-end?

Why they ask: Overdrawn director's loan accounts are extremely common in owner-managed businesses and carry real tax consequences.

7. A director wants to pay a £60,000 dividend next week, but the latest management accounts show distributable reserves of only £35,000. What would you do?

Why they ask: They want to see you understand the legal rules around distributions and can advise a client firmly but helpfully.

8. Tell me about a time you spotted a tax planning opportunity for a client that they hadn't asked about.

Why they ask: Practices want accountants who add value proactively, not just process compliance work.

A sample answer to question 1

Talk me through how you prepare a corporation tax computation for an owner-managed company client.

My starting point is the profit before tax from the finalised accounts, because the computation should always reconcile back to the statutory figures. I then add back disallowable items: depreciation, client entertaining, fines, private elements of expenses, and any general provisions that aren't specific. Next I deal with capital allowances, claiming the Annual Investment Allowance on qualifying plant up to the £1 million limit, full expensing if the company prefers it for new main-rate assets, and writing down allowances on the pools, with cars treated by CO2 band. I check for non-trading items such as interest income and chargeable gains, and whether any trading losses are being brought forward or carried back. Then I apply the rates: 19% small profits rate up to £50,000, 25% main rate above £250,000 and marginal relief between, remembering the limits are divided by associated companies and time-apportioned for short periods. Finally I check payment dates, including whether the company is large for quarterly instalments, and prepare the CT600 and iXBRL tagged accounts for review.

Common mistake to avoid: Forgetting associated companies when applying limits; Listing adjustments without any structure

Want the rest?

Full model answers, key points and common mistakes for all 25 questions are on the Chartered Accountant interview questions page. The first five are free, no sign-up needed.