Some background info:
I had been working in one Big 4 accounting firm for years and got my designation. Now I am looking for a position in industry. It is a supervisor position in a public company that I was interviewed for. Based on the job description, it seeems a great opportunity to apply accounting, auditing and staff management skills, but ……
1st interview:
At my first interview with HR and hiring manager, I focus on the above skills. Of course, they had many questions regarding other soft skills as well. Then they asked me about my PC skills, I told them that I had some experience with Excel, Acess, etc. They seemed quite happy with it and did not go deep. As a result, I got my second interview phone call right after I left their office. (Quick and easy!!!)
2nd interview:
The second interview was quite different. I met with their Director. The first question from him was how much I know about their financial system. And then most of our discussion was related to how complex their system and processes were, and what my related experence was. (Problem comes…)
Then I found out my role in accounting, auditing and staff management seemed not that important. For example, in the job ad, I will be the “key participant” for projects regarding new accounting standards. He corrected that not me but the hiring manager will be, but I will be assigned some tasks to assit her. Further, he emphasized that he believe my PC skills will be as important as my accounting and auditng skills to be sucessful in this role. Another example, in the Ad, I will “lead” the team and provide “performance feedback”, but the Director explained I would not “direct manage” the team members, of course I would review their work and provide supervision on issues noted. ( what does it mean? Do I help and teach them to do the work, but I have no authroity to manage them?) more questons raised…..
My questions and concerns:
1) I feel there is quite a difference on job responsibilities between the job Ad and the info from the interview. Is that normal?( I don’t have much experience on job searching/interview, I got my Big 4 job before I graduated and with only one interview.)
2) Do they do some trick on the job ad? What can I do to know more instead of waiting for an offer? ( I feel the chance of getting the offer, because the director did spend significant amount of time talking about their benefit and my career development, am I right?)
3) Now I am worried about that I will spent too much time on correcting the staffs’ processing error in this job. ( it is not I am looking for). Some experienced in industry, please tell me more. ( I feel like being protected/limited in an accounting firm for years, and not knowing much of the outside world….)
Your suggestions, please!