CV & Interview Prep
Junior Accountant
CV advice and interview questions for junior accountant and bookkeeper roles in South Africa. Written from the perspective of someone who works at SARS and understands what SA accounting employers are actually looking for.
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Key Skills Employers Test
- Double-entry bookkeeping and trial balance preparation
- Financial statement preparation (IS, BS, Cash Flow)
- Payroll processing: PAYE, UIF, SDL calculations
- Accounts payable and receivable management
- Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUP, IF, pivot tables)
- Pastel / Sage / Xero (advantageous)
- VAT returns and SARS e-filing awareness
How to Write Your CV
Must Include
- +Your highest qualification with institution name, field of study, and year completed
- +Any accounting-specific certifications: ICB (Institute of Certified Bookkeepers), Alison Diploma in Accounting, AAT Level 2
- +Software proficiency: Sage, Pastel, Xero, or at minimum Microsoft Excel with specific functions listed (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, IF statements)
- +Your SAICA or SAIPA registration number if applicable
- +A clear summary of which accounting functions you have studied or practised (bookkeeping, payroll, accounts payable, financial statements)
- +Matric certificate and any relevant tertiary results, especially if your accounting grades were strong
Avoid
- xClaiming software experience you do not have. Interviewers will test you on Pastel or Sage in the first week
- xListing irrelevant work experience at length (e.g. retail cashier details) without connecting it to numeracy or accuracy
- xUsing accounting jargon incorrectly. If you are not sure of a term, leave it out
- xVague descriptions like "assisted with financial tasks." Be specific about what you actually did
- xAn unprofessional email address. Create a firstname.lastname@gmail.com if needed
Tailor for SA firms specifically
South African accounting firms and corporates frequently use Pastel (Sage), Xero, or AccPac. If you have any experience with these, name them explicitly. A CV that says "Proficient in Pastel Partner and Xero" immediately signals SA-market relevance.
Show accuracy, not just knowledge
Accounting employers care deeply about attention to detail. A CV with a single typo, inconsistent formatting, or incorrect figures is immediately disqualifying. Have at least two people proofread it before sending.
Your projects count as experience
If you have completed a full bookkeeping cycle, prepared a set of financial statements, or processed a fictional payroll run as a study project, list it under a "Projects" or "Practical Experience" section. South African employers, especially smaller firms and SMEs, respect self-initiative from candidates with no formal work history.
Reference the SA regulatory context
Mentioning awareness of SARS compliance, VAT, PAYE, UIF, and SDL shows you understand the South African tax environment. Even one line in your summary ("familiar with South African payroll legislation including PAYE, UIF, and SDL") significantly differentiates you from candidates trained on international content only.
Common Interview Questions
Walk me through the double-entry bookkeeping principle.
Why they ask this
The absolute foundation of every accounting interview. If you cannot explain this clearly and confidently, no other answer matters.
Sample Answer
Double-entry bookkeeping is based on the principle that every financial transaction affects at least two accounts and that debits must always equal credits. For example, if a business purchases equipment for R10,000 cash, we debit the Equipment account (an asset increases) and credit the Bank account (an asset decreases). The total debits and credits remain equal, which keeps the accounting equation balanced: Assets = Liabilities + Equity.
Red flag answer
Describing only one side of a transaction, or confusing the direction of debits and credits for specific account types.
What are the three main financial statements and what does each one show?
Why they ask this
Standard screening question for any accounting role. The answer reveals whether you understand the purpose of each statement, not just its name.
Sample Answer
The Income Statement shows the revenues and expenses of a business over a specific period, resulting in a net profit or loss. The Balance Sheet is a snapshot of the business's financial position at a specific date, showing assets, liabilities, and equity. The Cash Flow Statement shows how cash moved into and out of the business during a period, split into operating, investing, and financing activities. Together, they give a complete picture of a business's financial health.
How do you calculate PAYE for a South African employee?
Why they ask this
Payroll processing is a core junior accountant function in SA. Most SA firms handle payroll in-house and expect candidates to know the basics.
Sample Answer
PAYE is calculated on the employee's taxable income, which is their gross salary less any allowable deductions such as pension fund contributions. You apply the SARS tax tables for the relevant tax year to the annual taxable income to determine the annual tax liability, then divide by 12 for the monthly withholding amount. The employer deducts this from the employee's salary and pays it to SARS by the seventh of the following month via the EMP201 return.
Red flag answer
Saying "I would use software to calculate it" without being able to explain the underlying method. Software is a tool; the employer needs to know you understand the calculation.
What is the difference between accounts payable and accounts receivable?
Why they ask this
Foundational vocabulary check. SA firms often split these functions for entry-level hires.
Sample Answer
Accounts payable represents money the business owes to its suppliers for goods or services received but not yet paid for. It is a liability on the balance sheet. Accounts receivable represents money owed to the business by its customers for goods or services delivered but not yet collected. It is an asset. Managing both accurately is critical to a business's cash flow position.
You find an error in last month's trial balance. How do you handle it?
Why they ask this
Tests your approach to error detection and correction, which is a daily reality in accounting.
Sample Answer
First I would identify which accounts are affected and by how much. I would trace the error back to its source, whether it is a transposition error, an incorrect account code, or a missing entry. I would not simply delete the wrong entry; I would prepare a correcting journal entry with a clear narration explaining what was corrected and why. I would then inform my supervisor, especially if the error affects a period that has already been reported. Accurate documentation of the correction is important for the audit trail.
Why do you want to work in accounting?
Why they ask this
SA accounting employers, especially smaller firms, hire for long-term fit. They want genuine interest, not just a foot in the door.
Sample Answer
I am drawn to accounting because it is the language every business operates in, and I enjoy working with numbers in a structured way. What specifically interests me is the analytical side: being able to look at a set of financial statements and tell a story about the health of a business. I also appreciate that accounting has clear professional pathways and recognised qualifications, and I am working towards my ICB certification as a next step.
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