Internal Auditor Interview Questions: Finance

Introduction

Hiring a skilled Internal Auditor is essential in finance to protect assets, ensure regulatory compliance, and strengthen financial controls. The right candidate reduces risk, improves reporting accuracy, and supports better decision making across the organisation.

This guide provides role-focused Internal Auditor interview questions at basic, intermediate, and advanced levels, plus five pre-screening one-way video interview prompts suited for early screening on ScreeningHive. Use these questions to standardise interviews, evaluate candidates consistently, and speed up hiring with video-based assessments.

Internal Auditor Interview Questions

Basic Internal Auditor Interview Questions

• What are the primary objectives of an internal audit function within a finance organisation?
• How do you define risk-based auditing and how does it shape audit planning?
• Explain the principle of segregation of duties and provide an example of how you would test it.
• What does materiality mean in an audit context and how does it affect sampling and testing?
• How do you maintain independence and objectivity while conducting audits?
• What key elements should be included in audit working papers and documentation?
• How do internal audits differ from external audits in scope and reporting?
• Describe the steps you take to report findings and follow up on remediation actions.

Intermediate Internal Auditor Interview Questions

• Describe how you would plan and execute an audit of cash handling and treasury controls.
• Provide an example of auditing accounts receivable and testing for revenue recognition issues.
• How would you assess the design and operating effectiveness of controls over a critical financial process?
• Walk through your approach to investigating a suspected control failure or fraud allegation.
• How have you used data analytics to identify anomalies or control gaps? Give a specific example.
• How do you prioritise audit findings and formulate practical remediation recommendations?
• Explain the procedures you would perform to reconcile subledger balances to the general ledger.
• How do you manage stakeholders who challenge or resist audit recommendations?
• What procedures would you perform to audit the vendor payment cycle and detect duplicate or fraudulent payments?
• How would you audit compliance with a new regulatory requirement affecting financial reporting?

Advanced Internal Auditor Interview Questions

• Design an internal audit plan for a company implementing a new ERP system and outline key control testing strategies.
• How would you build and implement a continuous auditing program that leverages automated controls and analytics?
• Explain your approach to auditing complex financial instruments or treasury derivatives.
• Describe how you would evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of third party vendor controls and service organisations.
• Which metrics do you use to measure audit function performance and how do you drive continuous improvement?
• Discuss a time you advised senior management or the audit committee on enterprise risk and control optimisation.
• How would you lead remediation of systemic control deficiencies across multiple business units?
• Explain approaches to integrate advanced analytics or machine learning into audit testing while preserving audit evidence standards.
• What governance and oversight practices do you recommend for a global internal audit function?
• How do you balance audit coverage between compliance testing, operational efficiency reviews, and strategic risk advisory work?

Pre-Screening Video Interview Questions for Internal Auditor

These five one-way video interview questions are ideal for ScreeningHive pre-screening. They quickly reveal candidate experience, communication skills, and fit for the role while enabling consistent, time-efficient evaluations.

1. Briefly describe your internal audit experience in the finance sector and the major types of audits you performed.

   This evaluates overall experience, sector familiarity, and role fit.

2. Explain how you identify and assess the top three risks in a financial reporting process.

   This assesses risk awareness, analytical thinking, and prioritisation skills.

3. Give a specific example of a control weakness you discovered and how you helped implement a solution.

   This measures problem solving, impact orientation, and stakeholder engagement.

4. How do you use data analytics or automated tools in your audit work? Mention tools and typical analyses you run.

   This evaluates technical proficiency, tools knowledge, and practical application.

5. Describe how you would communicate a sensitive audit finding to senior management and the audit committee.

   This assesses communication style, professionalism, and stakeholder management skills.

Conclusion

These Internal Auditor interview questions help hiring managers, recruiters, and HR teams identify candidates who can strengthen financial controls, manage risk, and support compliance. Candidates can use the prompts to prepare concise examples that demonstrate technical skill and professional judgement.

ScreeningHive simplifies one-way video interviews, enabling faster screening, consistent evaluations, and more structured hiring decisions. Try ScreeningHive to standardise your pre-screening process and accelerate recruitment.