Certified Public Accountant Test

When looking to fill a Certified Public Accountant position, it's important to make sure that the candidate has the skills necessary to do the job. A Certified Public Accountant skills test can help ensure that the candidate is a good fit for the position.

  • What is a Certified Public Accountant skills test?

    The Certified Public Accountant job skills test is a pre-employment assessment that is designed to be used as part of the recruitment process to screen candidates based on the skills, aptitudes, knowledge, and experience that they need for the role.

    The test is taken online by the candidate, and it is structured as a multiple-choice assessment. It measures vital skills and aptitudes, like numeracy and numerical reasoning, as well as soft skills like organization and leadership.

    For the recruitment team, the Certified Public Accountant job skills test is an efficient way to delve into the candidate's specific experience without adding bias; it is particularly useful for narrowing down a large candidate pool and providing relevant, quantifiable data about which applicants have what it takes to be successful in the future.

Jump to a section on this page:

  1. What is a Certified Public Accountant skills test?
  2. What are the benefits of using the Certified Public Accountant skills test for pre-screening?
  3. How our test measures Certified Public Accountant skills
  4. Certified Public Accountant Test FAQs

Identify the best candidates and hire faster

Our pre-employment tests let you drill down to the best candidates at the click of a button.

  • Find those candidates who will excel in the role.

    Select the assessments that match the skills or behaviours for the position. You can test for software or coding competency, soft skills like teamwork, or personality traits, to be sure those who pass have high potential.

  • Reduce costs and time.

    No more laborious sifting of resumes or cover letters. Pick your ideal assessment mix, invite your applicants to take them, see the results in your dashboard. Get to the interview stage fast.

  • Eliminate bias.

    All your candidates take the assessments on a level playing field. Only their results determine whether they get shortlisted.

  • What are the benefits of using the Certified Public Accountant skills test for pre-screening?

    Certified Public Accountants work with companies in the USA, providing them with accounting and tax-related services. CPAs need to have a firm understanding of tax law, as well as the ability to deal with all normal finance functions within a business.

    Many businesses will require that their CPAs have already achieved their certification from the Public Accountants Association, and this can be easy to assess from a paper sift as the candidates will have listed that they hold CPAA membership. However, some of the other skills that are necessary for success in the role are not so easy to assess from a resume, an application form, or even an interview.

    The CPA skills test is an ideal way to filter a large number of candidates in a fair, equitable, and unbiased way, allowing the recruitment team only to choose the applicants who can demonstrate that they not only have the knowledge they need to be successful, but they also have the skills and aptitudes needed to put that knowledge into practice in the real world.

    A Certified Public Accountant might work specifically on tax-related issues for the business, with a focus on tax planning for the company as a whole and also helping staff members with their income tax, for example. They might be asked to represent the company in an audit, and review tax forms to make recommendations.

    Some CPAs might also complete normal finance functions for a business, including preparing balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and other reports as well as dealing with credit control and payroll.

    With so many tasks that need to be completed on a daily basis, the CPA candidate needs to be organized, they need to have great numeracy skills, and they need to be able to work effectively as part of a team.

    The CPA test gives each candidate the same opportunity to demonstrate that they have the necessary aptitudes, with easy-to-read results that can form an important part of the data needed to make a decision on which candidates to take further into the recruitment process.

    The Certified Public Accountant test can be used when hiring other finance professionals, especially those that focus on tax preparation.

More Job Skills Tests

How our test measures Certified Public Accountant skills

Test questions are designed to assess industry-specific technical skills, soft skills, aptitude, and suitable personality dimensions. Our data-driven approach provides results that enable you to determine how suited is a candidate for the role.

Depending on the type of question, the format of the test may vary. Multiple-choice questions are used to measure aptitude, technical skills, and soft skills, while agreement on a Likert scale assesses suitable personality dimensions. Skills tests ensure that candidates are being evaluated in a precise and impartial manner, their results demonstrating the true knowledge and potential of each test taker.

The characteristics required to be a Certified Public Accountant were determined by looking at the skills and abilities listed in the US Department of Labor’s O*NET database, which collects data from professionals in various fields.

O*NET is the largest database of its kind, providing detailed information about occupations and the requirements for each role.

Our team of I/O psychologists and psychometrics worked closely with subject-matter experts to create an extensive question bank that can be used to test multiple candidates. We also conducted rigorous field testing with a representative sample of candidates to ensure that the questions were reliable and valid.

Test scores are averaged together to give an overall score. The average score is compared to other candidates' scores to ensure there is no bias toward certain candidates.

Our Certified Public Accountant test is constantly updated and optimized to ensure the best experience and results.

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Validated

Predictor of job success

Picked provides evidence-based recommendations for tests to use for over 750 jobs. Our recommendation engine leverages data from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).

  • Assessments

    A full suite of assessments

    Our platform comes with 12 tests across both foundation and advanced levels so they’re suitable for everyone. Including aptitude, behavioural and personality tests, you’ll have a full range of tests to help you find the candidates you’re seeking.

  • Analytics

    An array of candidate metrics

    For each of your candidates, you’ll be given a comprehensive report. Included will be all the metrics you need to build a detailed picture of each candidate and ensure you’re making the right hiring decisions.

“The platform is so simple to use. I had used competitor providers for over six years and will never go back. Fast, efficient and friendly!”
Greg Chambers, HR Business Partner, Littlefish Ltd
Greg Chambers, HR Business Partner, Littlefish Ltd

Certified Public Accountant Test FAQs

What are the necessary skills and aptitudes to be a CPA?

A CPA needs to have excellent numeracy skills as well as a good eye for detail. They also need to be very organized with great time management skills. CPAs often work as part of the wider finance team and sometimes directly with clients, so they also need to be able to communicate effectively and negotiate when needed.

What software should a CPA know how to use?

A CPA should have a good working knowledge of the main accounting software types that businesses of all sizes use. This might include Sage and Quickbooks. Some CPAs will be more proficient in one than another, but in most cases once you know and understand one type of software you can transfer that knowledge to another.

Can I see what the test is like?

Yes, of course. You can try the test for free by signing up for a free trial.

Are these tests available in my plan?

We have a range of plans available. The difference between the plans is the number of test attempts permitted, not the type of tests. All our plans include our full test suite comprising all tests and all levels.

“An unbeatable service, impressive platform and fantastic value for money.”
Laurence Fishman, Partner, NLPCA
Laurence Fishman, Partner, NLPCA

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