These questions cover various aspects of fund accounting, including technical knowledge,
industry-specific skills, and behavioral competencies.
Technical Knowledge:
1. Can you explain the process of reconciling cash and positions for a private equity fund?
2. How do you calculate management and performance fees in private equity fund accounting?
3. What are carried interest and waterfall structures, and how do they impact fund accounting?
4. How do you value illiquid investments in a private equity fund?
5. Can you discuss the accounting treatment for capital calls and distributions in private equity
funds?
6. What are the key differences between fair value accounting and historical cost accounting in
private equity?
Industry-Specific Skills:
1. Have you worked with any fund administration software platforms such as Investran, Geneva,
or VPM?
2. Can you explain your experience with regulatory compliance and reporting requirements for
private equity funds?
3. How do you ensure accuracy and completeness in financial reporting for private equity
clients?
4. Have you participated in client meetings or calls to discuss fund performance and financial
statements?
5. Can you provide examples of any challenges you've faced in private equity fund accounting
and how you overcame them?
6. How do you stay updated on industry trends and changes in regulations affecting private
equity funds?
Behavioral Competencies:
1. Describe a situation where you had to meet tight deadlines in fund accounting. How did you
prioritize tasks and ensure timely delivery?
2. Can you give an example of a time when you had to work collaboratively with other team
members to resolve a complex accounting issue?
3. How do you handle situations where there are discrepancies or errors in financial data during
the reconciliation process?
4. Can you discuss a time when you had to communicate complex financial information to non-
finance stakeholders?
5. Describe a challenging project you worked on in private equity fund accounting. What was
your role, and how did you contribute to the team's success?
6. How do you approach continuous learning and professional development in your career as a
fund accountant?
A set of general interview questions that are commonly asked in the private equity fund
accounting domain. These questions cover a range of topics and can help you prepare for
interviews at these companies:
1. Can you explain the role of a private equity fund accountant?
2. What experience do you have in fund accounting, specifically in the private equity sector?
3. How do you handle the valuation of investments in a private equity fund?
4. Can you walk me through the process of calculating carried interest?
5. What accounting principles and standards are relevant to private equity fund accounting?
6. How do you ensure compliance with regulatory requirements in private equity fund
accounting?
7. Can you describe a challenging situation you encountered in fund accounting and how you
resolved it?
8. What software and tools have you used for private equity fund accounting?
9. How do you approach reconciling cash and positions in a private equity fund?
10. Can you discuss your experience with investor reporting in private equity fund accounting?
11. How do you handle performance fee calculations for private equity funds?
12. Can you explain the concept of waterfall distributions in private equity fund accounting?
13. What do you consider to be the biggest challenges in private equity fund accounting, and
how do you address them?
14. How do you stay updated on industry trends and developments in private equity fund
accounting?
15. Can you provide an example of a project or initiative you led or contributed to in your previous
role in private equity fund accounting?
