nail your F&A interview: how to prepare for questions about AI, data, and transformation.

tl;dr / summary:

• modern finance interviews test your tech fluency, not just your accounting knowledge.
• be ready to share quantifiable examples of how you've used automation, data, or new systems.
• show you understand the "why" behind digital tools—how they improve efficiency, control, and strategy.
• in the UK, always link technology back to stronger governance, compliance, and risk management.
• your goal is to tell a story of how you use technology to drive business value.

While mastery of core financial competencies remains the foundation, today's top candidates are differentiated by their ability to leverage technology and data to serve as strategic partners to the business. Hiring managers need professionals who can help transform the finance function itself. They want to know: how do you use AI, turn data into a strategic narrative, and contribute to digital transformation?

With 49% of UK CEOs stating that AI will increase profitability, the finance department is at the heart of this transformation. This guide is your manual. We’ll break down the exact questions you’ll face and provide sample answers to help you articulate your value and secure your next role.

how to answer questions about AI in finance?

This is where you prove you’re efficient and forward-thinking. The goal is to show you see automation as a tool to elevate your work from manual processing to strategic analysis.

Q: have you used AI or automation in your finance work? if so, how? 

Your interviewer is looking for concrete, quantified examples. Avoid vague statements.

• Sample answer: "Yes. As an FP&A analyst, I tackled our manual monthly variance analysis in Excel. I initiated a project using an RPA tool, UiPath, to automate data extraction from SAP. This reduced data gathering time by 15 hours per month and cut manual errors by 30%, freeing the team to focus on analysis rather than compilation."

Q: what is your opinion on the future of AI in accounting and finance? 

This question tests your strategic perspective. Show that you understand the bigger picture.

• Sample answer: "I believe AI's role is to augment, not replace, finance professionals. It will handle high-volume tasks to improve accuracy, but its real value is in predictive forecasting and anomaly detection. This allows us to apply our business judgment to superior insights, leading to smarter strategic decisions."

Q: how do you balance automation with internal controls and compliance? 

Especially relevant in the UK, this assesses your understanding of risk and governance.

• Sample answer: "That's a critical consideration. In any automation project, we involve risk and compliance from the start. We build controls directly into the automated workflow, ensuring every action has a clear digital audit trail and that exception reports are generated for human oversight on anything outside set thresholds."

how to showcase data-driven decision-making.

Demonstrate how you use and present data not just for reporting, but for influencing strategy. More importantly, Deloitte’s recent survey suggests specialties like FP&A have the highest chances to be positively impacted by AI, and you must show you're ready.

Q: describe a situation where you used data to influence a business decision? 

This is a classic behavioural question. Structure your answer as a short story with a clear, quantified outcome.

• Sample answer: "Certainly. We suspected some of our high-volume products had very low margins. Using Power BI, I connected sales and cost data to build a SKU-level profitability dashboard that also deployed insights from GenAI. The visualisation clearly showed our top 10 products by volume generated only 2% of our gross margin. I presented this to sales leadership, which led to a pricing restructure that lifted the overall portfolio margin by 5%."

Q: what financial analysis tools or platforms have you worked with? 

Be specific and honest. Mentioning a variety of tools shows adaptability.

Sample answer: "My daily work is in Excel, where I'm proficient with Power Query. For visualisation, I primarily use Power BI and Tableau. I have extensive experience in SAP S/4HANA and Oracle NetSuite and am developing my skills in Python for more complex data analysis."

how to talk about digital transformation projects.

This is your chance to show you can handle change, collaborate, and see a large-scale project through.

Q: have you contributed to any digital transformation initiatives in finance? 

Even if you weren't the project lead, describe your role and its importance to the project's success.

• Sample answer: "Yes, I played a key role in our company's migration to SAP S/4HANA. I was responsible for leading data migration testing for the Accounts Receivable module, working with IT to define scripts, validate data integrity, and reconcile opening balances to ensure a smooth transition with no disruption to cash flow."

Q: what challenges did you face during the transformation, and how did you overcome them? 

Interviewers want to see that you're a problem-solver who understands the human side of tech adoption.

• Sample answer: "The biggest challenge was user resistance from the team, who were comfortable with the old system. I volunteered to be a 'super user' and project champion, developing and delivering hands-on training that focused on the benefits. By providing clear communication and peer-to-peer support, we turned apprehension into adoption."

the takeaway.

Preparing for an interview  means preparing compelling stories that demonstrate your digital fluency. Audit your recent projects for quantifiable examples and practice articulating your impact. By showcasing your readiness for the future of finance, you’ll prove you’re the right candidate for today.
 

FAQs.