How to stand out and navigate interviews for leadership roles in finance, accounting, and operations.
The Manager-level job market in 2025 is more candidate-driven than ever.
- GMAC 2024 Application Trends Survey shows 10% decline over the last five years in MBA and Graduate business program enrollments.
- SHRM Workforce Report states over 25% of current U.S. executive are eligible for retirement in 2026.
- Gem 2025 Benchmarking Report says time-to-fill for leadership roles has increased 15-20% since 2021.
- ManpowerGroup Talent Shortage Survey expresses 72% of employers report difficulty with hiring mid-to-senior level managers —up from 67% in 2023.
Shortages in critical management-level functions and longer fill times are shifting the market from employer-driven to candidate-driven. However, this does not make it easier to secure that mid or senior level management role you are looking for. Whether you’re actively seeking or passively open, mastering your interview approach will set you apart. In this blog, we’ll cover research and preparation, specific tactics for each domain, and best practices for salary negotiations.
1. Research & Preparation: Laying the Foundation
Before you say “hello” in your first interview, immerse yourself in the company’s mission, culture and recent news. Spend time on the corporate website, glassdoor reviews, and LinkedIn pages to understand how the organization presents itself as an employer. As recruiting experts, we stress that thorough research can turn a basic conversation into an insightful dialogue about the company’s challenges and your fit within the leadership team. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll build confidence and ask the pointed questions that executives admire. Preparing questions through your research is only half the battle. Make sure your mind is at its best, as the questions you ask show the interviewer how much you understand, how detailed you are, what’s important to you and in many cases, your interest level.
2. Mastering Structured Interview Frameworks
Behavioral questions— “Tell me about a time when…”—dominate management level interviews, so use proven frameworks like STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) or ERH (Example, Result, Hindsight) to keep your answers clear and concise. Start by briefly outlining the situation and the task you faced, spend most of your time on the action you took, and wrap up with quantifiable results. A well-structured response not only demonstrates strong communication, leadership and decision-making skills, but it also shows respect for the interviewer’s time.
- Use STAR to highlight complex problem-solving (e.g., how you drove financial turnaround at year-end).
- Leverage ERH when reflecting on lessons learned in operational or sales setbacks.
These methods are great for answering questions around your ability to manage employees and processes.
3. Accounting & Finance Interview Tactics
Be ready to speak to technical proficiencies—GAAP, internal controls, financial forecasting—and to discuss how you’ve leveraged tools like AI or automation to speed up month-end close cycles, reporting and/or solve efficiency problems. Examples need quantitative information not just dialogue. It could be to share a concrete example of reducing the Month End Close by 2 days, saving over $100K in resources, or improving audit compliance through enhanced risk-assessment protocols.
4. Operations & Sales: Best Practices for Management Roles
Operations and sales leaders must blend strategy with execution. Discuss how you used data analytics and real-time dashboards to optimize supply-chain performance or the sales pipeline health. Practice and use storytelling to convey the impact of a bold process change, like reconfiguring a global sales team structure that increased territory coverage by 30% or refining processes with AI to increase the quality of lead generation. Keep the narrative tight and to the point: set the scene, highlight your unique role, and close with a quantitative measurable. These are the types of examples that really resonate in operations and sales manager interviews.
5. Acing Phone & Video Interviews
Virtual interview tips are everywhere — but knowing which ones actually help you make a strong, lasting impression can give you an edge. First and foremost, remember to smile. Whether interviewing over the phone or video an occasional smile can go a long way and in phone interviews will likely show in your tone of voice. Digital interviewing tools are now ubiquitous, so be familiar with platforms like Zoom or Teams. Ensure your background is tidy and test your audio/video well before the call. Speak clearly, maintain eye contact with the camera, and use hand gestures sparingly to reinforce key points. Between rounds, send short thank-you emails that reaffirm your interest and briefly touch on what excites you most about the opportunity.
6. Salary Negotiation & Passive Candidate Engagement
Discussing salary expectations in interviews is a crucial part of the job search process, especially for finance and operations professionals navigating today’s competitive market. Even in passive searches, you will need to discuss compensation, and the most efficient way is to discuss in the first conversation. Research market rates and be prepared to articulate your value proposition. Use this information with where you are currently at and where you want to be. There are arguments for and against sharing your current compensation. However, in our experience, being transparent about both your current salary and future goals helps build trust, establishes your value, and ensures alignment early in the process — saving time for both you and the interviewer.
Conclusion
Manager-level interviews are won through meticulous preparation, data-backed storytelling, and the trust you build throughout the process. Whether you’re interviewing for a leadership role in finance, operations, accounting, or sales, success comes down to doing your research and clearly articulating your impact. By leveraging proven frameworks like STAR or ERH and demonstrating your leadership potential with confidence, you’ll leave a lasting impression — and move one step closer to landing the role.
