Danish Refugee Council interview questions

It was quite engaging. It felt a lot more like a discussion rather than an actual interview. I would have to say however that it can have some generic question that does feel like a text is being read, but overall pretty good experience

1. Taxation Can you explain the types of taxes applicable to NGOs in Afghanistan, such as income tax, business receipts tax (BRT), and withholding tax? How do you ensure compliance with Afghanistan’s tax regulations in a project? What steps would you take if a project is audited by the Ministry of Finance for tax purposes? Scenario: The tax authority notifies you of missing tax payment for your project. How do you handle this? 2. Financial Reporting What are the key financial statements prepared by an NGO, and how often should they be submitted? How do you ensure accuracy and completeness in monthly and quarterly financial reports? Explain the difference between cash-based and accrual-based financial reporting. Which method is used in DRC projects? Scenario: You notice a discrepancy between the ledger and the bank statement at month-end. How do you resolve it? 3. Accounting Process Can you walk me through the accounting cycle from transaction recording to financial reporting? How do you handle advance payments, prepayments, and accruals in the accounting system? What accounting software have you used, and how comfortable are you in using it for donor-funded projects? Scenario: A staff member requests reimbursement for expenses without submitting receipts. What is your approach? 4. Internal Control What are the key internal controls that should be implemented in an NGO to prevent fraud? How do you ensure segregation of duties in finance operations? Can you give an example of a situation where internal controls helped prevent a financial error or fraud? Scenario: You identify a violation of internal control in the office. What actions would you take? 5. Cash Management How do you manage petty cash and ensure proper documentation? What steps do you take to ensure project cash is safeguarded and disbursed properly? How do you reconcile cash advances with actual expenditures? Scenario: The cash available in the office does not match the records. What process do you follow to identify the discrepancy? 6. Document Review What are the key documents you review before approving a payment? How do you ensure that all supporting documents comply with donor and organizational policies? Can you describe the process of filing and maintaining financial documents for audit purposes? Scenario: A project expense lacks proper supporting documentation. How do you handle it?