To stand out in the Sikich hiring process, you must prepare to showcase both your technical capabilities and your interpersonal skills. The firm places a high premium on professionals who are not only analytically gifted but also highly collaborative and client-ready.

Role-Related Knowledge – You must demonstrate a solid grasp of accounting principles, financial statement analysis, and auditing concepts. If you are interviewing for a state audit or public sector alignment, familiarize yourself with governmental auditing standards.

Communication & Presence – Because Sikich operates as a professional services firm, your ability to communicate clearly, confidently, and professionally is heavily evaluated. You should be able to explain your previous experience in a structured, engaging manner.

Drive & Professional Development – The firm highly values candidates who are motivated to grow. Be prepared to discuss your career goals, such as sitting for the CPA exam, and how you plan to leverage the firm’s professional development perks.

Culture Fit & Adaptability – Sikich looks for team players who thrive in a conversational, collaborative environment. Show curiosity about the firm’s culture, ask thoughtful questions, and demonstrate an adaptable mindset.

The interview process for a Sikich Financial Analyst is designed to be highly respectful of your time, conversational, and direct. Candidates frequently report positive experiences characterized by transparent communication and a fast-moving timeline. While the process is streamlined, it is structured to ensure multiple stakeholders—including partners and seniors—have the opportunity to evaluate your fit.

The journey typically begins with an initial phone screening led by an internal HR recruiter. This conversation is straightforward and focuses on your background, your interest in the firm, and basic administrative details such as your timeline and salary expectations. Following a successful screen, you will transition to the core interview stages, which are typically conducted via video or in person, depending on the office location and role requirements.

In the subsequent stages, you can expect to meet with a mix of senior analysts, managers, and partners. In some cases, this may involve a single panel interview with two partners, while other tracks might feature a series of shorter consecutive discussions. The dialogue generally centers on your past experiences, behavioral scenarios, and your long-term career aspirations within professional services.

The visual timeline above outlines the typical progression from your initial contact to the final decision. Most candidates experience a highly responsive process that wraps up within a few weeks, though seasonal hiring demands can occasionally introduce minor variations. Use this timeline to pace your preparation, ensuring you are fully ready for the deeper partner-level conversations by the second stage.

To excel at Sikich, you need to understand the key areas where interviewers will focus their evaluation. While the tone of the interviews is conversational, your assessors are systematically looking for specific competencies that align with the demands of client-facing financial advisory work.

Financial Analysis & Analytical Thinking

This area evaluates your baseline technical competency and your ability to work with financial data. You need to prove that you can approach numbers systematically, spot anomalies, and draw meaningful conclusions.

Be ready to go over:

• Financial Statement Analysis – Understanding the relationships between the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement.
• Data Integrity & Quality Control – Techniques for verifying data accuracy and ensuring error-free reporting.
• Excel Proficiency – Your comfort level with advanced formulas, pivot tables, and data manipulation.
• Advanced concepts (less common) – Familiarity with automated audit tools, data visualization software, and basic statistical analysis.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Walk me through how you would audit a specific line item on a balance sheet to ensure its validity."
• "Describe a time when you identified a significant error in a financial report and how you resolved it."

Client-Facing Communication & Collaboration

As a professional services firm, Sikich values consultants who can represent the brand effectively in front of clients. This evaluation area focuses on how well you build relationships, communicate technical findings, and work within a team.

Be ready to go over:

• Active Listening – How you gather requirements and understand client pain points.
• Simplifying Complexity – Translating technical accounting or financial terms into plain language for business stakeholders.
• Conflict Resolution – Navigating disagreements or sensitive financial findings with clients or colleagues.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "How would you handle a situation where a client is slow to provide the financial documentation you need to complete your analysis?"
• "Tell me about a time you had to deliver difficult financial news or audit findings to a project lead."

Career Ambition & CPA Alignment

Sikich invests heavily in the professional growth of its team members. Interviewers want to see that you are highly motivated, eager to learn, and have a clear vision for your career progression within the firm.

Be ready to go over:

• CPA Track Progress – Your current status, timeline, and plan for completing the CPA exam.
• Continuous Learning – How you stay updated on changing accounting standards and financial regulations.
• Firm Contribution – How you plan to contribute to the supportive, collaborative culture at Sikich.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "What is your timeline for sitting for the CPA exam, and how can we best support you in that process?"
• "Where do you see your career in public accounting and financial advisory services over the next three to five years?"