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Accountant Staff Selector
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Date
introduced: 2001 |
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Administration
time: 1 hour |
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Booklet version available, Internet version coming soon |
Purpose
To evaluate the administrative and intellectual skills necessary for successful performance as
an Accountant.
General
description
The
test, from which a four-page report is provided to the client, consists of
instruments measuring the following:
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numerical
skills
|
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attention
to detail
|
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problem
solving and logic ability
|
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reading
comprehension
|
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spreadsheet
simulation
|
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verbal
fluency
|
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bookkeeping
skills
|
Job
criteria measured
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Facility
with numbers, files codes, symbols and simple arithmetic
|
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Attention
to detail with words, numbers and symbols
|
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Ability
to problem solve, conceptualize, foresee and plan
|
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Ability
to read and understand the English language
|
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Ability
to use a spreadsheet
|
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Ability
to think of words rapidly, to write, or talk without searching for the right
word
|
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Basic
mathematical skills
|
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Ability
to analyze rules
|
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Ability
to determine specific relationships
|
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Ability
to sort data
|
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Ability
to work with symbols when solving problems
|
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Familiarity
with basic bookkeeping materials and problems.
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Positions
for which the test is appropriate
This test is used to pre-screen job
applicants and in-house personnel in the following positions:
 | Junior Accountant |
 | Accountant |
Test
administration
The
test requires only clerical supervision to administer and takes 66 minutes to
complete. Each section should be administered separately and timed precisely.
Section 7 is optional, depending on the job description. Candidates should be
given the tests in a relatively quiet environment. More than one person can be
tested at one time. It is important that the timed tests be timed to the second.
Sample
question (segment)
Calculate the following:
4 × 8 × 2 = _______
189 + 981 - 819 = _______
Indicate the next one in the series in the
answer space provided:
120
135 150 165
_______
CAB CCD CEF CGH _______
A
six-year-old boy was so talented that he surprised many critics.
In all of his paintings, he left the top half empty. A
psychiatrist was called to discover why. After he had asked the
boy many questions, he was still dissatisfied. Finally, he asked
the boy why he left the top half of the canvas unpainted. The
little boy answered right away, ''I can't reach that far''.
The
little boy surprised people because:
a.
he was talented
b.
he didn't finish his paintings
c.
he needed a psychiatrist
Sample Candidate Evaluation Report
Click here to view a sample detailed evaluation report.
Evaluation
The overall rating
is based on scores according to the following table:
| Score |
Overall Rating |
Likelihood for
Success |
| 80
– 100% |
SUPERIOR |
Candidate
strongly demonstrates the skills needed to succeed as an
Accountant. |
| 70 -
79% |
GOOD |
Candidate
will likely be an above average performer
as an Accountant. |
| 60
- 69% |
MODERATE |
Candidate
only moderately displays the skills
needed to be successful as an Accountant. |
| 59%
or Less |
LOW |
Candidate
will likely be a below average performer
as an Accountant. |
Validation Information
August 1998:
The Accountant must accomplish eleven tasks to successfully perform
his/her job responsibilities. A total of 34 traits were judged to be essential
to accomplishing these tasks. Of
these 34 traits, 20 are assessed by one or more questions in the Walden
Accountant Staff Selector. Thus, a significant portion (58.8%) of the intended
domain is assessed by the Accountant Staff Selector. As well, if the relative
importance of the essential traits tested, to the ''weighted'' importance of the
task, is considered - the overlap percentage improves to 63.97%.
Given
the demonstrated relationship between the abilities and traits required to
perform the eleven key tasks of the Accountant job, and those measured by the
Accountant Staff Selector, the test represents a content valid evaluation device
for that job.
Languages
published
 | English |
 | French |
|