Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Invoice Processing • Bank Feed • Real Accounts

Debits

Term from Bookkeeping industry explained for recruiters

Debits are one of the fundamental concepts in bookkeeping and accounting. Think of them as the left side of any financial transaction - when money or value comes into or is used by a business. For example, when a company buys office supplies, the office supplies account is "debited" to show an increase in assets. Debits always pair with credits (the right side) to keep the books balanced. It's like a seesaw - for every debit there must be a credit. Bookkeepers and accountants use debits and credits daily to record all business transactions accurately.

Examples in Resumes

Managed daily Debit and credit entries for a retail business with over 500 monthly transactions

Reconciled Debits across multiple company accounts using QuickBooks

Trained junior staff on proper Debit entry procedures and account balancing

Typical job title: "Bookkeepers"

Also try searching for:

Accountant Bookkeeper Accounting Clerk Accounts Assistant Financial clerk Junior Accountant Account Specialist

Where to Find Bookkeepers

Professional Organizations

Online Communities

Job Boards

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you explain the difference between debits and credits to a new employee?

Expected Answer: A senior bookkeeper should be able to explain in simple terms that debits increase assets and expenses but decrease liabilities and income, while credits do the opposite. They should provide clear examples from daily business operations.

Q: Can you describe a time when you found and corrected a significant debit/credit error?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and understanding of how errors impact financial statements. Should explain their process for finding and fixing mistakes.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What's your process for recording and tracking debit transactions?

Expected Answer: Should explain their systematic approach to recording debits, including checking source documents, using accounting software, and ensuring transactions are properly categorized and balanced.

Q: How do you handle reconciling debit discrepancies?

Expected Answer: Should describe their methodology for finding differences, tracking down source documents, and working with others to resolve issues. Should mention the importance of documentation.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What types of accounts normally have debit balances?

Expected Answer: Should know that assets and expenses typically have debit balances, and be able to give basic examples like cash, inventory, and office supplies.

Q: How do you ensure accuracy when recording debit entries?

Expected Answer: Should mention double-checking numbers, verifying source documents, using accounting software properly, and asking for help when unsure.