Online assessment for financial professionals

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Monday 22 December 2025

The job market is under pressure worldwide. In many countries, the picture is the same: there are plenty of open roles, while it is difficult to find enough qualified people. This creates a clear talent shortage, especially in positions where knowledge and experience are scarce.

The financial sector feels this strongly as well. Organizations have been looking for strong finance professionals for years, and in many markets vacancies remain open for too long. This slows down growth, increases workload, and makes teams more vulnerable.

One key reason is that finance has become much broader than calculations and bookkeeping. Modern finance professionals work with data, systems, and dashboards, and translate numbers into insights and advice for leadership. At the same time, they must stay accurate and keep up with increasingly strict rules around supervision, privacy, and reporting.

As a result, expectations are high. You need people with deep expertise and a broad skill set, including analytical thinking, prioritizing, communication, and presentation skills. In practice, this also leads to higher dropout rates, because not everyone turns out to be the right fit for the content, pressure, or pace of the role.

High dropout rates

The scarcity is not only due to the high demands. The dropout rate among financial professionals also appears to be high. At accountancy firms in particular, factors such as high workloads, undesirable behavior, and escalating workloads are said to lead to a steep dropout rate. Younger employees especially, who not only work but also pursue additional studies and training, appear to drop out in droves.

Shortage of financial professionals could be fatal

For companies, a shortage of competent financial professionals can be fatal. They operate in every nook and cranny of the business, from credit management to quarterly figures. They can calculate business plans, arrange financing, and ensure that the accountant ultimately issues an unqualified opinion. And, especially important now, finance employees ensure the completion of support and subsidy schemes.

To hire and develop the right people faster, many organizations choose an assessment subscription, so they can assess candidates and employees whenever needed without delays in the process.

In many organizations, finance professionals also work closely with sales. They help translate pipeline and revenue forecasts into solid reporting, and they support commercial decisions with clear insights. That is why some companies also use a sales assessment alongside finance testing, to make sure commercial and financial roles both have the right skills and fit.

Not every finance professional is a good fit

t can be tempting in this market to bring in every financial professional who presents themselves. However, they do not all possess the competencies needed to excel and move your organization forward. The question is: how can you determine if an applicant is the person your company needs?

One practical way is to add an objective assessment step, such as a 4 color personality test, to get clearer insight into someone’s working style, communication preferences, and behavioral strengths. This helps you look beyond a strong CV or a confident interview.

If you don’t have knowledge and experience in finance, it can be difficult to estimate at what level an applicant is operating. The result can be that you hire someone who does exactly the wrong things. You might end up worse off than if you had just left the position vacant.

Online assessment for financial professionals

Your hiring decisions can be greatly simplified by an online assessment developed specifically for finance personnel. TestGroup's online assessment for finance combines a personality test with a cognitive ability test. Because the assessment was designed by a team of scientists and finance professionals, it focuses only on competencies that matter in day-to-day practice. Their real-world input has been translated by the scientists into a valid and reliable questionnaire.

8 core competencies to succeed in finance

The online assessment for finance workers measures eight different competencies, namely:

  • Analytical: Does the candidate see connections or understand the world "behind the numbers"?
  • Flexibility: Is the candidate able to adapt to (sometimes rapidly) changing circumstances?
  • Empathy: Whereas the financial professional used to be a cold-blooded calculator, nowadays they must be able to people on board with their story.
  • Coaching: In order to fulfill the role of a strategic partner, the modern financial professional must support non-finance staff in their decision making.
  • Communication skills: Figures show everything, but a good story (storytelling) says much more.
  • Customer-oriented: The employee must be able to attune themself to the target group.
  • Decision-making skills: They play an important role in decision making, so endless doubt (paralysis by analysis) is undesirable.
  • Planning and organizing

Whereas the PDCA cycle used to be predictable, today, the finance professional must take everything into account.

Online assessments, simple and efficient

Because the financial online assessment is completed online, the applicant can fill out the questionnaire at the time of their choosing. This can be very quick, as the standard questionnaire is available within only 30 minutes of the order completion. Only when you want to extend the assessment can a little more time be needed.

Once the candidate has completed all the questions, the algorithm (AI) goes to work to produce a detailed and thorough report. In it, you will not only see how the candidate scored on the various items, but you will also discover everything about their personality. Compare the reported scores with your job profile and you’ll know exactly to what extent the candidate is a match.

Multiple levels and languages

The online assessment for finance professionals is available in over 20 languages (including German, French and English) and can be taken at the secondary vocational education, higher professional education, or research university education level.

Video: Cognitive ability test for recruitment and employee selection

A cognitive ability test shows how quickly someone thinks, learns, and solves problems at work. The Bridge Ability Suite is widely used by companies, organizations, and public sector employers worldwide.

Use it during hiring to see if a candidate’s thinking level matches the role, or for internal promotion decisions. Available per candidate or via an affordable subscription.

Used by 10,000+ organizations worldwide
Frequently asked questions about an online assessment for financial professionals
  • Why use an online assessment for finance recruitment?

  • Finance roles require accuracy, analytical thinking, and strong communication with non finance stakeholders. An online finance assessment helps you reduce mis hires and make faster, better supported hiring decisions.

  • What does TestGroup’s online assessment for financial professionals include?

  • TestGroup’s online assessment for financial professionals combines a personality test with an ability test. Together, they provide a clear view of both working style and thinking level.

  • Which competencies does the finance assessment measure?

  • The online assessment for finance measures eight core competencies:

    Analytical
    Flexibility
    Empathy
    Coaching
    Communication skills
    Customer orientation
    Decision making
    Planning and organizing

  • How do these competencies relate to day to day finance work?

  • They reflect what finance professionals do in practice: understanding the story behind the numbers, adapting to change, influencing stakeholders, supporting decision making, and keeping work structured under deadlines.

  • How does the online assessment process work with TestGroup?

  • You invite candidates online, they complete the assessment when it suits them, and you receive a clear report afterwards. You can use the results to compare candidates and prepare targeted interview questions.

  • How long does the online finance assessment take?

  • That depends on the setup you choose. You can use a shorter configuration for quick screening or extend it for more depth when hiring for senior roles.

  • How quickly can you start using the assessment?

  • The standard questionnaire can be available shortly after ordering. This makes it practical when you need speed in recruitment.

  • What do you receive after a candidate completes the assessment?

  • You receive a detailed report with results per competency, an overall profile, and practical points to discuss in the interview. This helps you translate test outcomes into hiring decisions.

  • Is the assessment suitable for different finance roles?

  • Yes. It is commonly used for roles such as financial controller, business controller, accountant, finance analyst, credit controller, and finance manager. You can align the focus to the role you are hiring fo

  • Is the online assessment available at different job levels?

  • Yes. The assessment can be used for different job levels, from vocational level roles to bachelor and university level finance positions.

  • Is the online finance assessment available in multiple languages?

  • Yes. TestGroup offers online assessments in more than 20 languages, which is useful for international teams and cross border hiring.

  • Can candidates complete the assessment remotely?

  • Yes. Candidates can complete the online assessment from home or any quiet place, so you do not need a test location or onsite session.

  • How should you use the results in your selection process?

  • Use the report as objective input alongside interviews, experience, and references. The biggest value is asking better follow up questions and checking role fit in a consistent way.

  • Is the online assessment for financial professionals only available to organizations?

  • Yes. TestGroup’s online assessments are designed for companies and organizations, not for private individuals.

  • What is an online assessment for financial professionals?

  • An online assessment for financial professionals is a structured set of tests that helps you predict whether a candidate will perform well in a finance role. It gives objective insights next to the CV and interview.