Accountests

What Accountests does

Accountests is a private, New Zealand-based (Napier) e-commerce company that sells online pre-employment skills and personality assessments purpose-built for the accounting and bookkeeping profession. Its product portfolio spans more than 30 tests organized into four collections: Client Accounting/Bookkeeping (Bookkeeper, Staff Accountant, Virtual Controller, Virtual CFO, QuickBooks Online Beginner/Intermediate, Client Accounting Manager CPA/Non-CPA), Tax & Audit (Tax Associate, Senior Tax Associate, Audit Senior/Manager, Business Tax, Individual Tax, S-Corps, Partnerships, Sales Tax), Corporate/SME Business (Controllers and CFOs CPA/Non-CPA, Corporate Staff Accountant, Financial Analyst, Cost Accountant), and Training & Development (APPQ Train & Develop, Pathway to Partnership, Teams). The proprietary APPQ (Accountants Personality Profile Questionnaire) is positioned as the first personality assessment specifically designed for accounting roles, blending Big-5/OCEAN measures with accounting-specific behaviors.

The platform is delivered through a cloud-based testing environment (app.evolveassess.com) with candidate links distributed via email. All tests are AI-proctored via webcam for integrity, and scoring combines competency framework benchmarking (Levels 1-3) with norm-referenced percentile comparisons against pools of qualified accountants and bookkeepers. Pricing is a mix of one-off test purchases ($45-$325 per test depending on type), monthly subscriptions offering 52.5%-87.5% volume discounts, bulk gift cards ($2,200 for a $2,750 face value), and 20% campaign refunds on $1,250+ purchases within 30 days.

Accountests serves primarily public accounting firms and corporate/SME employers across the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand, with a global site for other markets. Distribution combines direct e-commerce with a small sales overlay for enterprise accounts and channel partnerships through CPAmerica (joined March 2025), BDO Alliance, Alliott Global, and a co-marketing/training relationship with Royalwise for QuickBooks content. The team is small (1-10 employees) and the company is independently owned with no disclosed venture funding beyond a small 2014 Callaghan Innovation grant.

Name

Accountests

Legal name

Accountests LLC

Website

https://accountests.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Accountests is a private New Zealand-based company selling 30+ online pre-employment skills and personality assessments purpose-built for hiring accountants and bookkeepers, distributed via direct e-commerce and CPA network partnerships across the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pre-employment Skills Assessment

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Test Item Banks, Question Authoring & Assessment Design Tools (EDAFADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Assessment Platforms & Computer-Based Testing Authorities (EDADAFAK), Assessment Item Banks, Question Authoring & Test Development Content (EDAGADAG)

Keywords

• Pre-employment skills testing
• Accounting assessments
• Personality profiling software
• AI proctored testing
• Hiring assessment platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Napier

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Test Sales: Single test purchases where customers buy individual assessments on a per-candidate basis. Tests cover specific roles such as Bookkeeper, Staff Accountant, Tax Associate, etc. Prices range from approximately $45 to $325 depending on the test type.
2. Subscription Plans: Monthly subscription providing access to substantial testing discounts starting at 52.5% and increasing up to 87.5% off regular pricing. Designed for customers using more than 20 full-priced tests per year.
3. Bulk Purchase Gift Cards: Advance purchase option where customers buy gift cards with face value of $2,750 for $2,200. Gift cards can be used anytime for any tests with no expiry date.
4. One-Off Hiring Campaign Discount: 20% refund on purchases of at least $1,250 of testing within a 30-day period for specific hiring campaigns. Cannot be combined with other discounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Accountests sells an online library of pre-employment skills, ability, and personality assessments purpose-built for the accounting and bookkeeping profession. Customers (primarily public accounting firms and corporate accounting teams) purchase individual test licenses, subscriptions, or bulk packs to objectively validate the technical competency of candidates for roles ranging from bookkeepers and staff accountants to controllers, CFOs, tax associates, and audit seniors. The assessments are AI-proctored, norm-referenced, competency-benchmarked, and updated annually to reflect country-specific regulations across the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and global markets.

Product overview

Accountests offers a comprehensive suite of pre-employment skills and personality assessment tests specifically designed for the accounting and bookkeeping profession. The portfolio includes over 30 distinct products organized into four main categories: Client Accounting/Bookkeeping tests (covering roles from bookkeepers to CFOs), Tax & Audit tests (from associates to managers), Corporate/SME tests (for controllers, financial analysts, and cost accountants), and Ability/Personality tests (including Critical Reasoning and the APPQ personality assessment system). Tests are designed at competency levels 1-3 and include both norm-referenced and competency-based scoring. The APPQ (Accountants Personality Profile Questionnaire) is a proprietary assessment based on Big-5/OCEAN measures specifically adapted for accounting roles, offered in Hire & Onboard, Train & Develop, Pathway to Partnership, and Teams modules. All tests are AI-proctored via webcam for integrity and include comprehensive reporting with topic/difficulty breakdowns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• APPQ (Accountants Personality Profile Questionnaire): The first personality assessment designed specifically for accounting and bookkeeping roles, blending Big-5/OCEAN measures with behaviors essential to success in accounting businesses. Includes modules for Hire & Onboard, Train & Develop, Pathway to Partnership, and Team Building.

Products and services

• Bookkeeper Test Skills assessment for hiring bookkeepers covering competency Levels 1–3 in Processing & Journals, Accounting Concepts, Business Support, and Tax Related Issues & Payroll. For employers evaluating bookkeeping candidates.
• Bookkeeper Test (Spanish) Spanish-language version of the Bookkeeper Test for candidates whose primary language is Spanish; reports delivered in English to US employers.
• Nonprofit Bookkeeper Test Specialized bookkeeper test for nonprofits focused on 501(c)(3) organizations, covering Processing & Journals, Accounting Concepts, and Management Support for nonprofit contexts.
• Staff Accountant Test (Public Accounting) Skills assessment for hiring staff accountants in public accounting firms, covering Double Entry Accounting, Practical Application of Accounting, Financial Statement Review, and Accounting Concepts.
• Virtual Controller in Public Accounting Test Assessment for hiring virtual controllers in public accounting firms, covering Double Entry Accounting, Financial Reporting, Business Advisory & Analysis, and Budgeting & Forecasting.
• Virtual CFO in Public Accounting Test Assessment for hiring virtual CFOs for public accounting firms (CPA licensed), covering Financial Reporting (US GAAP), Core Accounting, Business Advisory & Analysis, and Budgeting & Forecasting.
• QuickBooks Online Beginner Test Beginner-level QuickBooks Online proficiency assessment covering Banking & Reconciling, Chart of Accounts & Reports, Customers & Accounts Receivable, and Vendors & Accounts Payable.
• QuickBooks Online Intermediate Test Intermediate-level QuickBooks Online proficiency assessment covering Sales Tax & Payroll, QBOA, Year End, Clean Up, and Tricky Situations.
• Client Accounting Manager (CPA) Test Assessment for hiring CPA-level roles in public accounting firms at manager level and above, covering Accounting, Financial Reporting, Federal Taxation, Business Advisory & Analysis, and Business Growth & Forecasting.
• Client Accounting Manager (Non-CPA) Test Assessment for hiring Non-CPA accountants in public accounting firms as Client Accounting Managers, covering Financial Reporting, Double Entry Accounting, Federal Taxation, and Business Advisory & Analysis.
• Debits and Credits Accounting Test Fast (20 questions / 15 minutes) assessment of double entry accounting basics, covering Simple Journals, Complex Journals, Financial Statements, and Transactions.
• Tax Associate Test Assessment for hiring tax associates covering Income (Gains & Losses), Deductions, Credits, Calculations, Basis, and Tax Levied.
• Senior Tax Associate Test Assessment for hiring senior tax associates (3–4 years' experience), covering Deductions and Credits, Entities and Basis, Income Gains & Losses, and Returns and Calculations.
• Audit Senior / Audit Manager Test Assessment for hiring audit seniors and managers in public accounting firms, covering Transactional Accounting, Financial Reporting Standards (US GAAP), Analytical Review/Interpretation, and Auditing Standards.
• Business Tax Test Assessment for hiring tax preparers and managers covering Entities & Basis, Deductions & Credits, Income Gains & Losses, and Returns & Calculations at Level 1–3 competency.
• Individual Tax Test Assessment for hiring tax professionals preparing individual tax returns (1040s and Schedules), covering Income Gains & Losses, Deductions, Credit & Basis, and tax return requirements.
• S Corporations Tax Test Specialized assessment for senior tax associate roles focused on S-Corporation tax issues, covering S-Corp elections, tax returns, and Pass Through Entity issues.
• Partnerships Tax Test Specialized assessment for senior tax associate roles focused on Partnership tax issues, covering Partnership structure implications, tax returns, and Pass Through Entity issues.
• Sales Tax Test - Senior Assessment for roles requiring preparation or review of Sales Tax returns, covering both Preparer and Reviewer competency levels.
• Intern and College Graduate Hiring Test Fast assessment for intern and college graduate accountant positions, evaluating basic double entry accounting knowledge, creating/interpreting journals, accounting concepts, and business knowledge.
• Controllers & CFOs (CPA) Test Assessment for hiring CPA accountants in corporate/private organizations such as VP of Accounting, Controller, or Company Accountant, covering Financial Reporting, Core Accounting, Business Advisory & Analysis, and Budgeting & Forecasting.
• Controllers & CFOs (Non-CPA) Test Assessment for hiring non-CPA accountants in corporate/private organizations for Controller, Staff Accountant, or Accounting Manager roles, covering Double Entry, Accounting and Financial Reporting, Analysis and Advisory, and Budgeting and Forecasting.
• Corporate Staff Accountant Test Assessment for hiring corporate staff accountants covering Double Entry Accounting, Practical Application of Accounting, Financial Statement Review, and Accounting Concepts in a corporate (non-public-accounting) context.
• Financial Analyst Test Assessment for hiring financial analysts, FP&A analysts, and Finance Business Partners, covering Budgeting & Forecasting, Organizational Financial Health, Decision Support, and Capital Budgeting & Capital Projects.
• Cost Accountant Test Assessment for hiring cost accountants covering Variances (identifying, calculating, and interpreting production variances), Implementation (costing methods), Practical Issues, and Accounting (US GAAP).
• Checking Ability Test Ability test for bookkeepers and admin support roles that assesses accuracy in repetitive data-entry and quality checking tasks; designed for volume hiring at the start of the selection process.
• Critical Reasoning Ability Test Comprehensive ability test suite including Critical Numerical Reasoning, Critical Verbal Reasoning, and Abstract Reasoning, applicable to accountants, managers, and graduates. Designed to evaluate Human-in-the-Loop reasoning over AI-generated outputs.
• Bookkeeper and Admin Ability Test General reasoning test for administrative and bookkeeping jobs, including Numerical Reasoning and a Checking Test component.
• APPQ Hire & Onboard (Personality Profile) Personality assessment built specifically for accounting and bookkeeping hiring and onboarding, delivering industry-specific reports, interview questions, and training/coaching priorities for new hires.
• APPQ Train & Develop (Personality Profile) Personality assessment for existing staff focused on personal and professional development, identifying traits that could enable or derail long-term career goals.
• APPQ Pathway to Partnership (Personality Profile) Personality assessment comparing test-takers with traits associated with success among partners and senior managers, identifying development gaps and steps for aspiring leaders.
• APPQ Teams (Personality Profile) Team development solution that combines individual APPQ profiles into consolidated team reports with facilitated feedback sessions covering strengths, risks, blind spots, and development priorities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Estimated cost of recovering from a bad hire is 50% - 200% of annual salary of the job
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CPAmericacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 March 2025Accountests joined CPAmerica in March 2025, gaining distribution through CPAmerica's network of member CPA firms. CPAmerica is a member of Crowe Global, providing access to hundreds of accounting firms within the international network. Member firm Sol Schwartz & Associates is explicitly mentioned as part of this network.
• BDO AlliancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with BDO Alliance provides distribution through member firms. Multiple clients are identified as BDO Alliance members including Lombardo Ayers & Company, LLC and L&H CPAs and Advisors. The alliance connects Accountests with BDO's extensive network of accounting firms.
• RoyalwisecoreTechnology or IntegrationRoyalwise developed the QuickBooks Online Beginner Test and QuickBooks Online Intermediate Test for Accountests. Royalwise is described as leading experts in QuickBooks training and development. If testing shows candidates could benefit from skills development, Accountests recommends Royalwise for training to help decide what training will work best.
• Alliott GlobalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational accounting alliance. Bowman & Company LLP, a client of Accountests, is identified as a member of Alliott Global. This connection provides potential distribution through the international network of member firms.
• EarmarkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEarmark has hosted multiple Accountests webinars including 'Enhancing Your Hiring Process', 'Personality Profiling to Maximize Hiring and Team Development', and 'Leveraging Testing for Better Decisions'. Earmark is an accounting industry platform that facilitates educational content for accounting professionals.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• eSkill: Skills-based pre-employment testing platform offering role-specific assessments delivered to employers. Closely comparable to Accountests on business model (online skills tests sold to hiring managers), use of AI proctoring, and per-test or subscription pricing — though without Accountests' deep vertical specialization in accounting.
• TestGorilla: Pre-hire skills assessment marketplace with hundreds of tests for various roles. Shares the same direct-to-hiring-manager, pay-per-test or subscription model as Accountests and uses similar anti-cheating technology; Accountests differentiates via vertical depth in accounting and the APPQ personality layer.
• Mettl (Mercer Mettl): Online skills and psychometric assessment platform serving enterprises for hiring and certification, owned by Mercer. Comparable on the cloud-based, role-specific, AI-proctored assessment model and the mix of skill + personality products.
• iMocha: AI-powered skills testing and skills intelligence platform with role-based assessments and proctoring for hiring. Overlaps Accountests on skill-test delivery, AI proctoring (webcam-based cheating detection), and analytics reporting to enterprise employers.

Broad incumbents

• Criteria Corp: Long-standing psychometric and skills testing provider (e.g., CCAT, Cognify) used by employers for candidate screening. Overlaps Accountests on cognitive/personality testing but operates as a broad incumbent across industries rather than concentrated on accounting.
• Korn Ferry (SHL, Kudos): Global talent management giant with the SHL/Kudos assessment portfolios, offering pre-employment psychometric and skills testing. Comparable on the competency-based, norm-referenced assessment methodology, but at vastly larger scale and across many industries.
• Aon Assessment Solutions: Enterprise assessment practice within Aon, delivering psychometric, situational judgement, and skills tests for large employers. Overlaps with Accountests' competency-based, norm-referenced methodology and ability/personality testing stack, but at much larger enterprise scale.

Emerging players

• Bryq: Talent assessment vendor combining cognitive and personality testing for pre-hire screening, with integrations into ATS platforms. Comparable in combining personality profiling with skill-based testing for SMB/mid-market employers.
• Pymetrics: Assessment platform using behavioral and cognitive tasks plus AI to recommend candidates. Shares with Accountests the focus on personality/behavior plus role-fit outputs, though Pymetrics emphasizes neuroscience-based games rather than profession-specific technical tests.
• Testlify: AI-powered skills assessment platform for pre-employment testing with role-specific test libraries and proctoring. Comparable to Accountests on the AI-proctored, role-based, e-commerce-style test catalog sold directly to hiring teams.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/accountests1
• Facebookfacebook.com/accountestsltd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/accountests/?viewAsMember=true

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Accountests