Finance Interview Prep Questions and
answers
Tell me about yourself. - correct answer-I'm from Norwood, MA about 25-30 mins south of
BC where I'm currently a Senior in The Carroll school of management co-concentrating in
finance and information systems. I first got my feet wet in the professional arena during my
two year stint as a summer intern at Hollingsworth & Vose, a paper mill company about five
minutes away from home. My first year at Hollingsworth & Vose exposed me to my first
experience of working on a team in a professional environment and I came to love it along
with the camaraderie it formed amongst coworkers which is why I was so excited to return
for a second summer. My two years at Hollingsworth & Vose definitely taught me the rigor
and value of hard work but I really wanted to do something more fast paced and geared
towards my personality. At the beginning of my sophomore year I began working as a
student assistant in both the Campus Ministry and Dean of Students office. Even though it is
difficult to balance my heavy course load as well as working two jobs I've really enjoyed
working as Student Assistant because it is the first time I was able to work with customers,
manage inventory, and reconcile weekly revenue and transactions from the masses during
the weekend. Ultimately, through working as Student Assistant I was able to grow my skills
managing business operations. I really wanted to pursue my interest in finance and to
actually use what I was learning in school which is why I worked at John Hancock this past
summer as a Business Analyst. Working at John Hancock my passion for finance really
flourished, having the ability to work with the Sales, Reporting, and Finance teams to support
them in their day to day tasks, as well as using a myriad of technologies and databases to
analyze data and define user stories within each team. My hands on use of various
technologies as well as pr
Why do you want to work at Duff & Phelps? - correct answer-...
Why are you interested in this position? - correct answer-After talking to a number of people
in the industry, as well as the (company) campus recruiters at the career fair I find two
aspects of this job especially attractive. Primarily, I see it as an incredible learning
experience. I understand that it would not be uncommon to have to work late to meet
necessary deadlines, although this may turn some candidates away I know that in doing so I
can gain three or four years of work experience in only two years. Through my day to day
tasks I will learn a great deal in a fast paced environment and this job will prepare me for
anything I decide to do for the rest of my life. Additionally, I expect to thrive in an
environment where I am rewarded for my performance, rather than for just showing up. I
look forward to having the chance to take on responsibility at an entry level and prove my
value through the quality of my work. I know this job can be extremely difficult both physically
and mentally, but I am ready for the challenge.
Why not (competitor)? - correct answer-The thing that separates (company) from
(competitor) in my mind is size. While there is nothing wrong with working at a firm of that
size, it isn't the kind of environment where I feel I fit best. I prefer your smaller, close-knit
deal teams where everyone knows one another and works effectively together. I hope this
, will allow me to gain a lot of experience learning from my superiors on deals, rather than
being one of 15 analysts staffed on a deal where my managing director doesn't know my
name.
What do you know about Duff & Phelps? - correct answer-NEEDS WORK
I have actually done a lot of research on (company). It was founded by William Duff and
George Phelps in Chicago in 1932. While you are a smaller firm with only 3,500 employees,
you maintain a strong global presence.
What do you think you would be doing on a day-to-day basis as an analyst? - correct
answer-Well, I have done a lot of research, and spoke with numerous alumni contacts that I
worked closely with at John Hancock this summer. Given my research my understanding is
that I will be responsible on a day-to-day basis for a lot of financial modeling, comparable
company analysis and precedent transaction analysis in Excel. Preparing pitch books and
other PowerPoint presentations for clients, and any other grunt work the firm needs. I know I
can expect to be the first one in and the last one out of the office. I know what I am signing
up for, and will make sure everything that is asked of me is done perfectly.
What are your strengths? - correct answer-One of my strengths is my strong work ethic.
When I commit to a deadline, I do whatever it takes to deliver. In my final week with John
Hancock this summer, a project which involved the construction of an asset inventory for the
Enterprise Operations team was assigned to me. Despite the fact that the timeline for the
project was 2-3 weeks I agreed to tackle it. I worked late every night that week to finish the
project because I knew if I hadn't finished it they would have to start from scratch. I
completed the inventory in time and the Enterprise Operations team was extremely pleased
with my work.
What are your weaknesses? - correct answer-In the past, I found myself taking on too much
of the responsibility in team situations because I haven't trusted others to produce work I
would be comfortable with. Over the past few semesters, I have worked on allowing others
to do their fair share, but also encouraging multiple drafts so we can all review the work
before the final submission. I am also learning to listen more and not be so controlling. I am
confident this will be especially valuable in finance where I will be surrounded by others who
have the same drive and high standards I have.
Where do you see yourself in five years? - correct answer-My goal right now is to find a
position at a company where I can continue to grow and take on new challenges over time.
Ultimately, I'd like to take on more management responsibilities and get involved in product
strategy. But most importantly, I want to work for an organization where I can build a career.
Why would we hire you (with no finance experience)? - correct answer-While I may not have
direct finance experience, I know that almost everything is learned on the job. Despite
having little experience, the important thing is that I have the intangibles that will allow me to
be successful. I am incredibly hard working and dedicated, which is something I developed
in my time as an athlete, and I have the intellectual ability to perform this job at a high level.
As I mentioned in my cover letter through competing at the national level in lacrosse I know
what it is like to work hard, be disciplined, and put everything on the line in order to succeed.
Similarly, having also experienced losses in sports, I know what it is like to face failure and
answers
Tell me about yourself. - correct answer-I'm from Norwood, MA about 25-30 mins south of
BC where I'm currently a Senior in The Carroll school of management co-concentrating in
finance and information systems. I first got my feet wet in the professional arena during my
two year stint as a summer intern at Hollingsworth & Vose, a paper mill company about five
minutes away from home. My first year at Hollingsworth & Vose exposed me to my first
experience of working on a team in a professional environment and I came to love it along
with the camaraderie it formed amongst coworkers which is why I was so excited to return
for a second summer. My two years at Hollingsworth & Vose definitely taught me the rigor
and value of hard work but I really wanted to do something more fast paced and geared
towards my personality. At the beginning of my sophomore year I began working as a
student assistant in both the Campus Ministry and Dean of Students office. Even though it is
difficult to balance my heavy course load as well as working two jobs I've really enjoyed
working as Student Assistant because it is the first time I was able to work with customers,
manage inventory, and reconcile weekly revenue and transactions from the masses during
the weekend. Ultimately, through working as Student Assistant I was able to grow my skills
managing business operations. I really wanted to pursue my interest in finance and to
actually use what I was learning in school which is why I worked at John Hancock this past
summer as a Business Analyst. Working at John Hancock my passion for finance really
flourished, having the ability to work with the Sales, Reporting, and Finance teams to support
them in their day to day tasks, as well as using a myriad of technologies and databases to
analyze data and define user stories within each team. My hands on use of various
technologies as well as pr
Why do you want to work at Duff & Phelps? - correct answer-...
Why are you interested in this position? - correct answer-After talking to a number of people
in the industry, as well as the (company) campus recruiters at the career fair I find two
aspects of this job especially attractive. Primarily, I see it as an incredible learning
experience. I understand that it would not be uncommon to have to work late to meet
necessary deadlines, although this may turn some candidates away I know that in doing so I
can gain three or four years of work experience in only two years. Through my day to day
tasks I will learn a great deal in a fast paced environment and this job will prepare me for
anything I decide to do for the rest of my life. Additionally, I expect to thrive in an
environment where I am rewarded for my performance, rather than for just showing up. I
look forward to having the chance to take on responsibility at an entry level and prove my
value through the quality of my work. I know this job can be extremely difficult both physically
and mentally, but I am ready for the challenge.
Why not (competitor)? - correct answer-The thing that separates (company) from
(competitor) in my mind is size. While there is nothing wrong with working at a firm of that
size, it isn't the kind of environment where I feel I fit best. I prefer your smaller, close-knit
deal teams where everyone knows one another and works effectively together. I hope this
, will allow me to gain a lot of experience learning from my superiors on deals, rather than
being one of 15 analysts staffed on a deal where my managing director doesn't know my
name.
What do you know about Duff & Phelps? - correct answer-NEEDS WORK
I have actually done a lot of research on (company). It was founded by William Duff and
George Phelps in Chicago in 1932. While you are a smaller firm with only 3,500 employees,
you maintain a strong global presence.
What do you think you would be doing on a day-to-day basis as an analyst? - correct
answer-Well, I have done a lot of research, and spoke with numerous alumni contacts that I
worked closely with at John Hancock this summer. Given my research my understanding is
that I will be responsible on a day-to-day basis for a lot of financial modeling, comparable
company analysis and precedent transaction analysis in Excel. Preparing pitch books and
other PowerPoint presentations for clients, and any other grunt work the firm needs. I know I
can expect to be the first one in and the last one out of the office. I know what I am signing
up for, and will make sure everything that is asked of me is done perfectly.
What are your strengths? - correct answer-One of my strengths is my strong work ethic.
When I commit to a deadline, I do whatever it takes to deliver. In my final week with John
Hancock this summer, a project which involved the construction of an asset inventory for the
Enterprise Operations team was assigned to me. Despite the fact that the timeline for the
project was 2-3 weeks I agreed to tackle it. I worked late every night that week to finish the
project because I knew if I hadn't finished it they would have to start from scratch. I
completed the inventory in time and the Enterprise Operations team was extremely pleased
with my work.
What are your weaknesses? - correct answer-In the past, I found myself taking on too much
of the responsibility in team situations because I haven't trusted others to produce work I
would be comfortable with. Over the past few semesters, I have worked on allowing others
to do their fair share, but also encouraging multiple drafts so we can all review the work
before the final submission. I am also learning to listen more and not be so controlling. I am
confident this will be especially valuable in finance where I will be surrounded by others who
have the same drive and high standards I have.
Where do you see yourself in five years? - correct answer-My goal right now is to find a
position at a company where I can continue to grow and take on new challenges over time.
Ultimately, I'd like to take on more management responsibilities and get involved in product
strategy. But most importantly, I want to work for an organization where I can build a career.
Why would we hire you (with no finance experience)? - correct answer-While I may not have
direct finance experience, I know that almost everything is learned on the job. Despite
having little experience, the important thing is that I have the intangibles that will allow me to
be successful. I am incredibly hard working and dedicated, which is something I developed
in my time as an athlete, and I have the intellectual ability to perform this job at a high level.
As I mentioned in my cover letter through competing at the national level in lacrosse I know
what it is like to work hard, be disciplined, and put everything on the line in order to succeed.
Similarly, having also experienced losses in sports, I know what it is like to face failure and
