200+ Interview Questions and Answers

Top 5 customers of HSBC can be found by analyzing transaction history and account balances.

• Analyze transaction history of all HSBC customers worldwide

• Identify customers with highest transaction volumes and account balances

• Rank customers based on transaction volumes and account balances

• Select top 5 customers based on ranking

• Consider other factors such as creditworthiness and profitability

Answers to technical questions related to fund administration.

• Hedge funds are alternative investment vehicles that use various strategies to generate high returns.

• Mutual funds are investment vehicles that pool money from multiple investors to invest in a diversified portfolio of securities.

• Equalization payment is a payment made to investors in a mutual fund to ensure that all investors receive the same distribution of income and capital gains.

• Corporate actions are events init...read more

The average number of people coming to the airport daily can be calculated by taking the total number of people arriving and departing and dividing it by two.

• Collect data on the number of arrivals and departures for a given period, such as a week or a month.

• Add the number of arrivals and departures together to get the total number of people coming to the airport.

• Divide the total number by the number of days in the period to get the average number of people coming to the airpo...read more

Use online maps or directories to find the number of petrol pumps in the city.

• Search for petrol pumps on online maps like Google Maps or MapQuest.

• Use online directories like Yelp or Yellow Pages to find petrol pumps in the city.

• Check with local authorities or city websites for a list of petrol pumps in the area.

• Ask locals or taxi drivers for recommendations on petrol pumps in the city.

DBMS stands for Database Management System, while RDBMS stands for Relational Database Management System. RDBMS is a type of DBMS.

• DBMS is a software system that allows users to define, create, maintain and control access to the database.

• RDBMS is a type of DBMS that stores data in a structured format using tables with rows and columns.

• RDBMS enforces a set of rules called ACID properties to ensure data integrity, while DBMS may not necessarily enforce these rules.

• Examples of DB...read more

UDF stands for User-Defined Function in Spark. It allows users to define their own functions to process data.

• UDFs can be written in different programming languages like Python, Scala, and Java.

• UDFs can be used to perform complex operations on data that are not available in built-in functions.

• PySpark code to check the validity of mobile_number column can be written using regular expressions and the `regexp_extract` function.

• Example: `df.select('mobile_number', regexp_extract('...read more

The lions of HSBC are a symbol of strength and stability. They represent the bank's commitment to its customers.

• The lions are a pair of bronze statues that stand guard outside HSBC's headquarters in London.

• They were designed by sculptor Nick Elphick and installed in 2002.

• The lions are modeled after the original lions that stood outside the bank's Shanghai office in the early 20th century.

• The lions are a symbol of the bank's heritage and its commitment to its customers.

• The lio...read more

To understand customer behaviour based on credit card transaction, I would analyze spending patterns, transaction frequency, and purchase categories.

• Analyze spending patterns to identify high and low spenders

• Analyze transaction frequency to identify regular and irregular customers

• Analyze purchase categories to identify customer preferences and interests

• Use data visualization tools to identify trends and patterns

• Compare customer behavior to industry benchmarks and competitors

• I...read more

Merge two unsorted lists into a sorted list using inbuilt sorting functions.

• Use inbuilt sorting functions to sort the input lists

• Merge the sorted lists using a merge algorithm

• Return the merged and sorted list

Encapsulation, Inheritance, Polymorphism, Abstraction

• Encapsulation: Bundling data and methods that operate on the data into a single unit

• Inheritance: Ability of a class to inherit properties and behavior from another class

• Polymorphism: Ability to present the same interface for different data types

• Abstraction: Hiding the complex implementation details and showing only the necessary features

Clustering groups data points based on similarity while classification assigns labels to data points based on predefined categories.

• Clustering is unsupervised learning while classification is supervised learning.

• Clustering is used to find patterns in data while classification is used to predict the category of a data point.

• Examples of clustering algorithms include k-means and hierarchical clustering while examples of classification algorithms include decision trees and logist...read more

Enterprise Value is the total value of a company, including debt and equity.

• Enterprise Value = Market Capitalization + Debt - Cash

• Market Capitalization = Total number of shares outstanding x current market price per share

• Debt = Total outstanding debt of the company

• Cash = Total cash and cash equivalents held by the company

• EV is used to determine the true value of a company, as it takes into account both debt and equity

• EV can be used to compare companies with different capital ...read more

Ingest CSV file to Spark dataframe and write to Hive table.

• Create SparkSession object

• Read CSV file using SparkSession.read.csv() method

• Create a dataframe from the CSV file

• Create a Hive table using SparkSession.sql() method

• Write the dataframe to the Hive table using dataframe.write.saveAsTable() method

Object oriented programming is a programming paradigm based on the concept of objects, which can contain data and code.

• Objects are instances of classes, which define the structure and behavior of the objects.

• Encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism are key principles of object oriented programming.

• Example: Inheritance allows a class to inherit properties and methods from another class.

• Example: Encapsulation hides the internal state of an object and only exposes necessary ...read more

SQL query to retrieve the second highest salary from each department

• Use the RANK() function to assign a rank to each salary within each department

• Filter the results to only include rows with a rank of 2

• Group the results by department to get the second highest salary for each department

Sanctioned countries, risk calculation, and required documents for onboarding different types of entities and NRIs.

• Sanctioned countries include Iran, North Korea, Syria, and others.

• Risk is calculated based on factors such as the country's political stability, economic conditions, and regulatory environment.

• Constitution documents required for Pvt Ltd, partnership, and limited co. include certificate of incorporation, partnership deed, and memorandum of association.

• NRI document...read more

To delete duplicate rows from a table, use the DISTINCT keyword or GROUP BY clause.

• Use the DISTINCT keyword to select unique rows from the table.

• Use the GROUP BY clause to group the rows by a specific column and select the unique rows.

• Use the DELETE statement with a subquery to delete the duplicate rows.

• Create a new table with the unique rows and drop the old table.

Code implementing all 4 pillars of OOPs

• Encapsulation: Encapsulate data within classes and provide public methods to access and modify the data.

• Inheritance: Create a hierarchy of classes where child classes inherit attributes and methods from parent classes.

• Polymorphism: Allow objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass through method overriding and overloading.

• Abstraction: Hide complex implementation details and only show the necessary feature...read more

SQL is a standard language for managing databases, while MySQL is a specific open-source relational database management system.

• SQL stands for Structured Query Language and is used to communicate with databases.

• SQL is a standard language that can be used with various database management systems.

• MySQL is a specific open-source relational database management system that uses SQL.

• MySQL is one of the most popular database management systems that uses SQL for querying and managing ...read more

Different types of join include inner, outer, left, right, cross, and self join.

• Inner join returns only the matching rows from both tables.

• Outer join returns all rows from both tables and null values for non-matching rows.

• Left join returns all rows from the left table and null values for non-matching rows from the right table.

• Right join returns all rows from the right table and null values for non-matching rows from the left table.

• Cross join returns the Cartesian product of b...read more

The 2008 financial crisis had a significant impact on the global markets.

• The 2008 financial crisis was triggered by the collapse of Lehman Brothers, a major investment bank.

• It led to a severe credit crunch and a global recession.

• Stock markets around the world experienced sharp declines, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average losing over 50% of its value.

• The crisis exposed weaknesses in the financial system and led to increased regulation and reforms.

• Central banks implemented u...read more

Window functions are used to perform calculations across a set of rows that are related to the current row.

• Commonly used window functions include ROW_NUMBER, RANK, DENSE_RANK, LAG, LEAD, FIRST_VALUE, LAST_VALUE, and NTILE.

• Window functions are used in conjunction with the OVER clause to define the window or set of rows to perform the calculation on.

• Window functions can be used to calculate running totals, moving averages, and other aggregate calculations.

• Window functions are s...read more

Code to find the 2nd largest element in an array

• Sort the array in descending order and return the element at index 1

• Iterate through the array and keep track of the two largest elements

• Handle edge cases like arrays with less than 2 elements

I was frustrated when someone used my computer without informing me.

• I discovered that someone had used my computer without my knowledge.

• I felt frustrated and violated because my personal space was invaded.

• I confronted the person and asked them why they used my computer without informing me.

• I emphasized the importance of respecting personal boundaries and seeking permission before using someone else's belongings.

• I took measures to ensure the security of my computer and persona...read more

Null values in PySpark are handled using functions such as dropna(), fillna(), and replace().

• dropna() function is used to drop rows or columns with null values

• fillna() function is used to fill null values with a specified value or method

• replace() function is used to replace null values with a specified value

• coalesce() function is used to replace null values with the first non-null value in a list of columns

To make pivot table range auto, select the data range and press Ctrl + T. To adjust pivot to not show nil value, go to PivotTable Options > Layout & Format > uncheck 'Show items with no data'.

• To make pivot table range auto, select the data range and press Ctrl + T.

• To adjust pivot to not show nil value, go to PivotTable Options > Layout & Format > uncheck 'Show items with no data'.

Enterprise value is more important than equity value as it includes debt and cash, giving a more accurate picture of a company's total value.

• Enterprise value takes into account a company's debt and cash, while equity value only considers the value of the company's shares.

• Enterprise value is a more comprehensive measure of a company's total value, as it reflects the cost of acquiring the entire business.

• Equity value can be misleading as it does not account for a company's debt...read more

Imputer function in PySpark is used to replace missing values in a DataFrame.

• Imputer is a transformer in PySpark ML library.

• It replaces missing values in a DataFrame with either mean, median, or mode of the column.

• It can be used with both numerical and categorical columns.

• Example: imputer = Imputer(inputCols=['col1', 'col2'], outputCols=['col1_imputed', 'col2_imputed'], strategy='mean')

• Example: imputed_df = imputer.fit(df).transform(df)

Implemented transformational changes through clear communication, collaboration, and a focus on the end goal.

• Identified areas for improvement and set clear goals

• Engaged stakeholders and communicated the vision for change

• Collaborated with team members to develop and implement new processes

• Provided training and support to ensure successful adoption of changes

• Measured and evaluated the impact of changes to ensure success

• Example: Implemented a new project management system that s...read more

Targeting customers based on database requires analyzing data and creating personalized campaigns.

• Analyze customer data to identify patterns and preferences

• Segment customers based on demographics, behavior, and interests

• Create personalized campaigns using targeted messaging and offers

• Use A/B testing to optimize campaigns and improve results

Different ratios used in finance and their application in different sectors.

• Different ratios used in finance include liquidity ratios, profitability ratios, solvency ratios, and efficiency ratios.

• Liquidity ratios measure a company's ability to meet short-term obligations, such as the current ratio and quick ratio.

• Profitability ratios assess a company's ability to generate profits, such as return on equity and gross profit margin.

• Solvency ratios evaluate a company's long-term ...read more

C is a procedural programming language while C++ is an object-oriented programming language.

• C is a procedural programming language, while C++ supports both procedural and object-oriented programming.

• C does not have classes and objects, while C++ does.

• C does not support function overloading, while C++ does.

• C does not have exception handling, while C++ does.

• C does not have namespaces, while C++ does.

Banking products include savings accounts, checking accounts, loans, credit cards, and investment accounts.

• Savings accounts: earn interest on deposited funds

• Checking accounts: used for daily transactions and bill payments

• Loans: borrowed money with interest

• Credit cards: allows purchases on credit with interest

• Investment accounts: used to invest in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds

Delete removes specific rows from a table, Truncate removes all rows from a table, and Drop removes the table itself.

• Delete is a DML command that removes specific rows from a table based on a condition.

• Truncate is a DDL command that removes all rows from a table but keeps the table structure.

• Drop is a DDL command that removes the entire table along with its structure.

A company can remove its debt without affecting cash flow by refinancing debt at lower interest rates, increasing revenue, or selling assets.

• Refinance debt at lower interest rates to reduce debt burden

• Increase revenue through sales growth or cost-cutting measures

• Sell assets to generate cash and pay off debt

• Negotiate with creditors for better repayment terms

Merge sort is a divide and conquer algorithm that divides the input array into two halves, sorts them recursively, and then merges them.

• Divide the input array into two halves

• Recursively sort each half

• Merge the sorted halves back together

My area of interest is machine learning and artificial intelligence.

• I enjoy working with large datasets and developing algorithms to analyze and extract insights from them.

• I have experience with various machine learning techniques such as regression, classification, and clustering.

• I am also interested in natural language processing and computer vision.

• Some examples of my work include developing a recommendation system for an e-commerce website and building a chatbot for custo...read more

Handling difficult situations with stakeholders requires effective communication, active listening, and problem-solving skills.

• Stay calm and professional

• Listen actively to their concerns

• Acknowledge their perspective

• Identify the root cause of the issue

• Collaborate on finding a solution

• Communicate clearly and transparently

• Follow up to ensure resolution

Yes, one-time items in CFO can be alarming for a company seeking debt.

• One-time items can distort the true financial health of a company

• Lenders may view one-time items as unsustainable sources of income

• It may raise concerns about the company's ability to generate consistent cash flow

• Companies should provide explanations for one-time items to lenders

Approach regulatory changes by conducting thorough research, engaging with relevant stakeholders, and implementing necessary adjustments.

• Research current regulations and upcoming changes

• Identify key stakeholders such as regulatory bodies, industry associations, and internal departments

• Engage with stakeholders to understand their concerns and gather feedback

• Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to ensure adherence to regulations

• Implement necessary changes and communicate...read more

I would handle the query with empathy and patience, ensuring their needs are met.

• Listen actively and attentively to their concerns

• Acknowledge their emotions and validate their feelings

• Provide clear and concise information

• Offer support and assistance in finding a solution

• Follow up to ensure their satisfaction

A business continuity plan should include checks for critical business functions, communication strategies, data backup procedures, and testing protocols.

• Critical business functions and processes

• Communication strategies for internal and external stakeholders

• Data backup and recovery procedures

• Testing protocols to ensure the plan is effective

• Emergency response and escalation procedures

Banking involves accepting deposits and lending money. Major items in banking balance sheet include assets, liabilities, and equity.

• Banks accept deposits from customers and use the funds to make loans to other customers

• Assets on a bank's balance sheet include cash, loans, and investments

• Liabilities on a bank's balance sheet include deposits and borrowings

• Equity on a bank's balance sheet represents the value of the bank's assets minus its liabilities

• Banks are regulated by gove...read more

To make the customer get full service and go back with a smile, provide personalized attention, exceed expectations, resolve issues promptly, and create a positive and memorable experience.

• Offer personalized attention and listen to the customer's needs

• Exceed customer expectations by going the extra mile

• Resolve any issues or complaints promptly and effectively

• Create a positive and friendly atmosphere

• Provide clear and helpful communication

• Offer additional perks or surprises to ...read more

Acknowledge the mistake, inform the concerned parties, and provide the correct report as soon as possible.

• Admit the mistake and take responsibility

• Notify the recipients of the incorrect report

• Provide the correct report as soon as possible

• Take steps to prevent similar mistakes in the future

Revenue recognition involves identifying when and how revenue should be recorded in financial statements.

• Revenue should be recognized when it is earned and realized or realizable

• The amount of revenue recognized should be the amount that is expected to be received

• Revenue recognition should follow the matching principle

• Examples of revenue recognition methods include percentage of completion, completed contract, and installment sales

• Revenue recognition may also involve accountin...read more

I approach conflicts by actively listening, identifying the root cause, and finding a mutually beneficial solution.

• Listen to all parties involved and understand their perspectives

• Identify the root cause of the conflict

• Brainstorm potential solutions with all parties

• Find a mutually beneficial solution

• Communicate the solution clearly and ensure all parties agree

Agile methodologies are iterative approaches to software development that prioritize flexibility, collaboration, and customer feedback.

• Agile methodologies involve breaking down projects into smaller, manageable tasks called sprints.

• They emphasize continuous collaboration between cross-functional teams, including developers, testers, and product owners.

• Agile promotes adaptability and responding to change over rigid planning.

• Common Agile frameworks include Scrum, Kanban, and Ex...read more

The life cycle of an LC refers to its stages from design to disposal.

• Design and development

• Manufacturing and testing

• Installation and commissioning

• Operation and maintenance

• Decommissioning and disposal

I have experience working with orchestration tools such as Ansible, Puppet, and Chef. Currently, I support Ansible for automation and configuration management.

• Worked with Ansible, Puppet, and Chef for orchestration

• Currently supporting Ansible for automation and configuration management

Negative working capital can be good for a company as it indicates efficient management of assets and liabilities.

• Negative working capital can indicate that a company is effectively using its short-term assets to fund its short-term liabilities.

• It can show that a company is able to quickly convert inventory or accounts receivable into cash to meet its short-term obligations.

• However, sustained negative working capital may also indicate liquidity issues or over-reliance on shor...read more

Factory pattern is used to create objects without exposing the instantiation logic to the client. It can be used in inheritance to create objects of different subclasses.

• Factory pattern can be used to create objects of different subclasses without exposing the instantiation logic to the client

• It allows for flexibility in creating objects based on certain conditions or parameters

• Factory pattern can be used in inheritance to create objects of different subclasses based on the t...read more

Negative news screening refers to the process of identifying and flagging any negative or adverse information about individuals or entities.

• Negative news screening is a part of the Know Your Customer (KYC) process in which individuals or entities are checked against various databases and sources for any negative or adverse information.

• It helps in identifying potential risks, such as involvement in criminal activities, fraud, money laundering, or being associated with sanction...read more

I convinced a difficult customer by actively listening to their concerns and finding a mutually beneficial solution.

• Listened attentively to the customer's complaints and acknowledged their frustrations

• Empathized with the customer's situation and showed understanding

• Offered a solution that addressed the customer's concerns and met their needs

• Followed up with the customer to ensure their satisfaction with the resolution

Model validation metrics are crucial for regulatory and scoring models.

• Regulatory models require validation metrics to ensure compliance with regulations and standards.

• Scoring models require validation metrics to ensure accuracy and reliability of the model.

• Common validation metrics include accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, and ROC curve analysis.

• Validation metrics should be chosen based on the specific requirements of the model and the industry it is being used in.

• Regul...read more

Different types of joins in DBMS include inner join, outer join, left join, right join, and full join.

• Inner join: Returns rows when there is a match in both tables.

• Outer join: Returns all rows from one table and only matching rows from the other table.

• Left join: Returns all rows from the left table and the matched rows from the right table.

• Right join: Returns all rows from the right table and the matched rows from the left table.

• Full join: Returns rows when there is a match i...read more

Fixed income refers to investments that pay a fixed rate of return, Forex is the foreign exchange market, and derivatives are financial instruments whose value is derived from an underlying asset.

• Fixed income investments include bonds, treasury bills, and certificates of deposit.

• Forex, or foreign exchange, is the market where currencies are traded.

• Types of derivatives include options, futures, and swaps.

The forecast period in a DCF model depends on the nature of the business and the industry it operates in.

• The forecast period typically ranges from 5 to 10 years.

• For stable and mature businesses, a longer forecast period may be appropriate.

• For rapidly changing industries, a shorter forecast period may be more appropriate.

• The forecast period should be supported by reasonable assumptions about future growth rates, margins, and capital expenditures.

• The terminal value should accou...read more

Stacks are Last In First Out (LIFO) data structures, while Queues are First In First Out (FIFO) data structures.

• Stacks: Elements are added and removed from the same end, like a stack of plates. Example: Undo feature in text editors.

• Queues: Elements are added at the rear and removed from the front, like a line of people waiting. Example: Print queue in a printer.

Files can be transferred between 2 locations on a network using various methods.

• Use file transfer protocols like FTP, SFTP, or TFTP

• Use cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive

• Use network file sharing protocols like SMB or NFS

• Use remote desktop software like TeamViewer or Remote Desktop Connection

• Use email to send small files as attachments

Managed tables are physically stored in Hive's warehouse directory while external tables are not.

• Managed tables are created and managed by Hive while external tables are created outside of Hive.

• Managed tables are physically stored in Hive's warehouse directory while external tables are not.

• Managed tables are deleted when the table is dropped while external tables are not.

• Managed tables are used for internal purposes while external tables are used for external purposes.

• Example...read more

Boundary query in Sqoop is used to import data within a specific range of values.

• Boundary query is used to import data within a specific range of values

• It is used with the --boundary-query option in Sqoop

• It is useful when importing large datasets and you only need a subset of the data

• For example, importing data from a database table where the values in a particular column fall within a specific range

I will prioritize tasks, delegate responsibilities, and communicate with my team to ensure timely completion of all work.

• Assess the workload and prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance

• Delegate responsibilities to team members based on their strengths and workload

• Communicate with team members to ensure everyone is aware of their responsibilities and deadlines

• Monitor progress and provide support as needed

• Consider hiring additional staff or outsourcing work if necessary

Testing is the process of evaluating a system or component to ensure it meets specified requirements.

• Testing helps identify defects or errors in software or systems.

• It ensures that the software or system functions as intended.

• Testing helps improve the quality and reliability of the software or system.

• It provides confidence to stakeholders that the software or system is ready for use.

• Testing helps in identifying and mitigating risks.

• Examples of testing include functional testi...read more

EMIR and SFTR are both regulatory frameworks for financial transactions, but they have different scopes and requirements.

• EMIR (European Market Infrastructure Regulation) focuses on OTC derivatives reporting and clearing obligations.

• SFTR (Securities Financing Transaction Regulation) focuses on reporting securities financing transactions, such as repurchase agreements and securities lending.

• EMIR covers a wider range of financial instruments and counterparties compared to SFTR.

• B...read more

Basel norms focus on capital adequacy and risk management for banks, while IFRS9 norms focus on accounting standards for financial instruments.

• Basel norms are set by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision to ensure banks maintain adequate capital to cover risks.

• IFRS9 norms are accounting standards set by the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation to address classification and measurement of financial instruments.

• Basel norms primarily focus on risk manageme...read more

I will bring strong leadership skills, technical expertise, and a proven track record of successfully managing complex programs.

• Strong leadership skills to effectively manage cross-functional teams

• Technical expertise to understand and drive technology initiatives

• Proven track record of successfully managing complex programs, such as implementing a new software system or launching a product

• Ability to prioritize tasks, allocate resources, and meet deadlines

• Excellent communicatio...read more

Top command is a Linux utility that displays the system's processes in real-time.

• Displays the processes running on the system

• Updates the list of processes in real-time

• Provides information on CPU usage, memory usage, and process IDs

• Can be used to monitor system performance and identify resource-intensive processes

A good example of customer service is when a representative goes above and beyond to resolve a customer's issue with empathy and efficiency.

• Listening actively to the customer's concerns

• Offering personalized solutions

• Following up to ensure satisfaction

Lazy evaluation in Spark delays the execution of transformations until an action is called.

• Lazy evaluation allows Spark to optimize the execution plan by combining multiple transformations into a single stage.

• Transformations are not executed immediately, but are stored as a directed acyclic graph (DAG) of operations.

• Actions trigger the execution of the DAG and produce results.

• Example: map() and filter() are transformations that are lazily evaluated until an action like collec...read more