30+ KPMG India Associate Consultant Interview Questions and Answers

Assess the situation, try to find the missing data, and if not possible, inform the client and senior management.

• Check if the missing data can be retrieved from any other source or system

• If not, assess the impact of missing data on the project and client's requirements

• If the impact is significant, inform the client and senior management immediately

• If the impact is minimal, complete the project with available data and inform the client about the missing data

• Document the incide...read more

It is not possible to calculate the number of white cars sold in Mumbai every year without the help of internet.

• Without internet, it is impossible to access the necessary data and statistics.

• The number of white cars sold in Mumbai can vary greatly from year to year.

• Data on car sales is typically collected and analyzed using online platforms and databases.

• Without internet, it is difficult to gather information from car dealerships, manufacturers, and government agencies.

• Estima...read more

It is not possible to accurately determine the number of Reynolds pens sold in Gurgaon every year without specific sales data.

• The sales data of Reynolds pens in Gurgaon is not publicly available.

• The number of Reynolds pens sold can vary each year due to factors such as market demand and competition.

• To determine the exact number, one would need access to sales records or conduct a market research study.

• Without specific data, it is only possible to make an estimate or provide a...read more

Financial modelling is the process of creating a mathematical representation of a financial situation or decision.

• It involves using various financial tools and techniques to analyze and forecast financial performance.

• It helps in making informed decisions about investments, budgeting, and financial planning.

• Examples include creating a cash flow statement, calculating return on investment, and building a financial model for a new business venture.

The estimated number of affordable homes needed in Andhra Pradesh according to the new government project.

• Analyze the current housing situation in Andhra Pradesh

• Consider the population growth rate and demographic trends

• Assess the income levels and affordability of the target population

• Evaluate the government's budget and resources for the project

• Collaborate with local stakeholders and experts for insights and recommendations

Frameworks for training machine learning models

• TensorFlow

• PyTorch

• Scikit-learn

• Keras

• MXNet

Machine learning lifecycle involves data collection, model training, evaluation, and deployment. Deployment options include cloud, on-premise, and edge computing.

• Machine learning lifecycle stages: data collection, data preprocessing, model training, model evaluation, model deployment

• Deployment options: cloud (e.g. AWS, Azure), on-premise servers, edge computing devices (e.g. IoT devices)

• Deployment considerations: scalability, security, latency, cost

• Examples: deploying a predi...read more

I use pandas for data analysis and matplotlib/seaborn for data visualization.

• I use pandas for data manipulation, data cleaning, and data analysis due to its powerful data structures and functions.

• I use matplotlib and seaborn for data visualization as they provide a wide range of plotting options and customization.

• I also use numpy for numerical computations and scipy for scientific computing when needed.

Factors for forecasting expanding generation capacity of a client over 10 years

• Evaluate current energy demand trends

• Consider technological advancements in power generation

• Analyze regulatory policies and incentives for renewable energy

• Assess potential for energy storage solutions

• Forecast economic growth and industrial development

• Account for environmental concerns and sustainability goals

US payroll taxes and 401k rules and types.

• US payroll taxes include Social Security tax, Medicare tax, and federal income tax.

• Employers are responsible for withholding and paying payroll taxes on behalf of their employees.

• 401k plans are retirement savings plans that allow employees to contribute a portion of their pre-tax income.

• There are two types of 401k plans: traditional and Roth.

• Traditional 401k plans allow for pre-tax contributions and tax-deferred growth, while Roth 401...read more

Some popular publishers in the market include Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, and Hachette Book Group.

• Penguin Random House

• HarperCollins

• Simon & Schuster

• Hachette Book Group

Analyzing a company's fundamentals involves evaluating its financial statements, management team, industry position, and competitive advantage.

• Review financial statements such as income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement to assess profitability, liquidity, and solvency.

• Evaluate management team's experience, track record, and strategic vision.

• Assess the company's industry position, market share, growth potential, and competitive landscape.

• Analyze competitive adv...read more

Common functions and tools in Excel for data analytics

• Pivot tables for summarizing and analyzing data

• VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP for searching and retrieving data

• IF, SUMIF, and COUNTIF for conditional calculations

• Data validation for ensuring data accuracy

• Charts and graphs for visualizing data trends

An industry study can be structured by defining the scope, conducting research, analyzing data, and presenting findings.

• Define the scope of the study including the industry sector, key players, market trends, and challenges.

• Conduct thorough research using a combination of primary and secondary sources such as interviews, surveys, reports, and databases.

• Analyze the collected data using tools like SWOT analysis, Porter's Five Forces, and market segmentation.

• Present the findings...read more

When a company has falling revenues but is still profitable, it may be due to cost-cutting measures, increased efficiency, or diversified revenue streams.

• Cost-cutting measures may include reducing overhead expenses, renegotiating contracts, or streamlining operations.

• Increased efficiency in production processes or sales strategies can help maintain profitability despite falling revenues.

• Diversified revenue streams, such as expanding into new markets or offering new products/s...read more

Yes, I know how to build a dashboard.

• Identify key metrics and data sources

• Choose appropriate visualization tools

• Design layout for easy understanding

• Include interactive elements for user engagement

A shell company is a business that exists only on paper and has no significant assets or operations.

• Shell companies are often used for illegal activities such as money laundering or tax evasion.

• They can also be used for legitimate purposes such as holding assets or facilitating business transactions.

• Shell companies typically have minimal employees and physical presence.

• Examples of shell companies include those set up in tax havens like the Cayman Islands.

• They may also be used...read more

Fundamental concepts of security include confidentiality, integrity, availability, authentication, and authorization.

• Confidentiality: Ensuring that information is only accessible to those who are authorized to view it.

• Integrity: Ensuring that data is accurate, complete, and has not been tampered with.

• Availability: Ensuring that information and resources are accessible when needed.

• Authentication: Verifying the identity of users or systems accessing information.

• Authorization: G...read more

Use client script to populate caller's manager and department names in the description field.

• Create a client script that triggers on the 'Caller' field change event.

• Retrieve the caller's manager and department names from the user record.

• Set the description field value to include the caller's manager and department names.

• Ensure the client script runs smoothly without errors.

NPV is used to determine the present value of future cash flows, while IRR is used to determine the rate of return on an investment.

• Use NPV when comparing projects with different cash flow patterns

• Use IRR when comparing projects with similar cash flow patterns

• NPV assumes reinvestment at the cost of capital, while IRR assumes reinvestment at the IRR rate

• NPV is more accurate when cash flows are certain, while IRR is more useful when cash flows are uncertain

• Example: Use NPV to c...read more

Due diligence is necessary to assess risks, verify information, and make informed decisions.

• To identify potential risks and liabilities associated with a business transaction or investment.

• To verify the accuracy of information provided by the other party.

• To evaluate the financial health and performance of a company.

• To ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

• To make informed decisions based on reliable and comprehensive information.

• Example: Conducting due dili...read more

Limitation of liability caps the maximum amount a party can be liable for, while indemnification clause requires one party to compensate the other for losses.

• Limitation of liability sets a maximum cap on the amount of damages a party can be liable for in case of breach or negligence.

• Indemnification clause requires one party to compensate the other for losses, damages, or liabilities incurred as a result of a specific event or action.

• Limitation of liability is often used to li...read more

Due diligence is the process of investigating and evaluating a business or person before entering into a contract or agreement.

• Involves gathering and analyzing relevant information

• Helps in assessing risks and opportunities

• Ensures compliance with regulations and standards

• Common in mergers and acquisitions, investments, and partnerships

Money laundering is the illegal process of making large amounts of money generated by a criminal activity, such as drug trafficking or terrorist funding, appear to have come from a legitimate source.

• Money laundering involves disguising the origins of illegally obtained money by passing it through a complex sequence of banking transfers or commercial transactions.

• It typically involves three stages: placement, layering, and integration.

• Examples of money laundering include purch...read more

Convert.ToString() is a static method that handles null values, while .ToString() is an instance method that may throw a NullReferenceException.

• Convert.ToString() is a static method that can handle null values and return an empty string if the input is null.

• .ToString() is an instance method that is called on an object and may throw a NullReferenceException if the object is null.

• Example: string s = null; Convert.ToString(s) will return an empty string, while s.ToString() will ...read more

The Software Testing Lifecycle is a process that includes planning, designing, executing, and evaluating tests to ensure software quality.

• 1. Planning phase involves defining test objectives, scope, and resources.

• 2. Design phase includes creating test cases, test data, and test environment setup.

• 3. Execution phase involves running tests, reporting defects, and retesting.

• 4. Evaluation phase includes analyzing test results, identifying trends, and improving testing processes.

• 5. ...read more

Analyzing market research reports, conducting online searches, attending industry conferences.

• Analyze market research reports

• Conduct online searches

• Attend industry conferences

ACLs stands for Access Control Lists.

• ACLs are a set of rules that define who can access a resource and what actions they can perform on it.

• They are commonly used in computer systems and networks to control access to files, folders, and other resources.

• ACLs can be applied to individual users, groups, or roles.

• Examples of ACLs include file permissions in Unix-based systems and firewall rules in network security.

• ACLs can be configured to allow or deny access based on various cri...read more

SQL joins are used to combine rows from two or more tables based on a related column between them.

• Types of joins include INNER JOIN, LEFT JOIN, RIGHT JOIN, and FULL JOIN

• INNER JOIN returns rows when there is at least one match in both tables

• 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 in one of the tabl...read more