30+ KPMG India Consultant Interview Questions and Answers

A RAID Log is a project management tool used to track Risks, Assumptions, Issues, and Dependencies.

• RAID stands for Risks, Assumptions, Issues, and Dependencies

• It is a project management tool used to track and manage these four aspects

• It helps in identifying potential risks and dependencies that may impact the project

• It also helps in tracking and resolving issues that arise during the project

• Examples of Risks: Budget overruns, resource constraints, delays in delivery

• Examples o...read more

Various types of risk include financial, operational, strategic, compliance, and reputational.

• Financial risk: risk of financial loss due to market fluctuations, credit defaults, etc.

• Operational risk: risk of loss due to internal processes, systems, or human error.

• Strategic risk: risk of loss due to changes in business strategy or external factors.

• Compliance risk: risk of loss due to failure to comply with laws and regulations.

• Reputational risk: risk of loss due to damage to a...read more

An issue is a problem or concern that needs to be addressed. There are various types of issues depending on the context.

• Issues can be related to personal, professional, social, or political matters.

• Some common types of issues include health issues, financial issues, legal issues, environmental issues, and social issues.

• Issues can also be classified as short-term or long-term, minor or major, and individual or collective.

• Examples of issues include poverty, climate change, disc...read more

Based on factors like population, competition, and reach, Mumbai is the best location for setting up a radio station in India.

• Consider the population of the city and the potential audience for the radio station

• Analyze the competition in the area and identify gaps in the market

• Evaluate the reach of the city and its surrounding areas

• Mumbai has a population of over 20 million people, making it the largest city in India and a prime location for a radio station

• Mumbai also has a di...read more

I would use active listening, empathy, and collaboration to find a mutually beneficial solution.

• Listen actively to both parties to understand their perspectives

• Show empathy towards each party's feelings and concerns

• Encourage collaboration to find a solution that works for everyone

• Identify common ground and build on it

• Offer alternative solutions if necessary

• Follow up to ensure the resolution is working

• Example: In a team conflict, I would listen to each team member's concerns a...read more

Entering India: Business case for US automobile manufacturer

• Analyze Indian automobile market and consumer behavior

• Assess competition and market share of existing players

• Evaluate government policies and regulations

• Determine potential partnerships and collaborations

• Develop marketing and distribution strategies

• Estimate financial projections and ROI

To address falling profit margins for a multi-national telecom player in India

• Analyze the competition and market trends

• Identify cost-cutting measures without compromising on quality of service

• Explore new revenue streams such as value-added services

• Consider partnerships or mergers to increase market share

• Invest in research and development to stay ahead of the curve

Supervising software implementation process in an organization

• Identify the need for the software and set clear goals

• Select a project team with relevant skills and expertise

• Develop a detailed project plan with timelines and milestones

• Communicate regularly with stakeholders and provide updates on progress

• Test the software thoroughly before implementation

• Provide training and support to users

• Monitor the software's performance and address any issues

• Evaluate the success of the impl...read more

Yes, I have coding experience in cloud and devops design and development.

• I have experience in designing and implementing cloud-based solutions using AWS and Azure.

• I have worked with various devops tools such as Jenkins, Git, and Docker.

• I have developed automation scripts using Python and Bash.

• I have experience in infrastructure as code using Terraform and CloudFormation.

• I have implemented CI/CD pipelines for multiple projects.

To improve cost cutting without altering headcount, a company can focus on optimizing processes, reducing waste, and negotiating better deals.

• Streamline processes to eliminate inefficiencies and reduce costs

• Reduce waste by implementing sustainable practices and recycling programs

• Negotiate better deals with suppliers to lower costs

• Implement technology solutions to automate tasks and improve productivity

• Encourage employees to suggest cost-saving ideas and reward them for succes...read more

It is difficult to estimate the exact number of Fair & Lovely sold in India without access to sales data.

• Sales figures are not publicly available

• The brand is popular in India and has been around for decades

• The product is marketed towards women and promotes skin lightening

• There are many other skin lightening products available in India

• Sales may vary depending on factors such as region and season

Yes, I have handled scope creep in my previous projects.

• I always ensure that the project scope is clearly defined and documented.

• I communicate with stakeholders regularly to ensure that any changes in scope are discussed and agreed upon.

• I prioritize changes based on their impact on the project timeline and budget.

• I document all changes and ensure that they are approved by the relevant stakeholders.

• For example, in my previous project, the client requested additional features t...read more

A derivative is a financial contract whose value is derived from the performance of an underlying asset, index, or rate.

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

• Options give the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an asset at a specified price before or on a specified date.

• Futures are contracts to buy or sell an asset at a future date for a price agreed upon today.

• Forwards are similar to futures but are customized contracts betwe...read more

Implemented risk management strategies include thorough risk assessment, mitigation plans, regular monitoring, and contingency planning.

• Conducted comprehensive risk assessments to identify potential risks

• Developed mitigation plans to address identified risks

• Regularly monitored and reviewed risks to ensure effectiveness of mitigation strategies

• Implemented contingency planning to prepare for unexpected events

• Utilized risk management tools and techniques such as risk registers a...read more

I have extensive experience in designing cloud solutions for various clients.

• Designed and implemented cloud solutions for multiple clients across different industries

• Expertise in AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform

• Experience in designing highly scalable and fault-tolerant systems

• Implemented security measures to ensure data privacy and compliance

• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure successful implementation

To identify irregularities in inventory, conduct regular physical counts, compare counts to recorded quantities, analyze discrepancies, and investigate root causes.

• Perform regular physical counts of inventory

• Compare the physical counts to the recorded quantities in the inventory system

• Analyze any discrepancies between the physical counts and recorded quantities

• Investigate the root causes of the irregularities

• Implement control measures to prevent future irregularities

• Utilize i...read more

IRR is calculated by finding the discount rate that makes the net present value of cash flows equal to zero.

• IRR is a financial metric used to evaluate the profitability of an investment.

• It takes into account the time value of money and the cash flows generated by the investment.

• To calculate IRR, you need to know the initial investment, the cash flows generated by the investment, and the time period over which the cash flows occur.

• IRR is the discount rate that makes the net pr...read more

Lack of proactive measures, shortage of skilled professionals, and increasing sophistication of cyber threats are major issues in the current cyber landscape.

• Lack of proactive measures to prevent cyber attacks

• Shortage of skilled professionals in the cybersecurity field

• Increasing sophistication of cyber threats such as ransomware and phishing attacks

Ind AS 109, 107 & 32 are accounting standards used in India.

• Ind AS 109 deals with financial instruments and their classification, measurement, and impairment.

• Ind AS 107 deals with disclosures related to financial instruments.

• Ind AS 32 deals with financial instruments presentation.

• These standards are used by companies in India to prepare their financial statements in accordance with the Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS).

US GAAP and IFRS are two different accounting standards used globally.

• US GAAP is rules-based while IFRS is principles-based.

• US GAAP allows LIFO inventory accounting while IFRS does not.

• IFRS requires more extensive disclosures in financial statements.

• US GAAP allows for extraordinary items to be reported separately while IFRS does not.

• IFRS requires the capitalization of development costs while US GAAP does not.

• US GAAP requires the use of the indirect method for the statement of...read more

Intermediate SQL with group by and with clause

• GROUP BY is used to group rows based on a column or expression

• WITH clause is used to create a temporary table or subquery

• Can be used together to perform complex queries

• Example: SELECT column1, SUM(column2) FROM table1 GROUP BY column1

• Example: WITH temp_table AS (SELECT column1, column2 FROM table1) SELECT * FROM temp_table

CAPM stands for Capital Asset Pricing Model, a financial model used to determine the expected return on an investment.

• CAPM is used to calculate the expected return on an investment based on the risk-free rate, market risk premium, and beta of the asset.

• It assumes that investors are rational and risk-averse, and that they require compensation for taking on additional risk.

• The model is widely used in finance and investment management.

• For example, a portfolio manager may use CAP...read more

Financial reporting standards vary by country and industry, with some of the most common being GAAP, IFRS, and SEC regulations.

• GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) is used in the United States

• IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) is used in many countries around the world

• SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) regulations apply to publicly traded companies in the United States

• Other standards include ASPE (Accounting Standards for Private Enterprises) ...read more

FCFF and FCFE are formulas used in finance to calculate cash flow available to investors and equity holders respectively.

• FCFF = Operating Cash Flow - Capital Expenditures + Net Borrowing

• FCFE = Net Income - (Capital Expenditures - Depreciation) - Change in Working Capital + Net Borrowing

• FCFF is used to determine the cash flow available to all investors, while FCFE is used to determine the cash flow available to equity holders

• Both formulas are important in determining a company...read more

DCF model is a valuation method used to estimate the value of an investment based on its future cash flows.

• DCF stands for Discounted Cash Flow

• It involves projecting future cash flows and discounting them back to their present value

• The discount rate used is typically the cost of capital or required rate of return

• It is commonly used in finance to value stocks, bonds, and other investments

FAS157 has three levels: Level 1 - quoted prices in active markets, Level 2 - observable inputs, Level 3 - unobservable inputs.

• Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets

• Level 2: Observable inputs

• Level 3: Unobservable inputs

Vulnerability is the state of being open to harm, attack, or damage.

• Vulnerability refers to the susceptibility to physical, emotional, or psychological harm.

• It can also refer to weaknesses or gaps in security systems that can be exploited by attackers.

• Being vulnerable can also mean being open and honest about one's feelings or struggles.

• Examples include a child being vulnerable to bullying, a computer system vulnerable to hacking, or a person vulnerable to heartbreak.

Real time project flow refers to the sequence of events and processes that occur in a project as they happen, without any delay.

• Real time data collection and analysis

• Immediate decision-making based on current information

• Continuous monitoring and updates

• Quick response to changes or issues

• Examples: Stock market trading, online customer support systems

Peer benchmarking of Gold's Gym in India involves comparing its performance and offerings with other similar fitness centers in the country.

• Compare membership fees and packages offered by Gold's Gym with its competitors

• Analyze the range of equipment and facilities available at Gold's Gym compared to other gyms

• Evaluate customer reviews and satisfaction levels to understand how Gold's Gym ranks among peers

Intercompany process involves transactions between two or more entities within the same organization.

• Intercompany process is used to transfer goods or services between different entities of the same company

• It involves creating intercompany sales orders, intercompany purchase orders, intercompany billing documents, and intercompany deliveries

• The process ensures that the transactions are properly recorded in the books of accounts of each entity

• It also involves reconciling inter...read more

CI/CD pipeline automates the process of integrating code changes, testing them, and deploying to production.

• CI/CD stands for Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment

• It involves automating the steps of building, testing, and deploying code changes

• Tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, and CircleCI are commonly used for setting up CI/CD pipelines

• Developers commit code changes to a version control system, triggering the pipeline to start

• Automated tests are run to ensure code qual...read more

Risk is the potential of gaining or losing something of value.

• Risk is the uncertainty of outcome.

• It involves the possibility of a negative or positive result.

• Risk can be managed through strategies like risk mitigation and risk transfer.

• Examples of risks include financial risk, health risk, and project risk.

GST and VAT are consumption taxes while consolidation concept refers to combining financial statements of multiple entities.

• GST (Goods and Services Tax) is a consumption tax levied on the supply of goods and services in India.

• VAT (Value Added Tax) is a consumption tax levied on the value added to goods and services at each stage of production and distribution.

• Consolidation concept refers to the process of combining the financial statements of multiple entities into a single s...read more

Carbon credits are a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by allowing companies to buy credits for their emissions and invest in projects that reduce emissions.

• Carbon credits are a market-based mechanism to incentivize companies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

• Companies can buy carbon credits to offset their own emissions by investing in projects that reduce emissions, such as renewable energy or reforestation.

• The process involves measuring, reporting, and verifyin...read more