Interview Questions and Answers

Financial analyst interview questions covering DCF model, valuation methods, bond yield, creditworthiness, and credit quality.

• Three statement financial model includes income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.

• Discount rate is calculated using the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) or cost of equity.

• DCF model involves projecting future cash flows and discounting them back to present value.

• Other valuation methods include comparable company analysis (CCA) and...read more

Light both ropes at the same time, when the first rope burns out, light the other end of the second rope.

• Light both ropes at the same time

• When the first rope burns out, light the other end of the second rope

• The 45 seconds mark is when the second rope burns out completely

The terminal growth rate is arrived at by considering the long-term growth prospects of the company.

• Consider the industry growth rate and the company's historical growth rate

• Analyze the company's competitive position and market share

• Evaluate the company's future investment plans and potential for expansion

• Take into account any regulatory or economic factors that may impact growth

• Use a range of values to account for uncertainty and sensitivity analysis

Loan servicing refers to the management of loans after they have been issued.

• It involves collecting payments from borrowers, managing escrow accounts, and handling delinquencies and defaults.

• Loan servicing can be done by the lender or a third-party servicer.

• Servicers may also provide customer service and support to borrowers.

• Examples of loan types that require servicing include mortgages, student loans, and auto loans.

Securitization is the process of converting illiquid assets into marketable securities.

• Securitization involves pooling together assets such as mortgages, auto loans, or credit card debt.

• These assets are then sold to a special purpose vehicle (SPV) which issues securities backed by the cash flows from the assets.

• Investors can then buy these securities, which offer a return based on the cash flows from the underlying assets.

• Securitization can help to increase liquidity in the m...read more

Indirect and Offset are functions in Excel used to reference cells or ranges indirectly.

• Indirect function is used to reference a cell or range using a text string that contains the cell or range address.

• Offset function is used to reference a cell or range that is a specified number of rows and columns away from a given cell or range.

• Both functions are useful for creating dynamic formulas that can be updated easily.

• Example: =INDIRECT("A1") will reference the cell A1, while =OF...read more

SWOT analysis and ability to gel up with the organization are crucial for success in the role of Senior Analyst.

• I have experience in conducting SWOT analysis and have used it to identify areas of improvement and growth opportunities for the organization.

• I am a team player and have the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues from different departments and levels of seniority.

• I am adaptable and can quickly adjust to changes in the organization's goals and priorities.

• I h...read more