30+ S&P Global Data Analyst Interview Questions and Answers

Questions related to finance and accounting

• IPO stands for Initial Public Offering, which is the first time a company's stock is offered to the public

• Balance sheet has two sides - assets and liabilities & equity

• Depreciation is the decrease in value of an asset over time due to wear and tear or obsolescence

• Financial statements include income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement

Financial market is a platform where buyers and sellers trade financial assets such as stocks, bonds, currencies, and commodities.

• Financial market facilitates the exchange of financial assets between buyers and sellers

• It includes stock markets, bond markets, currency markets, and commodity markets

• Financial market plays a crucial role in the economy by allocating capital to businesses and governments

• Examples of financial markets include NYSE, NASDAQ, London Stock Exchange, and...read more

Passionate about leveraging data to drive insights and decisions, attracted to S&P's reputation and diverse data sets.

• Fascinated by the power of data to uncover trends and patterns

• Enjoy problem-solving and making data-driven decisions

• Impressed by S&P's reputation for accurate and reliable data

• Excited about the opportunity to work with diverse data sets at S&P

Primary market is where new securities are issued and sold for the first time, while secondary market is where already issued securities are traded among investors.

• Primary market is also known as the new issue market.

• Companies issue securities in the primary market to raise capital.

• Investors buy securities in the primary market directly from the issuer.

• Secondary market is also known as the stock market.

• Investors buy and sell securities in the secondary market among themselves...read more

Shares represent ownership in a company, while debentures are a form of loan taken by a company.

• Shares represent ownership in a company, entitling the shareholder to a portion of the company's profits and voting rights.

• Debentures are a form of loan taken by a company, where the company agrees to repay the principal amount along with interest at a specified date.

• Shares are considered equity investments, while debentures are considered debt investments.

• Shareholders have ownersh...read more

EPS stands for Earnings Per Share. Balance sheet always matches due to the fundamental accounting equation.

• EPS is a financial metric that measures the profit earned by a company per outstanding share of common stock.

• It is calculated by dividing the net income of the company by the total number of outstanding shares.

• Balance sheet always matches because of the fundamental accounting equation which states that assets must always equal liabilities plus equity.

• This means that ever...read more

Impairment is the reduction in the value of an asset due to damage, obsolescence, or other factors.

• Impairment is a decrease in the value of an asset.

• It can be caused by physical damage, obsolescence, or changes in market conditions.

• The impairment process involves assessing the asset's current value and comparing it to its original cost.

• If the current value is lower, the asset is impaired and its value is adjusted accordingly.

• Impairment can be temporary or permanent, and can a...read more

The time taken to update hundred banks will depend on various factors such as the complexity of updates, resources available, and efficiency of the process.

• Time taken will depend on the size and complexity of updates needed for each bank.

• Efficiency of the process and resources available will also impact the time taken.

• For example, if each bank requires a simple update that can be done quickly, it may take less time compared to complex updates that require more time and resour...read more

To confirm a location, I would look for consistency in multiple data points such as address, coordinates, landmarks, and geotags.

• Verify the address provided matches with known landmarks or businesses in the area

• Check the coordinates provided against mapping services like Google Maps

• Look for geotags or location data associated with photos or social media posts

• Confirm the location using street view images or satellite imagery

Depreciation and amortization are accounting methods used to allocate the cost of assets over their useful lives.

• Depreciation is the allocation of the cost of tangible assets, such as buildings or equipment, over their useful lives.

• Amortization is the allocation of the cost of intangible assets, such as patents or copyrights, over their useful lives.

• Both depreciation and amortization are non-cash expenses that reduce the value of an asset over time.

• Depreciation and amortizati...read more

Current ratio is a liquidity ratio that measures a company's ability to pay short-term obligations. PE ratio is a valuation ratio that compares a company's current share price to its per-share earnings.

• Current ratio = Current assets / Current liabilities

• PE ratio = Market value per share / Earnings per share

• Current ratio indicates the company's ability to pay off its short-term liabilities

• PE ratio indicates how much investors are willing to pay for each dollar of earnings

• Highe...read more

Depreciation is the allocation of the cost of an asset over its useful life.

• Depreciation is a non-cash expense that reduces the value of an asset over time.

• It is used to reflect the wear and tear, obsolescence, or decrease in value of the asset.

• Common methods of depreciation include straight-line, double declining balance, and units of production.

• Depreciation expense is recorded on the income statement, while accumulated depreciation is shown on the balance sheet.

• Example: A c...read more

V-lookup and H-lookup are Excel functions used to search for specific data in a table and return corresponding values.

• V-lookup searches for a specific value in the leftmost column of a table and returns a corresponding value from a specified column to the right.

• H-lookup searches for a specific value in the top row of a table and returns a corresponding value from a specified row below.

• Both functions are commonly used in data analysis and reporting to quickly retrieve informat...read more

Red herring is a misleading clue or piece of information that diverts attention from the actual issue.

• It is a tactic used in debates, investigations, and storytelling.

• It is intentionally used to mislead or distract the audience.

• Examples include false leads in detective stories and irrelevant arguments in debates.

• The term originated from the practice of using smoked herrings to distract hunting dogs.

EPS stands for Earnings Per Share and DPS stands for Dividends Per Share.

• EPS is a financial metric that measures the amount of profit a company has earned per share of its outstanding common stock.

• DPS is the amount of dividends paid out per share of common stock.

• EPS is used to evaluate a company's profitability and is often used by investors to determine the value of a company's stock.

• DPS is an important metric for investors who are looking for a steady stream of income from ...read more

Preference shareholders have fixed dividends and priority over equity shareholders in case of liquidation, while equity shareholders have voting rights and residual claim on assets.

• Preference shareholders receive fixed dividends before equity shareholders.

• Preference shareholders have priority over equity shareholders in case of liquidation.

• Equity shareholders have voting rights in the company.

• Equity shareholders have a residual claim on assets after all other obligations are ...read more

I have a strong background in data analysis, with experience in various tools and techniques.

• I have a degree in statistics or a related field

• I am proficient in programming languages such as Python and R

• I have experience working with SQL databases and data visualization tools like Tableau

• I have a strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills

• I have experience in interpreting and presenting data to stakeholders

Money is a medium of exchange that is widely accepted in transactions and represents value.

• Money is a form of currency used to facilitate trade and commerce.

• It can be in the form of physical objects like coins and banknotes, or digital representations like electronic money.

• Money serves as a store of value, unit of account, and a medium of exchange.

• Types of money include fiat money, commodity money, and representative money.

• Fiat money is government-issued currency that is not ...read more

Derivative is a financial instrument used to hedge against losses. Treatments for losses include risk management strategies and adjusting investment portfolios.

• Derivatives can be used to offset potential losses in investments.

• Risk management strategies such as diversification and stop-loss orders can help mitigate losses.

• Adjusting investment portfolios by reallocating assets or hedging with options can also help manage losses.

A derivative is a financial instrument whose value is derived from an underlying asset or security.

• Derivatives can be used for hedging or speculation in financial markets.

• Common types of derivatives include options, futures, and swaps.

• Derivatives allow investors to take positions on the price movements of assets without owning the assets themselves.

To find the P/E of a company, divide the current stock price by the earnings per share (EPS).

• P/E ratio = Current Stock Price / Earnings Per Share (EPS)

• Current Stock Price can be found on financial websites or platforms

• Earnings Per Share (EPS) can be obtained from the company's financial statements

• Compare the P/E ratio with industry averages to assess valuation

Current ratio is used to assess a company's ability to pay its short-term obligations with its short-term assets.

• Current ratio is a liquidity ratio that measures a company's ability to cover its short-term liabilities with its short-term assets.

• It is calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities.

• A current ratio of 1 or higher is generally considered healthy, as it indicates that a company has enough current assets to cover its current liabilities.

• A current rati...read more

Income statements show a company's revenues, expenses, and profits over a specific period.

• Income statements are also known as profit and loss statements.

• They typically include revenue, cost of goods sold, gross profit, operating expenses, and net income.

• The structure of an income statement is usually divided into two sections: revenue and expenses.

• Revenue includes all the money a company earns from sales, while expenses include all the costs associated with running the busine...read more

Reverse merger is a process by which a private company acquires a public company to bypass the lengthy and complex process of going public.

• A reverse merger involves a private company merging with a public company that is already listed on a stock exchange.

• The private company then becomes a subsidiary of the public company, allowing it to go public without an initial public offering (IPO).

• This process is often used by private companies looking to quickly gain access to public ...read more

Book building process is a method used by companies to determine the price at which their shares will be offered to the public.

• Companies invite bids from investors for their shares during a specified period.

• Based on the bids received, the final price of the shares is determined.

• The process helps in gauging investor interest and setting an optimal price for the shares.

• Book building is commonly used in initial public offerings (IPOs) to determine the offer price of the shares.

Angel investors are individuals who provide financial backing for small startups or entrepreneurs, typically in exchange for ownership equity in the company.

• Angel investors are usually wealthy individuals who invest their own money into early-stage companies.

• They often provide not only funding but also mentorship and guidance to the entrepreneurs.

• Angel investors typically invest in industries they are familiar with or have expertise in.

• Some famous angel investors include Pete...read more

I am familiar with tools like QuickBooks, Xero, and SAP for accounting purposes.

• QuickBooks

• Xero

• SAP

Fixed assets are long-term tangible assets that are used in the production of goods or services and are not intended for sale.

• Fixed assets are physical assets such as buildings, machinery, equipment, vehicles, and land.

• They are not intended for sale and are used for the production of goods or services over a long period of time.

• Examples of fixed assets include manufacturing plants, office buildings, delivery trucks, and computer equipment.

Capital assets are long-term assets that are used in the production of goods or services and are not easily converted into cash.

• Capital assets are typically tangible assets such as buildings, machinery, equipment, and vehicles.

• They are used by a company to generate revenue over an extended period of time.

• Examples of capital assets include manufacturing plants, delivery trucks, office furniture, and computer systems.

Completed a 6-month data analysis internship at XYZ Company

• Worked on various data analysis projects to extract insights and trends

• Utilized tools such as Excel, SQL, and Tableau to manipulate and visualize data

• Collaborated with team members to present findings and recommendations

• Gained hands-on experience in data cleaning, data visualization, and statistical analysis

Economy of scale refers to the cost advantages that a business can achieve by increasing production levels, leading to lower average costs.

• Economy of scale occurs when the average cost of production decreases as the quantity of goods produced increases.

• This can be achieved through bulk purchasing, specialization of labor, and efficient use of resources.

• Examples include large manufacturing companies producing goods at a lower cost per unit compared to smaller competitors.

• Econo...read more