200+ Associate Interview Questions and Answers for Freshers

Derivatives are financial contracts that derive their value from an underlying asset. Types include futures, options, swaps, and forwards.

• Derivatives are contracts between two parties that derive their value from an underlying asset.

• Futures are contracts to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price and date.

• Options give the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price and date.

• Swaps involve exchanging cash flows based on differ...read more

Goodwill can be removed only if it is impaired, meaning its value has decreased significantly.

• Goodwill can be removed if it is impaired, meaning its value has decreased significantly.

• Impairment of goodwill occurs when the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount.

• Goodwill impairment is tested annually or whenever there is an indication that it may be impaired.

• If impairment is identified, the amount of impairment is recognized as a loss on the income stat...read more

Earthquakes occur due to the movement of tectonic plates. Metamorphosis is the process of transformation in living organisms.

• Earthquakes occur when two tectonic plates move against each other, causing a release of energy in the form of seismic waves.

• Metamorphosis is a process of transformation in living organisms, where an organism undergoes a physical change in form and structure.

• Examples of metamorphosis include the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly and the t...read more

Journal entry is a record of financial transactions in a company's accounting system.

• Journal entry is used to record transactions in the general ledger.

• It includes the date, accounts affected, and the amount of the transaction.

• Examples include recording a sale, paying a bill, or adjusting an account balance.

• Journal entries are used to create financial statements and track the financial health of a company.

It is impossible to accurately predict the probability of India winning the next Cricket World Cup.

• Sports events are unpredictable and depend on various factors such as team performance, weather conditions, injuries, etc.

• Past performance of the team and individual players can be considered, but it does not guarantee future success.

• Other teams participating in the tournament also play a significant role in determining the probability of India winning.

• Therefore, it is not possi...read more

A derivative is a financial contract whose value is based on the performance of an underlying asset or security.

• Derivatives can be used for hedging or speculation.

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

• Derivatives can be traded on exchanges or over-the-counter.

• Money market refers to a market where short-term financial instruments are traded.

• Examples of money market instruments include treasury bills, commercial paper, and certificates of deposit.

• SEBI (Sec...read more

AML stands for Anti-Money Laundering and KYC stands for Know Your Customer. Both are important in preventing financial crimes.

• AML is a set of regulations and procedures designed to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing.

• KYC is the process of verifying the identity of customers and assessing their potential risks.

• AML and KYC are often used together to ensure compliance with regulations and prevent financial crimes.

• Examples of AML and KYC measures include customer due...read more

Hedge funds are alternative investment vehicles that pool capital from accredited investors, while private placements are securities offerings to a select group of investors.

• Hedge funds are typically only available to high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors.

• They employ various investment strategies, such as long-short equity, global macro, and event-driven.

• Hedge funds often use leverage and derivatives to amplify returns.

• Private placements are offerings of secu...read more

COBOL main divisions are Identification Division, Environment Division, Data Division, and Procedure Division. VSAM Define is used to define the structure of a VSAM file. File status clause in Select statement is used to handle file operations.

• Identification Division - contains program name and author information

• Environment Division - specifies the environment in which the program will run

• Data Division - defines the data structures used in the program

• Procedure Division - cont...read more

EBITDA stands for Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization. DCF stands for Discounted Cash Flow. Investment banks and private equity firms differ in their focus and activities.

• EBITDA is a measure of a company's profitability before accounting for interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization expenses.

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

• Investment banks primarily provide financia...read more

Single Ops tool is a software that helps businesses manage their operations from a single platform.

• It streamlines processes and improves efficiency

• It can include features like scheduling, inventory management, and invoicing

• Examples include ServiceTitan, Jobber, and Housecall Pro

Materiality, audit risk, and assertions are important concepts in auditing.

• Materiality refers to the significance of an item or transaction in the financial statements.

• Audit risk is the risk that the auditor may issue an incorrect opinion on the financial statements.

• Assertions are the representations made by management in the financial statements.

• There are five types of assertions: existence, completeness, accuracy, valuation, and presentation and disclosure.

• Auditors use mate...read more

Yes, I have experience in medical billing.

• I have worked as a medical billing specialist for two years.

• I am familiar with medical coding and billing software such as CPT and ICD-10.

• I have successfully processed insurance claims and handled patient billing inquiries.

• I have a strong understanding of medical terminology and documentation requirements.

• I have consistently met or exceeded productivity and accuracy targets in medical billing.

Operating, investing, and financing activities are three categories used in financial reporting to classify the cash flows of a business.

• Operating activities involve the day-to-day operations of the business, such as sales, production, and expenses.

• Investing activities include the purchase and sale of long-term assets, such as property, equipment, and investments.

• Financing activities involve raising capital through debt or equity, as well as repaying debt and distributing div...read more

A debenture is a type of debt instrument that is not secured by physical assets or collateral.

• Debenture holders are creditors of the company and have a right to receive interest and principal payments.

• Debentures can be issued by corporations, governments, and other organizations.

• Debentures can be convertible or non-convertible, and can have varying maturity dates and interest rates.

• Debentures are often used as a way for companies to raise capital without diluting ownership or...read more

A Commercial office space is valued based on factors like location, size, condition, amenities, and market demand.

• Consider the location of the office space - proximity to transportation, amenities, and other businesses can affect value.

• Evaluate the size of the space in terms of square footage and layout.

• Assess the condition of the office space - any necessary repairs or renovations can impact value.

• Take into account the amenities offered in the building, such as parking, secu...read more

IRR calculates the internal rate of return for a series of cash flows, while XIRR calculates the internal rate of return for irregular cash flows.

• IRR assumes regular intervals between cash flows, while XIRR can handle irregular intervals.

• IRR requires a guess rate to calculate the return, while XIRR does not.

• XIRR is more accurate for investments with irregular cash flows, such as multiple investments and withdrawals at different times.

• IRR is commonly used for projects with con...read more

I would use the quicksort algorithm to efficiently sort the given series of unsorted numbers.

• Implement the quicksort algorithm by selecting a pivot element and partitioning the array into two sub-arrays based on the pivot.

• Recursively apply the quicksort algorithm to the sub-arrays until the entire array is sorted.

• Time complexity of quicksort is O(n log n) on average, making it a good choice for sorting large datasets.

Some commonly used commands in MySQL include SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, and JOIN.

• SELECT: Used to retrieve data from a database table

• INSERT: Used to add new records to a table

• UPDATE: Used to modify existing records in a table

• DELETE: Used to remove records from a table

• JOIN: Used to combine rows from two or more tables based on a related column

Creating a table in MySQL involves using the CREATE TABLE statement with specified columns and data types.

• Use the CREATE TABLE statement followed by the table name

• List the columns along with their data types and any constraints

• Specify the primary key if needed

• Example: CREATE TABLE employees (id INT PRIMARY KEY, name VARCHAR(50), age INT)

My goal is to become a successful project manager by improving my leadership and communication skills.

• I plan to take courses and attend workshops on project management

• I will seek out mentorship from experienced project managers

• I will actively seek out opportunities to lead projects and practice my skills

• I will regularly evaluate my progress and adjust my approach as needed

I am familiar with Java, Python, C++, and JavaScript.

• Java

• Python

• C++

• JavaScript

SDLC process involves planning, designing, developing, testing, and deploying software.

• 1. Planning phase involves defining project scope, requirements, and creating a project plan.

• 2. Design phase includes creating system architecture, database design, and user interface design.

• 3. Development phase involves coding, unit testing, and integration testing.

• 4. Testing phase includes system testing, user acceptance testing, and fixing bugs.

• 5. Deployment phase involves releasing the ...read more

My comfortable coding language is Python.

• Python is versatile and easy to read

• I have experience with libraries like Pandas and NumPy

• I have used Python for web development projects

Accounts receivable refers to the money owed to a company by its customers for goods or services provided on credit.

• Accounts receivable is an asset on a company's balance sheet.

• It represents the amount of money that customers owe to the company.

• It is created when a company sells goods or services on credit terms.

• Accounts receivable is typically collected within a specified period, known as the credit period.

• Companies often use aging schedules to track and manage their account...read more

Primary market is where new securities are issued, while secondary market is where already issued securities are traded.

• Primary market involves the sale of new securities to the public for the first time

• Secondary market involves the trading of already issued securities among investors

• Primary market helps companies raise capital for their business operations

• Secondary market provides liquidity to investors who want to buy or sell securities

• Examples of primary market include IPO...read more

B2B stands for business-to-business, where companies sell products or services to other companies. Companies can gain profit through increased sales volume and long-term partnerships.

• B2B involves transactions between businesses rather than between a business and individual consumers.

• Companies can gain profit in B2B by offering competitive pricing, providing high-quality products or services, and building strong relationships with other businesses.

• Examples of B2B companies inc...read more

IQ, DQ, OQ, PQ are validation protocols used in pharmaceutical industry. Sequence of vial washing machine involves multiple steps.

• IQ - Installation Qualification

• DQ - Design Qualification

• OQ - Operational Qualification

• PQ - Performance Qualification

• Sequence of vial washing machine involves steps like pre-rinsing, washing, post-rinsing, drying, and inspection

• Each step is validated to ensure the machine is functioning properly and the vials are cleaned and sterilized as per indust...read more

CSS precedence determines which styles will be applied to an element when conflicting styles are present.

• Inline styles have the highest precedence

• Styles in a <style> tag come next

• External stylesheets have the lowest precedence

• Specificity of selectors also plays a role in determining precedence

• Using !important in a style declaration will override all other styles

I was working on developing a new testing framework for automated regression testing.

• Researched existing frameworks to identify best practices

• Designed the architecture of the new framework to ensure scalability and maintainability

• Implemented various modules for test case execution, reporting, and result analysis

• Collaborated with QA team to integrate the framework into the testing process

Improving decreasing working capital involves managing inventory, accounts receivable, and accounts payable effectively.

• Optimize inventory levels to reduce excess stock and free up cash

• Implement efficient accounts receivable processes to shorten payment cycles

• Negotiate longer payment terms with suppliers to improve cash flow

• Monitor and analyze cash flow regularly to identify areas for improvement

Liquity, activity, and solvency ratios are financial metrics used to assess a company's financial health and performance.

• Liquity ratios measure a company's ability to meet short-term obligations using its liquid assets. Examples include current ratio and quick ratio.

• Activity ratios assess how efficiently a company is using its assets to generate revenue. Examples include inventory turnover ratio and accounts receivable turnover ratio.

• Solvency ratios evaluate a company's abili...read more

Discussing the impact of social media on mental health

• Introduction to social media and its prevalence in society

• Discuss the potential negative effects on mental health such as increased anxiety and depression

• Explore ways to mitigate these negative effects, such as limiting screen time and practicing mindfulness

• Provide examples of successful campaigns or initiatives aimed at promoting mental health awareness on social media

The number of juices a restaurant serves in a day varies depending on factors such as menu, customer demand, and seasonality.

• The menu offerings and popularity of juices can impact the number served

• Customer demand can fluctuate throughout the day and week

• Seasonality can affect the availability and popularity of certain fruits and vegetables for juicing

• The size and capacity of the restaurant's kitchen and staff can also play a role in the number of juices served

General Ledger is a master record of all financial transactions of a company.

• It contains all the accounts and balances of a company

• It is used to prepare financial statements

• It helps in tracking the financial health of a company

• Examples include accounts payable, accounts receivable, and cash accounts

Objects in JavaScript are complex data types that can store multiple key-value pairs.

• Objects are created using curly braces {}

• Keys are strings that represent the property names

• Values can be any data type, including other objects or functions

• Access object properties using dot notation or bracket notation

Semantic HTML is using HTML tags that clearly define the content and structure of a web page.

• Semantic HTML helps improve accessibility for users with disabilities.

• It also improves SEO by providing search engines with better understanding of the content.

• Examples of semantic HTML tags include <header>, <nav>, <article>, <section>, <footer>.

Sales is the process of selling products or services to customers by understanding their needs and providing solutions.

• Build rapport with the customer by actively listening and asking questions to understand their needs

• Highlight the benefits of the product or service that meet the customer's needs

• Handle objections by addressing concerns and providing additional information or alternatives

• Close the sale by asking for the customer's commitment and providing a clear call to acti...read more

Reliance Industries Limited is currently the biggest company in India.

• Reliance Industries Limited is a conglomerate with interests in petrochemicals, refining, oil, and gas exploration.

• It was founded by Dhirubhai Ambani in 1966 and is currently run by his son Mukesh Ambani.

• Reliance Industries Limited is also the second-largest company in Asia by market capitalization.

• Other major companies in India include Tata Group, State Bank of India, and Indian Oil Corporation.

ACID properties are a set of properties that guarantee that database transactions are processed reliably.

• ACID stands for Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability

• Atomicity ensures that either all operations in a transaction are completed successfully or none are

• Consistency ensures that the database remains in a consistent state before and after the transaction

• Isolation ensures that multiple transactions can be executed concurrently without affecting each other

• Durability e...read more

Option, future, swap, and bond are financial instruments used in investment and risk management.

• Option: A contract that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price within a specific time period.

• Future: A contract to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price on a future date.

• Swap: An agreement between two parties to exchange cash flows or financial instruments.

• Bond: A fixed income investment where an investor loans mo...read more

Accounts receivable is the money owed to a company by its customers for goods or services provided on credit.

• It is a current asset on the balance sheet

• It represents the amount of money that a company is owed but has not yet received

• It is important for cash flow management and financial planning

• Examples include unpaid invoices, outstanding payments, and customer credit balances

A financial statement that shows a company's assets, liabilities, and equity at a specific point in time.

• It provides a snapshot of a company's financial position.

• Assets are listed on the left side and liabilities and equity on the right side.

• The equation Assets = Liabilities + Equity must always balance.

• Examples of assets include cash, inventory, and property.

• Examples of liabilities include loans and accounts payable.

• Examples of equity include retained earnings and common sto...read more

Financial markets are platforms where buyers and sellers trade financial assets such as stocks, bonds, currencies, and commodities.

• Financial markets facilitate the flow of capital between investors and borrowers.

• They provide a mechanism for price discovery and risk management.

• Examples of financial markets include stock exchanges, bond markets, foreign exchange markets, and commodity markets.

• Financial markets can be classified as primary markets or secondary markets.

• Primary ma...read more

Fundamental rules of accounting include the principles of consistency, conservatism, materiality, and others.

• The principle of consistency states that once an accounting method is chosen, it should be consistently applied.

• The principle of conservatism suggests that when in doubt, accountants should choose the option that is least likely to overstate assets and income.

• The principle of materiality states that only significant items need to be reported in financial statements.

• Oth...read more

Yes, I have found exact latlong locations on Google.

• Yes, I have used Google Maps to find exact latlong locations.

• I have entered the address or name of the location in the search bar to get the latlong coordinates.

• I have also used the 'What's here?' feature on Google Maps to get the latlong coordinates of a specific point on the map.

Reverse a string using any programming language

• Use a loop to iterate through the string and append each character to a new string in reverse order

• Alternatively, use built-in string reversal functions or methods depending on the programming language

• Some languages, like Python, allow for string slicing to reverse a string