800+ Senior Analyst Interview Questions and Answers

VAR stands for Value at Risk, SVAR stands for Structural Vector Autoregression, delta of short put measures sensitivity of option price to changes in underlying asset price, volatility affects market by influencing pricing and risk perception, Risk analysis is important for identifying and managing potential risks.

• VAR is a statistical measure used to quantify the level of financial risk within a firm or portfolio.

• SVAR is a statistical technique used to analyze the impact of s...read more

Market research is the process of gathering information about a market to make informed business decisions. Primary research involves collecting new data, while secondary research involves analyzing existing data.

• Market research helps businesses understand their target audience, competition, and industry trends.

• Primary research involves methods like surveys, interviews, and focus groups to collect new data.

• Secondary research involves analyzing existing data sources like gover...read more

Countries can print money when they need to stimulate the economy or pay off debts. However, excessive printing can lead to inflation.

• Printing money is done by the central bank of a country

• It is usually done to stimulate the economy or pay off debts

• Excessive printing can lead to inflation and decrease the value of the currency

• Printing money can also lead to a decrease in interest rates

• Examples of countries that have printed money include Zimbabwe and Venezuela

Credit balance for prepaid expenses is booked when the amount paid exceeds the expense incurred.

• Credit balance is booked when the prepaid expense is cancelled or reduced.

• This can happen when the service is not fully utilized or the contract is terminated early.

• Example: Prepaid rent for a year is paid in advance but the tenant moves out after 6 months.

• Example: Prepaid insurance premium is cancelled before the policy period ends.

• The credit balance is recorded as a liability on ...read more

Entropy is a measure of randomness or disorder in a system. Gini index is a measure of impurity in a dataset. Derivatives measure rate of change. P-value is the probability of observing a test statistic. Beta value is the coefficient in a regression model. Imbalanced datasets have unequal class distribution. Recall is the proportion of actual positives correctly identified. Precision is the proportion of predicted positives that are actually positive. Slope in one variable is...read more

Tableau has various filters including dimension filters, measure filters, top N filters, wildcard filters, and context filters.

• Dimension filters allow you to filter data based on specific dimensions such as category or region.

• Measure filters filter data based on measures like sales or profit.

• Top N filters allow you to filter the top or bottom N values based on a measure.

• Wildcard filters filter data based on a specific pattern or wildcard.

• Context filters create a temporary sub...read more

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.

An effective community targeted political campaign involves engaging with local residents, addressing their concerns, and building trust.

• Identify key issues important to the community

• Engage with local leaders and influencers

• Utilize social media and community events to reach a wider audience

• Develop a clear and concise message that resonates with the community

• Provide opportunities for community members to get involved and participate in the campaign

• Build relationships with loca...read more

Accuracy score can be misleading on imbalanced datasets.

• Accuracy score can be high even if the model is not performing well on the minority class.

• F1 score, precision, and recall are better metrics for imbalanced datasets.

• Stratified sampling, oversampling, and undersampling can help balance the dataset.

• Example: A model predicting cancer in a dataset with only 1% positive cases.

• Using accuracy score, a model that always predicts negative will have 99% accuracy.

• However, this mode...read more

LTV stands for Lifetime Value and is calculated by subtracting the customer acquisition cost from the total revenue generated by a customer over their lifetime.

• LTV = Total Revenue - Customer Acquisition Cost

• LTV helps businesses understand the long-term value of their customers.

• For example, if a customer generates $1000 in revenue and it costs $200 to acquire them, the LTV would be $800.

• DTI stands for Debt-to-Income ratio and is calculated by dividing the total monthly debt pa...read more

Ratio of women working in SMEs in Bangladesh and its change over the years, along with the total number of SMEs.

• The ratio of women working in SMEs in Bangladesh has increased over the years.

• According to a survey conducted by the International Finance Corporation, the percentage of women-owned SMEs in Bangladesh increased from 9% in 2013 to 20% in 2019.

• The total number of SMEs in Bangladesh is estimated to be around 7 million.

• Data sourcing for SMEs in Bangladesh can be done th...read more

R square measures the proportion of variance in the dependent variable explained by the independent variable. Adjusted R square adjusts for the number of independent variables in the model.

• R square is always higher than adjusted R square

• Adjusted R square penalizes for adding unnecessary independent variables

• Adjusted R square is a better measure of model fit when comparing models with different numbers of independent variables

Java Strings are immutable to ensure security, thread safety, and efficient memory usage.

• Immutable Strings prevent malicious code from modifying the data.

• Immutable Strings can be safely shared across multiple threads.

• Immutable Strings allow for efficient memory usage by reusing existing objects.

• Example: String s1 = "Hello"; s1.concat(" World"); // s1 remains "Hello"

• Example: String s2 = "Java"; String s3 = s2.concat(" is awesome"); // s2 remains "Java", s3 is "Java is awesome"

Pointers and OOPS are fundamental concepts in programming. OOPS has four pillars: Abstraction, Encapsulation, Inheritance, and Polymorphism.

• Pointers are variables that store the memory address of another variable.

• OOPS stands for Object-Oriented Programming System.

• Abstraction is the process of hiding complex implementation details and showing only the necessary information.

• Encapsulation is the process of binding data and functions that manipulate that data together in a single...read more

I have prepared various dashboards for different purposes.

• Sales dashboard for tracking revenue and sales performance

• Marketing dashboard for monitoring campaign effectiveness and lead generation

• Financial dashboard for analyzing financial data and forecasting

• Operational dashboard for tracking operational metrics and KPIs

• Customer service dashboard for monitoring customer satisfaction and support metrics

Collateral is an asset pledged by a borrower to secure a loan. Margin call is a demand for additional collateral.

• Collateral is a form of security for lenders in case the borrower defaults on the loan.

• Types of collateral include real estate, stocks, bonds, and other assets.

• Margin call is a request for additional collateral when the value of the collateral falls below a certain level.

• Margin call is common in margin trading, where investors borrow money to buy securities.

• If the ...read more

I use a structured approach to identify the underlying cause of an issue.

• I gather all available information related to the issue.

• I analyze the data to identify patterns and trends.

• I use tools such as fishbone diagrams, 5 whys, and Pareto charts to narrow down the root cause.

• I validate my findings by testing and verifying the root cause.

• I develop and implement a plan to address the root cause and prevent future occurrences.

Excel uses IF, SUMIF, COUNTIF, AVERAGEIF, and other formulas for condition based scenarios.

• IF formula checks if a condition is met and returns one value if true and another if false.

• SUMIF formula adds up values in a range that meet a certain condition.

• COUNTIF formula counts the number of cells in a range that meet a certain condition.

• AVERAGEIF formula calculates the average of values in a range that meet a certain condition.

• Other formulas like MAXIF, MINIF, and CONCATENATEIF ...read more

Create a custom method to check if two strings are equal without using inbuilt functions.

• Iterate through each character of both strings and compare them one by one.

• If the lengths of the strings are different, they are not equal.

• Return true only if all characters match, otherwise return false.

Estimating the number of cars in India requires a combination of data sources and statistical methods.

• Gather data from government agencies, car manufacturers, and dealerships

• Use statistical sampling methods to estimate the total number of cars

• Consider factors such as population density, income levels, and car ownership rates

• Account for unregistered or illegally imported cars

• Compare results with previous estimates and adjust as necessary

Treated waste released by a building under construction in a nearby lake can have severe environmental and socio-economic implications.

• Environmental implications include water pollution, harm to aquatic life, and degradation of the ecosystem.

• Socio-economic implications include loss of livelihood for fishermen and tourism industry, and health hazards for people consuming contaminated water.

• Legal implications can also arise, leading to fines and penalties for the construction c...read more

I will communicate the limitations of automation and suggest alternative solutions.

• Identify the specific task or process that cannot be automated

• Analyze the reasons why it cannot be automated

• Provide alternative solutions or workarounds

• Communicate the limitations and alternatives to the business stakeholders

Python was chosen for its readability, versatility, and extensive libraries.

• Python's readability makes it easier for team collaboration and code maintenance.

• Python's versatility allows for both simple scripting and complex application development.

• Python's extensive libraries provide ready-made solutions for various tasks, saving time and effort.

• For example, in our project, we needed to work with data analysis and visualization, for which Python's libraries like Pandas and Mat...read more

Using lookup for join can be inefficient and lead to performance issues. Sort component can be slow and resource-intensive.

• Lookup for join can be inefficient for large datasets as it requires scanning the entire dataset for each lookup value.

• Join is more optimized for joining datasets based on a common key, while lookup is better suited for smaller reference tables.

• Sort component can be slow and resource-intensive, especially for large datasets. It can impact performance and ...read more

I have an iPhone 12 and a MacBook Pro, both classified as premium devices.

• My iPhone 12 is a premium smartphone from Apple with a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display and A14 Bionic chip.

• My MacBook Pro is a premium laptop from Apple with a 13-inch Retina display and M1 chip.

• Both devices are classified as premium due to their high-end specifications and premium build quality.

International reference pricing is a mechanism used by countries to set drug prices based on prices in other countries.

• International reference pricing is used to determine the price of drugs in a country based on the prices in other countries.

• It is used by governments to negotiate lower prices for drugs.

• The prices of drugs in countries with similar economic conditions are compared to determine the price in a particular country.

• For example, if a drug costs $100 in the US and $...read more

Value stocks are undervalued companies with stable earnings, while growth stocks are companies with high growth potential but lower earnings.

• Value stocks are often mature companies with stable earnings and dividends

• Growth stocks are often newer companies with high growth potential but lower earnings

• Value stocks are typically undervalued by the market

• Growth stocks are typically overvalued by the market

• Value stocks tend to perform well during economic downturns

• Growth stocks ten...read more

Different types of join include inner, outer, left, right, cross, and self join.

• Inner join returns only the matching rows from both tables.

• Outer join returns all rows from both tables and null values for non-matching rows.

• Left join returns all rows from the left table and null values for non-matching rows from the right table.

• Right join returns all rows from the right table and null values for non-matching rows from the left table.

• Cross join returns the Cartesian product of b...read more

Tableau can connect to SAS environment through ODBC or SAS/ACCESS Interface.

• Tableau can use ODBC to connect to SAS environment and access data.

• SAS/ACCESS Interface can also be used to connect Tableau to SAS environment.

• Tableau can directly connect to SAS datasets and tables.

• Tableau can also use SAS data connectors to access data from SAS environment.

Sources for preparing a report include primary research, secondary research, data analysis, expert opinions, and industry reports.

• Primary research such as surveys, interviews, and observations

• Secondary research from academic journals, books, and online databases

• Data analysis using statistical tools and software

• Expert opinions from industry professionals or consultants

• Industry reports from market research firms or government agencies

I would use a combination of search filters, keywords, and metadata to efficiently search for relevant content.

• Identify the specific pool of resources and their organization

• Use search filters such as date, author, and type of content

• Utilize relevant keywords and synonyms

• Take advantage of metadata such as tags and descriptions

• Consider the context and purpose of the search

• Refine the search based on initial results

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

Values are principles or beliefs that guide behavior. Basic journal entries are records of financial transactions.

• Values are important in shaping organizational culture and decision-making processes

• Journal entries are used to record transactions such as sales, purchases, and expenses

• Debits and credits are used to balance journal entries

• Examples of journal entries include recording a sale, paying rent, and buying inventory

Derivatives are financial contracts that derive their value from an underlying asset. Futures and options are types of derivatives. OTC stands for over-the-counter.

• Derivatives are used for hedging or speculation.

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

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

• OTC refers to trades that are not conducted ...read more

To troubleshoot netbackup 13 backup failure, check logs, verify connectivity, and ensure proper configuration.

• Check the logs for any error messages or warnings

• Verify connectivity between the backup server and the client

• Ensure that the backup policy is properly configured

• Check for any conflicts with other backup jobs or processes

• Verify that the backup media is available and properly configured

• Consider running a test backup to isolate the issue

The treasury stock method is used to calculate the potential dilution of stock options and warrants. It assumes that the proceeds from the exercise of options and warrants are used to buy back shares at the average market price.

• TSM calculates the dilutive effect of stock options and warrants

• It assumes that the proceeds from the exercise of options and warrants are used to buy back shares at the average market price

• The difference between the number of shares issued and the num...read more

Different regression models are used based on the type of data and relationship between variables.

• Linear regression is used when there is a linear relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

• Logistic regression is used when the dependent variable is binary.

• Polynomial regression is used when the relationship between variables is non-linear.

• Ridge regression is used when there is multicollinearity in the data.

• Lasso regression is used when feature selection is im...read more

NumPy arrays are faster and more efficient than Python lists.

• NumPy arrays are homogeneous and can only contain elements of the same data type.

• NumPy arrays support vectorized operations, making them faster for mathematical operations.

• NumPy arrays use less memory than Python lists.

• NumPy arrays can be easily reshaped and transposed.

• Example: calculating the dot product of two arrays is faster with NumPy than with Python lists.

• Example: reshaping an array to a different size is eas...read more

Ledger entries are individual transactions recorded in an account, while statement entries are a summary of transactions for a period.

• Ledger entries are detailed records of individual transactions, while statement entries are a summary of transactions for a period.

• Ledger entries are used to create statement entries.

• Statement entries are used to reconcile accounts.

• For example, a ledger entry might be a check written for $100, while a statement entry would be the total amount o...read more

getch() reads a character from the console without echoing it, while getche() echoes the character.

• getch() is used for password input where the characters should not be displayed on the screen.

• getche() is used for input where the user needs to see the character they are typing.

• Both functions are part of the conio.h header file in C.

• getch() returns the ASCII value of the character read, while getche() returns the character itself.

CAM (MSME etc) has components like financial assistance, technology upgradation, marketing support, and skill development.

• Financial assistance: loans, subsidies, grants, etc.

• Technology upgradation: modernization of machinery, equipment, etc.

• Marketing support: promotion, branding, advertising, etc.

• Skill development: training, workshops, seminars, etc.

• Examples: MSME has schemes like Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises, Prime Minister's Employment Generat...read more

ITIL V4 is an updated version of ITIL V3 with a focus on agility, flexibility, and collaboration.

• ITIL V4 introduces the Service Value System (SVS) which replaces the Service Lifecycle in V3.

• V4 emphasizes on the importance of collaboration and communication between different departments.

• V4 includes new practices such as Service Request Management and Problem Management.

• V4 also includes a new certification scheme with four levels of certification.

• V4 is designed to be more flexi...read more

An incident is an unplanned interruption or reduction in quality of an IT service. A change is a modification to an IT service. A problem task is a task to identify the root cause of an incident or problem.

• An incident is an event that disrupts the normal operation of an IT service, such as a server crash or network outage.

• A change is a planned modification to an IT service, such as upgrading software or hardware.

• A problem task is a task to investigate the root cause of an inc...read more

Illustrating public static void main(String args[]) in Java

• public: access modifier indicating that the method can be accessed from anywhere

• static: keyword indicating that the method belongs to the class and not to an instance of the class

• void: return type indicating that the method does not return any value

• main: name of the method that is the entry point of the program

• String args[]: parameter of the method that is an array of strings representing the command line arguments pa...read more

Mandatory checks in client position file

• Client identification information

• Position details including quantity and price

• Trade date and settlement date

• Margin requirements and collateral

• Compliance with regulatory requirements

• Accuracy and completeness of data

CLO stands for Collateralized Loan Obligation. It is a type of structured asset-backed security.

• CLOs are created by pooling together a group of loans, usually corporate loans or bonds.

• The loans are then divided into different tranches based on their level of risk and return.

• Investors can buy into different tranches based on their risk appetite and investment goals.

• Day to day activities involve monitoring the performance of the underlying loans, managing cash flows, and making...read more

A pitchbook is a presentation used by investment bankers to pitch potential clients on their services and ideas.

• Components include market analysis, financial projections, company profiles, and investment recommendations.

• Industry analysis involves researching market trends, competitive landscape, regulatory environment, and potential risks.

• Analyzing industries requires a combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis, including SWOT analysis, Porter's Five Forces, and fi...read more