800+ Senior Analyst Interview Questions and Answers

Capital markets are financial markets where companies and governments can raise funds through the issuance and trading of securities.

• OTC (over-the-counter) refers to the trading of securities directly between two parties without the involvement of an exchange.

• Derivatives are financial instruments that derive their value from an underlying asset, such as stocks, bonds, or commodities.

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

• Capital markets can incl...read more

Data validation ensures data is accurate and useful. Delete removes specific records, truncate removes all records, drop removes entire table.

• Data validation ensures data is accurate, complete, and useful for analysis

• Delete removes specific records from a table based on a condition

• Truncate removes all records from a table, but keeps the table structure

• Drop removes an entire table from the database

• Example: DELETE FROM table_name WHERE condition;

• Example: TRUNCATE TABLE table_na...read more

Java is a statically typed language with a strong emphasis on object-oriented programming, while Python is dynamically typed and focuses on simplicity and readability.

• Java is statically typed, meaning variable types are explicitly declared, while Python is dynamically typed.

• Java is strongly typed, enforcing strict type checking, while Python is weakly typed.

• Java is compiled into bytecode that runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), while Python is interpreted at runtime.

• Java ...read more

Mutex is used to prevent multiple threads from accessing shared resources simultaneously.

• Use mutex when multiple threads need to access shared resources to avoid data corruption

• Example: Using mutex to protect a critical section of code where shared data is being modified

• Mutex can be used in multithreading applications to ensure data integrity and prevent race conditions

Internal and external tables in Hive are two types of tables used to store data in Hive.

• Internal tables store data in a default location managed by Hive

• External tables store data in a location specified by the user

• Internal tables are deleted when the table is dropped, while external tables retain data in the specified location

• Example: CREATE TABLE internal_table (col1 INT, col2 STRING) STORED AS ORC;

• Example: CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE external_table (col1 INT, col2 STRING) LOCATIO...read more

I have experience with both ITGC and application controls testing for SOX compliance.

• Performed walkthroughs to assess design effectiveness of controls

• Executed testing procedures to evaluate operating effectiveness of controls

• Analyzed testing results and documented findings in workpapers

• Participated in remediation efforts for control deficiencies

Authorization is the process of granting access to a resource, while authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user.

• Authorization determines what a user can do with a resource, while authentication verifies who the user is.

• Authorization is based on permissions and roles, while authentication is based on credentials such as username and password.

• Examples of authorization include granting access to a file or database, while examples of authentication include ...read more

Bond price is calculated based on the present value of future cash flows.

• Bond price is affected by interest rates, credit rating, and time to maturity.

• The present value of future cash flows is calculated using a discount rate.

• Bond prices move inversely to interest rates.

• For example, if a bond has a face value of $1000, a coupon rate of 5%, and a maturity of 10 years, the bond price would be calculated as the present value of the future cash flows, which would be discounted us...read more

Profit and loss refers to the financial statement that shows a company's revenues, expenses, and net income or loss over a specific period.

• Profit is the amount of money a company earns after deducting all expenses.

• Loss is the amount of money a company loses when expenses exceed revenue.

• Profit and loss statement is also known as income statement or statement of operations.

• It helps in analyzing a company's financial performance and making informed business decisions.

• Example: If...read more

Black line is a term commonly used in finance and accounting to refer to a line item on a financial statement that represents a negative value or loss.

• Black line is often used to indicate a decrease in value or a loss on a financial statement.

• It is the opposite of a black line, which represents a positive value or profit.

• Black line can also refer to a software company that provides financial close, consolidation, and reporting solutions.

Types of users in SAP system include end users, power users, and administrators.

• End users: Regular users who perform day-to-day transactions in the system.

• Power users: Users with advanced knowledge who can perform more complex tasks and configurations.

• Administrators: Users responsible for managing the system, setting up security, and maintaining the system.

• Difference: End users primarily use the system for transactions, power users have more advanced capabilities, and adminis...read more

The number of lifts required in a building can be estimated based on factors like building size, occupancy, and usage patterns.

• Consider the size and height of the building - taller buildings may require more lifts

• Take into account the number of floors and units in the building

• Factor in the expected occupancy and usage patterns - a residential building may require fewer lifts than a commercial building

• Consider peak usage times and traffic flow to determine the optimal number o...read more

AR stands for Accounts Receivable and AP stands for Accounts Payable.

• AR refers to money owed to a company by its customers for goods or services provided on credit.

• AP refers to money owed by a company to its suppliers for goods or services purchased on credit.

• AR is an asset on the balance sheet, while AP is a liability.

• Examples: AR - outstanding invoices from customers, AP - unpaid bills to suppliers.

Collateralized loan obligation (CLO) is a type of structured asset-backed security. As a Senior Analyst, my day-to-day activities would involve analyzing and monitoring the performance of CLOs.

• Analyze and monitor the performance of CLOs

• Assess the creditworthiness of the underlying loans

• Evaluate the risk associated with the CLOs

• Create financial models to project cash flows

• Prepare reports and presentations for clients and senior management

Derivatives are financial instruments whose value is derived from an underlying asset or benchmark.

• Types of derivatives include futures contracts, options contracts, swaps, and forward contracts.

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

• Options contracts give the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an asset at a specified price within a certain timeframe.

• Swaps involve the exchange of cash flow...read more

Use the * wildcard to select everything in a query.

• Use SELECT * FROM table_name to select all columns in a table.

• Use SELECT * to select all columns from all tables in a database.

• Use SELECT * WHERE condition to select all rows that meet a specific condition.

UNION combines the results of two or more SELECT statements, while UNION ALL returns all rows including duplicates.

• UNION removes duplicate rows, UNION ALL does not

• UNION sorts the result set, UNION ALL does not

• UNION is slower than UNION ALL as it performs additional operations to remove duplicates

• Example: SELECT column1 FROM table1 UNION SELECT column1 FROM table2;

• Example: SELECT column1 FROM table1 UNION ALL SELECT column1 FROM table2;

Private equity is a type of investment where funds are raised from high net worth individuals and institutions to invest in private companies.

• Private equity firms buy and sell companies, often with the goal of improving their operations and profitability before selling them for a profit.

• Private equity investments are typically illiquid and have a long-term investment horizon.

• Private equity firms may also provide operational and strategic support to the companies they invest i...read more

Query to retrieve the third transaction of every user

• Use a subquery to rank the transactions for each user

• Filter the results to only include the third transaction for each user

There are three main types of Federal Insurance: Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security Disability Insurance.

• Medicare provides health insurance for people aged 65 and older, as well as certain younger individuals with disabilities.

• Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps with medical costs for some people with limited income and resources.

• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides benefits to individuals who are unable to work due to a disability.

Modifier 76 is used for repeat procedures by the same physician on the same day. Modifier 77 is used for repeat procedures by a different physician on the same day.

• Modifier 76 is used to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician on the same day.

• Modifier 77 is used to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by a different physician on the same day.

• These modifiers are used to distinguish between separate procedures performed on the same d...read more

Digital marketing is the promotion of products or services using digital technologies.

• It involves various channels such as social media, email, search engines, and websites.

• Python sorting program is a code that arranges data in a specific order using the Python programming language.

• Digital marketing can use Python sorting program to analyze and sort data for better targeting and personalization.

Incoterms are a set of international rules defining the responsibilities of buyers and sellers in international trade.

• Incoterms are published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

• They cover aspects such as delivery, risk transfer, and costs associated with the transportation of goods

• Examples of Incoterms include EXW (Ex Works), FOB (Free on Board), and CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight)

Private equity and hedge funds differ in investment strategies, fee structures, and liquidity.

• Private equity invests in private companies and seeks to actively manage and grow them, while hedge funds invest in various assets and use different strategies to generate returns.

• Private equity typically charges a management fee based on committed capital, while hedge funds charge a management fee based on assets under management.

• Private equity often has a carried interest or perfor...read more

Iterating effectively in a dataset involves understanding the data structure, setting clear objectives, using appropriate tools, and analyzing results.

• Understand the data structure and variables before starting the iteration process.

• Set clear objectives and define the criteria for success to guide the iteration.

• Use appropriate tools such as programming languages or statistical software to efficiently iterate through the dataset.

• Analyze the results of each iteration to make in...read more

Answering questions on writing apex triggers and types of relationships in Salesforce.

• To write an apex trigger, go to Setup > Develop > Apex Triggers > New Trigger

• Choose the object you want to create the trigger for and write the code logic

• Types of relationships in Salesforce include Lookup, Master-Detail, and Many-to-Many

• Lookup relationship is a simple association between two objects

• Master-Detail relationship is a parent-child relationship where the child record cannot exist...read more

I am a finance professional with expertise in financial projects, financial ratios, and their impact on share prices.

• I have experience in leading finance projects from start to finish

• I am well-versed in analyzing financial ratios and interpreting their implications

• I understand how financial ratios can impact share prices and can provide insights on this

• I have worked with various financial ratios such as liquidity ratios, profitability ratios, and solvency ratios

• I am familiar ...read more

Pyramids of matrix refer to the hierarchical structure of a matrix organization.

• The pyramids represent the levels of authority and decision-making within the organization.

• The higher up the pyramid, the more power and responsibility the individual holds.

• Examples include CEO at the top, followed by executives, managers, and then employees.

• The pyramids can vary in size and complexity depending on the organization's structure.

• They can also be used to visualize the flow of communi...read more

Levered beta includes the impact of debt on a company's risk, while unlevered beta does not.

• Levered beta measures a company's risk with debt included in the calculation.

• Unlevered beta measures a company's risk without considering the impact of debt.

• Levered beta is higher than unlevered beta for companies with debt.

• Unlevered beta is useful for comparing the risk of companies with different capital structures.

I manage security through a combination of technical measures and employee training.

• Implementing firewalls, antivirus software, and encryption protocols

• Conducting regular security audits and vulnerability assessments

• Enforcing strong password policies and multi-factor authentication

• Providing ongoing security training and awareness programs for employees

• Maintaining up-to-date incident response plans and disaster recovery procedures

EoxVantage is a software company that provides energy trading and risk management solutions.

• EoxVantage offers a cloud-based platform for energy trading and risk management.

• Their software solutions include ETRM, CTRM, and EMIS.

• EoxVantage serves clients in the energy industry, including utilities, traders, and producers.

• They provide real-time market data and analytics to help clients make informed decisions.

• EoxVantage also offers consulting and training services to help clients...read more

Key components of SOPs include purpose, scope, responsibilities, procedures, and revisions.

• Purpose: Clearly defined objective or goal of the SOP.

• Scope: Specific areas or processes that the SOP applies to.

• Responsibilities: Roles and duties of individuals involved in following the SOP.

• Procedures: Step-by-step instructions on how to carry out tasks or processes.

• Revisions: Process for updating and maintaining the SOP to reflect changes.

• Examples: SOP for data entry, SOP for labora...read more

D2C startups in India are thriving with innovative business models.

• D2C startups are disrupting traditional retail models by directly selling to consumers through online channels.

• Companies like Mamaearth, boAt, and Wakefit are leading the way with their unique product offerings and marketing strategies.

• The pandemic has accelerated the growth of D2C startups as more consumers turn to online shopping.

• Exciting business models include subscription-based services, personalized prod...read more

Exposures include credit, market, operational, and liquidity. CSA is a Credit Support Annex. Product types include derivatives, bonds, and loans.

• Exposures can be credit, market, operational, or liquidity related

• CSA stands for Credit Support Annex and is a legal document that regulates collateral for derivatives transactions

• Product types can include derivatives, bonds, and loans

Valuation models are methods used to determine the value of an asset or company.

• Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model

• Comparable Company Analysis (CCA) model

• Precedent Transaction Analysis (PTA) model

• Asset-based Valuation model

• Dividend Discount Model (DDM)

• Earnings Multiple model

I have experience working with Genesys WFM and Aspect WFM tools.

• Genesys WFM

• Aspect WFM

I am currently interested in exploring the field of data analytics and machine learning.

• Learning new programming languages such as Python and R

• Exploring data visualization tools like Tableau and Power BI

• Reading research papers on machine learning algorithms

• Participating in online courses and workshops on data analytics

On-page SEO refers to optimizing individual web pages to rank higher and earn more relevant traffic in search engines.

• Keyword research and optimization

• Title tags and meta descriptions

• Header tags (H1, H2, etc.)

• Content optimization (including internal linking)

• Image optimization

• URL structure

• Page speed optimization

• Mobile responsiveness

• Schema markup

• User experience (UX) design

Derivatives are financial contracts that derive their value from 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.

• Derivatives can be used to manage risk or to take on additional risk for potential profit.

• Derivatives can be complex and require a deep understanding of financial markets and instruments.

Risk management is the process of identifying, assessing, and controlling potential risks that could affect an organization's objectives.

• Identifying potential risks

• Assessing the likelihood and impact of each risk

• Developing strategies to control or mitigate risks

• Monitoring and reviewing risk management processes

• Examples include financial risk, operational risk, and reputational risk

My strength is my analytical skills and attention to detail. My weakness is that I can be overly critical of my own work.

• Strength: Analytical skills

• Strength: Attention to detail

• Weakness: Being overly critical of my own work

Query to find nth highest salary in SQL

• Use the ORDER BY clause to sort the salaries in descending order

• Use the DISTINCT keyword to eliminate duplicates

• Use LIMIT and OFFSET to get the nth highest salary

I have used namespaces such as std, boost, and Eigen in my code.

• std

• boost

• Eigen

ASP.NET page life cycle is a series of events that occur when a page is requested, processed, and rendered.

• Page request is received by the server

• Page is initialized, controls are created and properties are set

• Page is loaded with data and events are handled

• Page is rendered to HTML and sent to the client

• Page is unloaded and resources are released

Use SQL query with ORDER BY and LIMIT to select last 5 records in a table

• Use SELECT statement to retrieve data from the table

• Use ORDER BY clause to sort the records in descending order based on a column

• Use LIMIT clause to limit the number of records returned to 5

Procurement is the process of acquiring goods or services. Incoterms are international trade terms. ECO and MCO are unclear acronyms.

• Procurement involves sourcing, negotiating, and purchasing goods or services.

• Incoterms are standardized terms used in international trade to define the responsibilities of buyers and sellers.

• ECO and MCO are unclear acronyms and require further clarification.

Contractual obligations are legally binding agreements between parties, while structural obligations are inherent responsibilities within a system or organization.

• Contractual obligations are based on agreements between parties, often outlined in contracts or agreements.

• Structural obligations are inherent responsibilities within a system or organization, such as following policies and procedures.

• Contractual obligations can be enforced through legal action if not fulfilled, whi...read more