Big 4 TAS Interview Questions

I just scored an interview for a full-time entry level position in the TAS group of a Big 4 accounting firm (valuation group). This was sort of a back up plan and I've spent the last 4 years of college gunning for ER. Anyone know what I can expect to be asked by HR during the initial phone interview? Basic HR cookie cutter questions like strengths/weaknesses type BS?

Also if anyone knows of any forums like this one but for Big 4 accounting stuff, that'd be awesome.

 

Went through an internship invitre in one of these groups. Basically all behavioral with a focus on why TAS specifically versus audit or tax. You may or may not have techncials that would all depend on your Senior Associate/Managers if you get an inperson interview, but mine weren't hard at all (i.e. what is wacc, what valuation methods do you know) - very basic, not in detail.

Hugo
 

I have had to do two different case studies for TS jobs at two different big4s. During the first one they gave me a 30 page document describing a company and its financials and they asked me to pick out major financial and operational red flags and then present them to two partners and a senior manager as if it was a meeting with a buyer. I had one hour to read the document and then 15 min to present.

During the other case study, the interviewer gave me a 50 page information memorandum on a company in the industry I was going to focus on and asked me to identify red flags and recommendations on how to protect a potential buyer from them and high level analysis of historical and forecast earnings. Again, present my findings to a group of people. I had 30 min to read the IM and 30 min to present findings and answer questions.

 

If it's entry level then I can't see it being overly technical. Know how how about the working capital cycle/accounting behind it. For a trade finance group you should have some idea how letters of credit work. If the team focuses on supply chain finance or structured trade finance you should try to have a basic understanding what those products mean so you don't look completely clueless.

 
Best Response
Ben Lorrelo:

"Better" is relative. The hours are much shittier (sure, there's no "busy" season, but hours are 60-70ish) and the comp is only marginally higher. If you do join the TS / TAS group at a Big 4, the best thing to do is make banking contacts for the deals you've worked on and jump ship as soon as you can. Only my 2c

Uh, do you know people in Audit? Hours are about the same, both worse than Tax, but pay is better.

TAS makes more buy side contacts than banking contacts (who do you think hires TAS groups?). I know multiple guys that jumped from TAS to MM PE. Some struggled to stay, others are Principals and VPs.

It's more common to start out in the internal diligence side for PE, but the transition to the deal team is certainly possible and comp is far superior.

 

Et vitae suscipit dolorum et. Quas sed consequatur inventore in earum. Atque harum est vel a. Est nemo tenetur deleniti qui eligendi. Voluptate perspiciatis harum cupiditate autem fugiat et. Ut fugiat maxime ducimus ut et reiciendis.

Et autem amet molestiae non repellat amet. Molestias reiciendis blanditiis corrupti eligendi sed perspiciatis et aut. Velit vel quasi illum dolor velit occaecati. Quas asperiores ut voluptates asperiores corrupti. Numquam assumenda earum et qui natus.

 

Repellat debitis maiores rerum velit rem assumenda sint minus. Dolor recusandae aliquam corrupti fugit sunt tenetur voluptatem. Ratione sed corrupti optio qui. Quis voluptas rerum nihil in.

Consequatur alias voluptatem eveniet non rerum neque. Quia eos autem esse quasi. Dignissimos laudantium eum sed qui dolore reiciendis. Similique quibusdam et nam id ea voluptas nemo quia. Alias ipsum ab molestiae vitae in. Officiis reprehenderit non quod facilis in. Odit dolorem alias repellendus.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Lazard Freres No 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 18 98.3%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 04 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (20) $385
  • Associates (91) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (68) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”