Investment Banking Analyst

Status
1st Year Analyst at
Group/Division/Type
Investment Banking
City
São Paulo
Interviewed
December 2021
Overall experience
Positive
Difficulty
Difficult

General Interview Information

Outcome
Accepted Offer
Interview Source
In-person
Length of Process
1-2 months

Interview Details

What did the interview consist of?
1 on 1 Interview
Group Interview
Background Check
Please describe the interview / hiring process.
As I logged into the Teams meeting, I was greeted by the two directors. The digital interface brought a sense of formality to the proceedings as we exchanged virtual greetings. Despite the physical distance, the atmosphere was charged with the anticipation that typically accompanies a job interview.

The first director, initiated the conversation with a series of technical questions, assessing my knowledge of financial markets and investment strategies. The Teams platform facilitated seamless screen sharing, allowing me to present data and charts to support my responses. Navigating through the virtual environment, I made use of the digital whiteboard feature to illustrate my analytical approaches, creating a dynamic and engaging presentation.

The second director, then shifted the focus to my soft skills and ability to collaborate. Utilizing the Teams breakout room feature, she simulated a teamwork scenario where I had to collaborate with virtual team members to address a complex problem. This exercise not only tested my ability to work collaboratively in a virtual setting but also demonstrated the versatility of my communication skills within the constraints of an online platform.

Throughout the interview, both directors utilized the Teams chat feature to exchange notes and coordinate their questions. This added an element of coordination and efficiency to the process, ensuring a thorough assessment of my capabilities from different perspectives.

As the virtual interview concluded, both directors expressed their gratitude for my participation. They outlined the next steps in the hiring process, and I left the virtual meeting room with a sense of accomplishment.
What were the most difficult or unexpected interview questions asked?
How would you approach valuing a company using a DCF analysis? Additionally, can you explain how changes in accounting principles, such as the transition from GAAP to IFRS, might impact the DCF valuation process?
How did you answer each of these questions (please be specific)?
In valuing a company through a DCF analysis, I would begin by forecasting the company's free cash flows, incorporating projections for revenue growth, operating expenses, and capital expenditures. Next, I would determine the appropriate discount rate, considering factors such as the company's cost of equity and debt. After discounting the future cash flows to their present value, I would calculate the terminal value to capture the company's ongoing value beyond the explicit forecast period.

Now, regarding changes in accounting principles, such as the shift from GAAP to IFRS, it's crucial to recognize how these changes might impact financial statements. For instance, differences in revenue recognition, expense treatment, or the handling of intangible assets could affect the reported financials. Consequently, these changes would need to be carefully considered in the DCF analysis to ensure the projections align with the chosen accounting framework, maintaining consistency and accuracy in the valuation process.

Overall Company Rankings

  • 5 Stars
  • 4 Stars
  • 3 Stars
  • 2 Stars
  • 1 Star
Overall Ranking

Overall Ranking is a score from 1 star (very bad) to 5 stars (excellent) generated based on the Company Reviews of current and former employees at this company, taking everything into account.

The number you see in the middle of the donut pie chart is the simple average of these scores. If you hover over the various sections of the donut, you will see the % breakdown of each score given.

The percentile score in the title is calculated across the entire Company Database and uses an adjusted score based on Bayesian Estimates (to account for companies that have few reviews). Simply put, as a company gets more reviews, the confidence of a "true score" increases so it is pulled closer to its simple average and away from the average of the entire dataset.

3.8
Career Advancement Opportunities

Career Advancement Opportunities is a score from 1 star (very bad) to 5 stars (excellent) generated based on the Company Reviews of current and former employees at this company, taking everything into account.

The number you see in the middle of the donut pie chart is the simple average of these scores. If you hover over the various sections of the donut, you will see the % breakdown of each score given.

The percentile score in the title is calculated across the entire Company Database and uses an adjusted score based on Bayesian Estimates (to account for companies that have few reviews). Simply put, as a company gets more reviews, the confidence of a "true score" increases so it is pulled closer to its simple average and away from the average of the entire dataset.

3.9
Senior Management

Senior Management is a score from 1 star (very bad) to 5 stars (excellent) generated based on the Company Reviews of current and former employees at this company, taking everything into account.

The number you see in the middle of the donut pie chart is the simple average of these scores. If you hover over the various sections of the donut, you will see the % breakdown of each score given.

The percentile score in the title is calculated across the entire Company Database and uses an adjusted score based on Bayesian Estimates (to account for companies that have few reviews). Simply put, as a company gets more reviews, the confidence of a "true score" increases so it is pulled closer to its simple average and away from the average of the entire dataset.

3.7

Was this interview insight helpful?

How many stars would you give to this interview insight?

No votes have been submitted yet.

video
Break into Goldman Sachs
WSO Academy helps place students in Elite Firms around the world

Other Interview Data

Associate (Vice President)
Goldman Sachs, CHICAGO, 2016
Trader (Vice President)
HSBC, New York, 2022
Vp (Vice President)
Morgan Stanley, New York, 2021
Vp (Vice President)
Morgan Stanley, New York, 2021
Quantitative Strategist (Vice President)
Morgan Stanley, NA, 2020

Extend Your Access

Add your own interview and get 1 month free