1. Explain me what is working capital?
Working capital is defined as current assets minus current liabilities; it tells the financial statement user how much cash is tied up in the business through items such as receivables and inventories and also how much cash is going to be needed to pay off short term obligations in the next 12 months.
2. Tell me what does a Financial Analyst do?
The role of financial analysts is to audit or inspect the economy. Along with this, they also assist the industries and companies to decide in investment decisions for banks, corporations, investment firms and insurance companies. They are said to be the title for many chore responsibilities which can be budgeting, accounting, or cost analysis. The main aspect required to attend a financial analyst interview is to present your skills in analyzing the economic conditions and understanding the basic financial analysis.
3. Explain me what kind of salary do you expect as Finance Analyst?
This are some tricky interview questions for analyst and you would really lose it if you answer it straight away. Remember not to answer the question where you can frame your answer in a way where you can mention that it's a tough question or ask the employer to tell you the range for the position. You can just answer that it depends on the financial analyst responsibilities and job roles.
4. What are your career goals as Finance Analyst?
By asking this question the employer would test your ambition and ability to develop yourself and also plan for your future as a financial analyst. When you have not decided on the goals then mention that you're busy with the organization and its duties and hence focus on long-term goals. If you have short term goals or career oriented goals then you can mention them that what you desire to become in the next 2 or 5 years.
5. Pick one financial concept and explain it to me?
Break even point, this would be the analysis to determine the point at which revenue received equals the costs associated with receiving the revenue.
6. Tell us why do you want to become a financial analyst?
I enjoy working with data and excel.
7. Which is more beneficial, increase price by a percent, or increase customer base by a percent?
Increase customer base by a percent.
8. Tell us what other factors should you consider besides NPV when selecting a project?
Period of project, incoming fund flow and cash out flow, market condition, work certification procedure and payment period, client reputation, forex flatuation chances, etc.
9. Tell me in your spare time, what magazines, newspapers, journals, do you read?
I read business times of different news paper to understand the current economic trend and money market trent.
10. Tell me what process do you follow to create reports?
Analyzing the data, talking the data over with colleagues, and finally formatting the reports.
11. Tell me a situation where you had to meet a tight deadline?
Gathering of information from trade and bank references. Review the current account if it is a current client and compare financial statements.
12. As you know who is a Financial Analyst?
The financial analyst position is one of the money making position in a financial sector. It is one of the crucial position in any industry or organization. Now let us see the roles and responsibilities,
13. Walk me through a cash flow statement?
Start with net income, go line by line through major adjustments (depreciation, changes in working capital and deferred taxes) to arrive at cash flows from operating activities.
☛ Mention capital expenditures, asset sales, purchase of intangible assets, and purchase/sale of investment securities to arrive at cash flow from investing activities.
☛ Mention repurchase/issuance of debt and equity and paying out dividends to arrive at cash flow from financing activities.
☛ Adding cash flows from operations, cash flows from investments, and cash flows from financing gets you to total change of cash.
☛ Beginning-of-period cash balance plus change in cash allows you to arrive at end-of-period cash balance.
14. Tell me which financial statement would you analyze if you could only choose one?
Cash flow statement because you get a real overview of how the company can manage to pay for it's operations and future growth.
15. What frustrates you as Finance Analyst?
Nothing actually frustrate me, when my financial analysis does not go down well, I exploit all technicalities to arrive at convincing analysis.
16. Please explain the attributes you possess that will make you successful in this position?
My personality is positive and I enjoy credit and collections. Making a good situation from a bad one. Collecting funds for delinquent accounts by respecting clients and being professional at all times.
17. Explain what are your long term career goals?
I want to eventually have a higher degree, and eventually with as a due diligence analyst.
18. Tell us how is the income statement linked to the balance sheet?
Net income flows into retained earnings.
19. Do you know what is goodwill?
Goodwill is an asset that captures excess of the purchase price over fair market value of an acquired business. Let's walk through the following example: Acquirer buys Target for $500m in cash. Target has 1 asset: PPE with book value of $100, debt of $50m, and equity of $50m = book value (A-L) of $50m.
☛ Acquirer records cash decline of $500 to finance acquisition
☛ Acquirer's PP&E increases by $100m
☛ Acquirer's debt increases by $50m
☛ Acquirer records goodwill of $450m
Capital expenditures are capitalized because of the timing of their estimated benefits – the lemonade stand will benefit the firm for many years. The employees' work, on the other hand, benefits the period in which the wages are generated only and should be expensed then. This is what differentiates an asset from an expense.
For answering this accounting interview question you must not mention the specific program but mention the usage of one program over the other. You can also mention that you would are willing and have the capability to use any program that the organization opts. You can mention that Microsoft excel is the one you prefer as it provides more of statistical and analytical references. In the same manner, to have an enhanced view of graphs or charts which assist in illustration of points, you can mention reports ultimate.
Irrespective of whatever you have used, mention that you have utilized multiple software programs in preparation of reports. Also never forget to mention that you have the ability to capture and become proficient in whatever program the organization follows for the preparation of reports.
The evaluation of performance by means of variance is mentioned as variance analysis. Its timely reporting is one which enhances the opportunity for remedial action. You can mention your previous example about variance analysis and the way you used it. in order to answer this question make sure to identify the issue, discourse about variance analysis, its reason and impact and also a projected corrective measure.
To answer this question it solely depends on one's philosophy. The main characteristic in order to become a good financial analyst is that he should possess the capability to take the right financial decision at the appropriate time before other pop up with a decision.
24. Explain about a time when you presented an oral report on a specific industry or corporation?
My strength is heading up seminars for sales explaining the requirements of the credit department in the paint industry. I first took a quick survey from the sales staff asking question regarding their concerns about our credit department and took that information back to management.
Management was looking to make a change in the company they were using for their uniforms. Upon analyzing the new potential contract it was going to cost us more in the long run by changing companies so they decided to stay with the current uniform company.
