Financial Analysis

► What monitoring skills do you possess involving economic, corporate and industrial developments?

► What steps do you take when preparing plans of action for financial analysis?

► Have you presented oral or written reports on entire industries, individual corporations or economic trends?

► Can you describe some recommendations you have to companies or individuals concerning investment procedures?

► How do you attract new corporate clients?

► What computer systems would you use to prepare illustrated technical reports using graphs, spreadsheets and draw charts?

► What various securities in this industry are you familiar with and how would you compare and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses?

► How do you interpret data concerning investment programs?

► Can you define price yields, stability economic influences, future trends and investment risks?

► How do you acquire knowledge of developments in the field of industrial technologies?

► Can you relate some basic business, finance and economic theories?

► How do you relate with program administrators and financial personnel?

► Do you compile and share monthly data involving income, investment, sales forecasting, shipments and cash flow reports?

► What long range plans have you implemented for the firm?

► Are your accounting and knowledge of financial systems abilities used to integrate profit/loss reports?

► Have you been responsible for maintaining a financial system database?

► Have you ever prepared work force reviews?

► Which stocks do you frequently track? Why?

► What profitability models have you used for forecasting a project? Which model do you consider to be the best one, based on your experience?

► Are you familiar with developing business casing and ad-hoc analysis?

► When you are given a large financial analysis project, what is the first thing you do?

► Describe a project; what financial practices did you target?

► What methodologies do you use in your financial analysis?

► Can you describe the practices you use for analysis of financial and management reporting?

► Do you have experience in annual planning processes?

► What profitability models have you used for forecasting a project?

► Are you familiar with developing business casing and ad hoc analysis?

► How would you maintain this information throughout a project?

► Have you ever worked on a budget for an expansion program?

► Describe a project; what financial practices did you target?

► Can you explain quarterly forecasting, updating revenue and expense models?

► Describe projects in which you have implemented these skills?

► In conjunction with these projects how do you execute input of detailed plans and forecast into the financial systems?

► Describe how you coordinate plan transfers?

► Are you familiar with creating daily sales reports?

► What processes do you use to create reports?

► Have you created month-end sales reports?

► Have these reports involved your knowledge of analysis concerning actual and planned revenues, balance sheets and expenses?

► What processes do you use to create reports?

► What systems and programs would you use to prepare illustrated technical reports using graphs, spreadsheets and draw charts?

► Can you explain financial models?

► Have you created month-end sales reports?

► How do you calculate a company's cash flow?

A financial analyst is a person who performs financial analysis for external or internal clients as a core part of the job.

Analysts are hired by banks, buy- and sell-side investment firms, insurance companies and investment banks. Of these specialties, three major categories of analysts are those that work for 'sell-side' investment firms, those that work for 'buy-side' investment firms and those that work for investment banks.

► Tell me about yourself?

► What are your biggest strengths?

► Why did you leave your last job?

► What are your career goals?

► Why do you want to work here?

► What is your greatest weakness?

► What do co-workers say about you?

► Are you applying for other jobs?

As interoffice protocol goes, analysts interact with each other as colleagues while they tend to report to a portfolio manager or other senior in management. A junior analyst may work his or her way up to a senior analyst in a period of three to five years. For senior analysts who continue to look for career advancement, there is the potential to become a portfolio manager, a partner in an investment bank or senior management in a retail bank or an insurance company. Some analysts go on to become investment advisers or financial consultants.

Financial analysts often assess the following elements of a firm:

★ Profitability

★ Solvency

★ Liquidity

★ Stability

► What courses do you taking part in?

► What qualifications do you have beyond academics that qualify you t o make a successful transition into business?

► If you could start again, what major would you choose?

► Why are you applying for a job in a field other than your major?

► What did you learn from your summer jobs?

► What extracurricular activities were you involved in?

► Why did you choose your's major?

► Why did you change majors?

► What activities did you enjoy the most?

► What classes did you enjoy the most? The least?

► In what courses did you get the worst grades? Why?

► Are your grades a good measure of your ability?

► Give me an example of a problem you've had at school and how you solved it?

► How does your degree prepare you (a) for a career in [industry] or (b) to excel as a [job title]?

► What professional certificates are you going to take part in?

It is performed by professionals who prepare reports using ratios that make use of information taken from financial statements and other reports. These reports are usually presented to top management as one of their bases in making business decisions.

I am extremely impatient. I expect my employees to prove themselves on the very first assignment. If they fail, my tendency is to stop delegating to them and start doing everything myself.

To compensate for my own weakness, however, I have started to really prep my people on exactly what will be expected of them.

► Why did you apply for a position with this organization?

► Why would you like to work for us?

► Can you tell me what you know about our company?

► What qualities do you have that make you a better hire for our company than your competition?

► What experience or knowledge do you bring to the table that will help our company improve or grow?

► What challenges do you expect to experience in this company's financial analyst role?

Financial analysis refers to an assessment of the viability, stability and profitability of a business, sub-business or project.