Self-Study

Self-Study is the foundation of any solid finance interview prep. It’s not just about memorizing definitions. It’s about building a solid understanding of financial concepts and relationships that you can apply confidently during interviews.

Self-Study should typically be the first step in your finance interview preparation. Focus on building a solid understanding of accounting, valuation, and M&A – you’ll need that foundation to apply concepts confidently later.

What Should You Focus on During Self-Study?

To get the most out of your self-study, it’s important to approach it with structure and intention. Focus on building a solid foundation in core finance topics before jumping into practice questions. Here's how to go about it:

1. Create a study plan.

Start with a clear and structured plan. Break the content into manageable parts and include time for regular reviews. Use tools like Excel, Trello, or a simple checklist to stay organized.

During your self-Study phase, make sure to cover these essential topics:

• Structure and interaction of the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement
• Company valuation (especially DCF and multiples)
• Basics of the leveraged buyout (LBO)
• Understanding capital structure and corporate financing
• Fundamentals of M&A processes and deal logic
• Free Cash Flow (FCF) and Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC)

2. Choose the right resources.

Self-Study is about truly understanding financial concepts. You should be able to explain, apply, and connect them in interviews. Before diving into memorizing typical questions, focus on building deep knowledge.

Different learning styles require different formats. These resources are especially helpful for building your finance foundation:

• Textbooks and lecture notes on accounting, corporate finance, and valuation
• Online courses and video tutorials on topics like DCF, LBO, and WACC (e.g. Coursera, YouTube, or Udemy)
• Summary slide decks or technical interview guides
• Excel models to practice simple valuation or LBO scenarios
• Academic papers or real-world articles on topics such as capital structure or valuation methods

Feeling unsure where to begin? You’re already in the right place with our Finance Interview Basics. We’ve summarized the most important fundamentals to give you a strong and clear starting point.

3. Learn actively.

After covering the key topics, it’s time to apply what you’ve learned. Learning becomes effective when it’s active. Try explaining core concepts in your own words, write out sample answers, and solve basic problems or mini-cases. This will help reinforce your knowledge and quickly highlight areas that need more work.

👉 Check out our Case Library with dedicated question sets tailored to finance interview prep. These examples could be especially useful for you:

Once you feel confident with the material, the next step is to practice using it in conversation. Working with peers lets you simulate real interview settings and apply your knowledge in a practical way.

👉 Visit our Meeting Board to connect with partners and prepare effectively together. For more on this topic, see our article on “Practicing with Peers.”

Key Takeaways

Self-Study is the foundation of your finance interview preparation. The goal is to build strong technical knowledge in areas like accounting, DCF, LBO, and capital structure. It’s not just about knowing the content but about applying it with confidence and explaining it clearly.

To succeed, make your learning active. Explain concepts in your own words, answer example questions in writing, and solve simple exercises. This helps strengthen your understanding step by step.

Use high-quality resources that match your learning style. Whether it’s a textbook, online course, tutorial, or Excel model, the key is to truly understand how the concepts work in practice.

When you feel confident, test your knowledge in realistic interview conversations. Practicing with others helps you learn to communicate under pressure, present yourself with confidence, and receive targeted feedback that moves you forward.