Best way to prepare for a finance interview in 7 days

Question

Hi! I have two upcoming investment banking interviews, one next week and another the following month. I’ve gone through some technical guides and accounting refreshers, but I’ve never done a full technical interview under pressure.

One of the interviews will involve working through a valuation exercise in Excel, which I’ve never practiced before. I’m not sure how different this is compared to answering technicals verbally. With only a week to prepare, what should I focus on, and how can I balance core technical prep with practicing Excel-based valuation tasks?

Thank you!

Answer 1

Hi there,

With just a week, you’ll want to be very focused. Since you’ve already reviewed guides, shift from passive reading to active practice. Spend a few hours each day drilling the most common technicals—valuation methods, accounting linkages, DCF mechanics, and key multiples—by saying answers out loud so you get used to explaining under pressure. For the Excel valuation, download a few simple case studies or templates online and practice building a quick 3-statement model or DCF from scratch; speed and structure matter more than perfection. Simulate timed exercises to get comfortable working efficiently. Balance your prep so mornings are technical Q&A and evenings are Excel practice, then use the last two days to do mock interviews and one or two full valuation runs without notes. The goal isn’t to master every detail, but to show you can think clearly, work cleanly in Excel, and communicate confidently.

Best,
Harrshit M Kansal, CFA, MBA

Answer 2

Hey,

with just seven days, I’d focus on nailing the fundamentals first. That means knowing your basic accounting, valuation methods, and how the three statements connect. Practice walking through DCFs, comps, and LBOs out loud so it feels natural, not memorized.

For the Excel part, don’t panic. It’s usually less about complex formulas and more about how well you understand the logic behind the model. Try to build a basic DCF from scratch in Excel.

I’d split your time like this:

First 3 to 4 days: solidify technicals, do mock Q&A, review formulas and concepts
Last 3 days: practice building small models in Excel and walk yourself through the logic verbally

And don’t forget to fit in a few behavioral answers. A clear story can make a huge difference if you're on the edge technically.

You’ve got this. One focused week can move the needle a lot.

Answer 3

Hey!

With just a week to prepare, focus first on mastering the core technicals that come up in almost every investment banking interview, such as three-statement linking, DCF fundamentals, multiples-based valuation, and key accounting adjustments.

Make sure you can explain these concepts clearly and walk through them verbally, as this will give you confidence during both technical questions and any discussion around your Excel work. Prioritize understanding the logic behind each step rather than memorizing formulas.

Once you are comfortable with the concepts, dedicate time to practicing Excel-based valuation exercises. Start with simple scenarios, such as building a mini DCF or adjusting comparable company multiples, and time yourself to simulate interview pressure.

Focus on speed, accuracy, and clearly presenting your results. Balancing verbal technical prep with hands-on Excel practice ensures you can both reason through problems and execute them efficiently, which is exactly what interviewers want to see.