Finance case interview

You’ll typically be given a short brief or packet and this could be a company profile, financials, recent transaction data, or a simple investment scenario. You’ll have 20–60 minutes to analyze and then present your findings back to one or more bankers.

This could be one (or more!!) of the following:

• M&A recommendation (Should Company A buy Company B?)
• Valuation analysis (What is this business worth and why?)
• Industry trends + strategic advice (e.g. Should a client enter or exit a market?)
• Market sizing / LBO logic / synergies - occasionally for more technical roles

They are usually testing the following:

• Structured thinking - Can you break a problem into logical steps?
• Commercial awareness - Do you understand business drivers and industry context?
• Basic technical skills - Valuation methods, revenue drivers, margin impacts, etc.
• Presentation & communication - Are you client-ready under pressure?

What I recommend:

• Stick to a clear framework (market → company → deal rationale → risks)
• Use numbers directionally - they care more about logic than precision
• Always state your assumptions clearly
• Practice talking through your analysis aloud as bankers want to hear your thought process
• Be ready for Q&A or pushback at the end

Let me know if you’d like a sample case or walk-through and i would be happy to help!

Yes, I’ve seen quite a few of those. They’re becoming more common in IB recruiting.

Usually, you’ll get a short deck or packet (company financials, industry info, maybe some news excerpts) and 30–60 minutes to analyze.

What it often involves:

• Basic valuation (multiples, DCF, comps)
• Assessing a strategic move (M&A, IPO, debt vs. equity financing)
• Forming a recommendation (“Should they buy/sell/raise capital?”)
• Then presenting in a structured, concise way.

My tip: don’t overcomplicate. Focus on a clear framework (Context → Key Numbers → Pros/Cons → Recommendation).

Practice doing a quick mini-presentation aloud – clarity is more impressive than throwing every number at them.

And remember, they want to see your thought process and communication skills just as much as the “right” answer. You’ll do great! 😊

In most finance case interviews you will get a packet with some company information and financials, sometimes just a few pages. You usually have time on your own to work through it before presenting your view. The case can focus on different angles, but valuation and deal rationale are very common.

The best preparation is to practice with actual case studies or examples from investment banking. Focus on getting comfortable reading a small set of financials under time pressure, deciding what matters, and turning it into a short recommendation. It is less about building a perfect model and more about showing a structured and confident thought process.

Hey!

Finance case interviews for IB typically test how you think through a real-world transaction scenario rather than expecting a perfect technical answer. You might be given a company’s financials and asked to assess whether it’s an attractive acquisition target, how you’d value it, or what risks to highlight. 

Sometimes it’s more qualitative, like evaluating strategic fit in an M&A deal or how you’d advise a client on raising capital. The key is showing structured thinking: outline your approach, walk through assumptions logically, and explain how you’d prioritize key drivers.

When presenting your findings, focus on clarity and client-ready communication. Keep your structure simple: give a headline recommendation, back it up with 2–3 supporting points, and acknowledge uncertainties or risks. 

Don’t get lost in minor details—the interviewer wants to see whether you can think like an advisor who frames issues clearly for a client. Practicing a few mock cases and timing yourself will help you strike the right balance between depth and conciseness.

Hey There!

In an investment banking case interview, you’ll typically be presented with a real or hypothetical transaction scenario, such as a potential M&A deal, a financing situation, or a valuation challenge. Your task is to analyze the information provided, make key assumptions, and develop recommendations while considering financial, strategic, and market factors. The interview usually involves building a simple financial model or performing valuation calculations, then presenting your findings clearly and concisely to the interviewer. They will often ask follow-up questions to test your reasoning, ability to defend assumptions, and understanding of broader market or strategic implications, so practicing structured problem-solving and clear communication is essential.