EP3. Top 10 Interview Questions & Tips for Finance/Accounting Roles with EY
Master EY Finance and Accounting interviews with expert tips from professionals who got hired. Real Q&As, preparation strategies, and insider advice for Finance roles in Australia.
Published: October 25, 2025
Updated: October 25, 2025
By: Workopia AI Career Team
EY FinanceAccountingFinancial AnalysisInterview Tips
Top 10 EY Finance Interview Questions & Expert Tips
🎯 Interview Overview
EY's Finance and Accounting interview process is designed to assess your technical skills, analytical thinking, and cultural fit. These questions are based on real interviews reported by candidates and include expert tips from Workopia AI Career Team.
Each question includes specific Do's and Don'ts to help you prepare effectively and stand out from other candidates.
1. "Tell me about yourself."
✅ Do's
- •Keep your answer under 2 minutes, focusing on education, finance experience, and key achievements.
- •End with how your background aligns with EY's values (innovation, integrity, inclusiveness).
❌ Don'ts
- •Recount your life story or mention irrelevant hobbies.
- •Speak in a monotone or sound rehearsed.
2. "Why do you want to work at EY?"
✅ Do's
- •Reference EY's purpose "Building a better working world" and its digital transformation in finance.
- •Tie your personal values (growth, teamwork, learning) to EY's culture.
❌ Don'ts
- •Say "because it's Big 4." That's too generic.
- •Mention salary or prestige as your main motivation.
3. "Walk me through a DCF model."
✅ Do's
- •Outline the key steps: forecast free cash flows → determine WACC → calculate terminal value → discount back.
- •Explain the rationale and common pitfalls (e.g., sensitivity to assumptions).
❌ Don'ts
- •Recite formulas mechanically.
- •Skip explaining how you'd sanity-check your valuation.
4. "Describe a time you worked under pressure or conflicting deadlines."
✅ Do's
- •Use the STAR method; show prioritization, communication, and composure.
- •End with measurable results (e.g., met reporting deadline, avoided errors).
❌ Don'ts
- •Say "I thrive under pressure" without an example.
- •Blame others for the stress or missed targets.
5. "What are your strengths and weaknesses?"
✅ Do's
- •Choose strengths relevant to finance—accuracy, stakeholder communication, or Excel proficiency.
- •For weaknesses, show awareness and improvement steps.
❌ Don'ts
- •Use fake weaknesses like "I work too hard."
- •List multiple flaws without showing progress.
6. "Tell us about a time you faced a difficult stakeholder."
✅ Do's
- •Choose a professional example (e.g., senior manager disagreement).
- •Explain how you listened, clarified objectives, and reached alignment.
❌ Don'ts
- •Speak negatively about the person.
- •Skip describing the resolution or your learning.
7. "How does your educational background add value to the team?"
✅ Do's
- •Highlight specific coursework (e.g., financial analysis, data analytics) and projects that match EY's work.
- •Mention transferable skills like attention to detail or presentation ability.
❌ Don'ts
- •Merely list your degree.
- •Downplay its relevance to finance.
8. "What's your experience with Excel / financial modelling?"
✅ Do's
- •Give a concrete example of models you've built (e.g., revenue forecasts, cost analysis).
- •Mention functions, pivot tables, and automation experience.
❌ Don'ts
- •Claim "expert level" without evidence.
- •Confuse data entry with analytical modelling.
9. "Tell me about a recent transaction in the industry and why it was good or bad."
✅ Do's
- •Choose a real transaction EY or its competitors advised on.
- •Analyse value creation, synergies, or valuation multiples objectively.
❌ Don'ts
- •Pick a random deal you can't discuss intelligently.
- •Give a purely emotional or opinion-based answer.
10. "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"
✅ Do's
- •Link your career goals to EY's progression (analyst → senior → manager).
- •Mention professional certification goals like CPA or CFA.
❌ Don'ts
- •Indicate you plan to leave the profession or start a business soon.
- •Focus only on personal gain instead of professional growth.
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