Goldman Sachs Investment Banking Analyst Mock Interview

Tell me about a time you had to quickly build a financial model from incomplete information—walk me through how you validated assumptions, managed the timeline, and what the final output was used for (and what you would do differently now).

You’re asked to analyze a potential M&A transaction where the target’s revenue is volatile but margins are stable—how would you approach valuation (e.g., DCF vs. comps vs. precedent transactions), and what specific data would you prioritize to support your recommendation?

A client’s CEO wants to understand why their leverage covenant would tighten after a proposed financing structure—how would you explain the mechanics in plain English, and what underwriting sensitivities would you test before advising Goldman’s coverage team on next steps?

Imagine a high-profile live pitch at Goldman where market conditions shift overnight (e.g., rates move, comps reprice, or news impacts sector sentiment). What would you do in the first hour, and how would you communicate changes to your deal team while protecting the quality of your workstream?

We collaborate across industry groups and product teams at Goldman—describe a time you worked with someone outside your immediate function to drive a deal process forward; what was your role, how did you align on priorities, and what was the measurable outcome?