Goldman Sachs · Finance

Goldman Sachs Investment Banking Analyst Interview Questions & Preparation

Quick answer

A Goldman Sachs Investment Banking Analyst interview combines Goldman Sachs's 4-stage process — application & tests, hirevue video interview, superday, offer — with the technical and behavioural bar for a Investment Banking Analyst. Expect Goldman Sachs to assess excellence and client service, alongside core investment banking analyst skills like valuation (dcf, comps, precedent) and accounting & financial statements. Prepare investment banking analyst answers framed around what Goldman Sachs specifically looks for.

How Goldman Sachs interviews Investment Banking Analysts

Goldman Sachs is a leading global investment bank, recruiting into divisions from investment banking and markets to engineering and asset management. Its process is demanding and division-specific, assessing technical strength, commercial awareness and cultural fit.

For a Investment Banking Analyst specifically, Goldman Sachs pairs its standard assessment with a technical bar focused on valuation (dcf, comps, precedent), accounting & financial statements, financial modelling. Investment banking interviews are technically demanding and detail-obsessed. Banks want analysts who know valuation cold, can stay precise under pressure, and have genuine, well-researched motivation for the gruelling but high-paying role. Spring weeks and internships are the main entry routes.

The Goldman Sachs interview process

Goldman Sachs interview process1Application & tests2HireVue video interview3Superday4Offer
Goldman Sachs interview process
StageWhat to expect
Application & testsCV screen plus online aptitude assessments.
HireVue video interviewRecorded behavioural and competency questions.
SuperdayMultiple back-to-back interviews — technical, behavioural and commercial — with senior staff.
OfferDecision and offer, often with a quick turnaround.

What Goldman Sachs assesses

ExcellenceClient serviceIntegrityTeamworkDrive

Investment Banking Analyst questions at Goldman Sachs

Expect a blend of Goldman Sachs's signature questions and core investment banking analyst questions:

  1. 1Why Goldman Sachs, and why this division?
  2. 2Walk me through a DCF (for banking) / a coding problem (for engineering).
  3. 3Tell me about a recent market or deal story that interests you.
  4. 4Walk me through a DCF.
  5. 5How do the three financial statements link together?
  6. 6What are the main valuation methodologies?
  7. 7Why investment banking, and why this bank?
  8. 8Walk me through an LBO at a high level.
  9. 9Tell me about a recent deal or market story that interests you.

Example STAR answer

The STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, ResultSSituationSet the sceneTTaskYour responsibilityAActionWhat you didRResultThe measurable outcome
The STAR method — structure every behavioural answer around these four steps.

Example answer to: “Tell me about a time you delivered precise work under intense pressure.”

SituationDuring a finance society stock pitch, our valuation model had an error the night before presenting to industry judges.
TaskI had to find and fix it without missing the deadline.
ActionI rebuilt the DCF assumptions from scratch, cross-checked every link between the statements, and had a teammate sense-check the output.
ResultWe presented a clean, defensible valuation and won the competition against ten other teams.

Skills assessed

Valuation (DCF, comps, precedent)Accounting & financial statementsFinancial modellingCommercial awarenessAttention to detail

How to prepare for a Goldman Sachs Investment Banking Analyst interview

  • Tailor technicals to the division (finance vs engineering).
  • Have current commercial awareness ready.
  • Know valuation and accounting cold — technicals are non-negotiable.
  • Have 1–2 recent deals or market stories ready to discuss.
  • Make your 'why banking' genuine and specific, not generic.
  • Be precise — small errors signal you'd be risky on live deals.

Investment Banking Analyst salary

UK investment banking analysts typically earn £50k–£60k base in year one, with bonuses often taking total compensation to £70k–£90k+.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Goldman Sachs Investment Banking Analyst interview process involve?

Goldman Sachs's process runs through application & tests, hirevue video interview, superday, offer. For a Investment Banking Analyst, the technical rounds focus on valuation (dcf, comps, precedent), accounting & financial statements, financial modelling, and behavioural rounds assess excellence and client service.

What is a Goldman Sachs superday?

The final stage — multiple back-to-back interviews in one day, covering technical, behavioural and commercial questions with senior staff.

What technical questions are asked in investment banking interviews?

Valuation (DCF, comparable companies, precedent transactions), how the three financial statements link, accounting basics, and at senior banks, LBO and M&A mechanics.

How do I get into investment banking?

The main routes are spring weeks and summer internships that convert to graduate offers. Strong technicals, commercial awareness and genuine motivation are essential.

Preparing for a Goldman Sachs Investment Banking Analyst interview?

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