Accounting and Financial Management Interview Experiences
KPMG
Tax Associate
Waterloo, ON
Winter 2026Accepted
University of Waterloo · Accounting and Financial Management
3rd year · 3.3-3.6 GPA · 2 past internships
Easy Interview
BehavioralConversational
Two interviews both chill. First one the guy had me walk through my resume then we chatted about why tax for like 20 minutes. Second was more structured but still conversational. Questions about strengths and weaknesses and it was the least stressful interview I did this cycle
Questions Asked
1.“Whats the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion?”
BMO Capital Markets
Investment Banking Analyst
Toronto, ON
Summer 2026Accepted
University of Waterloo · Accounting and Financial Management
3rd year · 3.7+ GPA · 1 past internship
Hard Interview
Multiple roundsTechnicalBehavioralVirtual
Know your sector going in, they asked about a recent deal in the mining space. Two rounds on Teams, first mostly behavioral (why IB, why BMO, teamwork stuff), second was technical with a VP who covered valuation multiples and how you'd think about synergies in an acquisition. Process opened 14 months before start date which felt strange but that's their cycle
Questions Asked
1.“Walk me through a DCF valuation step by step”
2.“Tell me about a time you had to push back on a deadline or deliverable”
Canada Life
Financial Analyst
London, ON
Fall 2025No Offer
University of Waterloo · Accounting and Financial Management
First screening with HR was basic background questions. Second with a manager covered what I know about life insurance products and financial reporting. Review recent insurance accounting changes if you're applying here.
Questions Asked
1.“What is purchase price allocation and when does it arise?”
Deloitte
Tax Associate
Waterloo, ON
Fall 2024No Offer
University of Waterloo · Accounting and Financial Management
2nd year · 2.9-3.2 GPA · 0 past internships
Average Interview
Multiple roundsSlow processPoor Communication
Phone screen two problems on CoderPad one easy arrays one medium heaps, solved both but apparently not fast enough. Recruiter said I'd move to onsite then emailed a week later saying no, never got a clear reason and the recruiter ghosted my follow up
Questions Asked
1.“What is capital cost allowance (CCA) and how does it differ from book depreciation?”
CIBC
Risk Analyst
Waterloo, ON
Winter 2026No Offer
University of Waterloo · Accounting and Financial Management
3rd year · 2.9-3.2 GPA · 1 past internship
Easy Interview
BehavioralMultiple roundsVirtual
Recruiter screen then a 30 min interview. Didn't get it two days later.
Questions Asked
1.“Whats the difference between systematic and idiosyncratic risk?”
2.“Describe a time you had to escalate a concern about an emerging risk”
Fairfax Financial
Financial Analyst
Toronto, ON
Summer 2026Accepted
University of Waterloo · Accounting and Financial Management
3rd year · 2.5-2.8 GPA · 1 past internship
Easy Interview
BehavioralFast processVirtual
Fairfax runs a co-op program for Waterloo students so the process felt specifically tailored. Applied through WaterlooWorks. Single interview with someone from Northbridge Financial, one of their subsidiaries. went through my resume and basic finance knowledge about the insurance holding model. Very friendly and relaxed
Questions Asked
1.“Whats the difference between gross return and net return for a private equity fund?”
BMO Capital Markets
Investment Banking Analyst
Toronto, ON
Summer 2026Pending Outcome
University of Waterloo · Accounting and Financial Management
3rd year · 3.3-3.6 GPA · 1 past internship
Hard Interview
Multiple roundsTechnicalBehavioralVirtual
Superday yesterday. Two behavioral and one technical, had to pitch a Canadian stock. Waiting on decision fingers crossed
Questions Asked
1.“Walk me through the three financial statements and how they link together”
2.“Describe a time you worked on something highly detail-oriented with no room for error”
EY
Tax Associate
Toronto, ON
Fall 2023No Offer
University of Waterloo · Accounting and Financial Management
3rd year · 2.1-2.4 GPA · 1 past internship
Easy Interview
BehavioralVirtualSlow process
Transfer pricing team, hireVue 5 questions all behavioral then two zoom interviews first asked why tax over audit and about my hobbies kind of random and second was STAR questions about handling stress.
Questions Asked
1.“Tell me about a challenging technical tax question you worked through and how you resolved it”
PwC
Audit Associate
Waterloo, ON
Summer 2026Accepted
University of Waterloo · Accounting and Financial Management
3rd year · 3.7+ GPA · 2 past internships
Easy Interview
BehavioralMultiple roundsVirtual
Assessment was pattern matching and situational stuff, 1 on 1 was behavioral CAR format and panel round was a lot but manageable
Questions Asked
1.“What are the three types of audit opinions an auditor can issue?”
2.“What is going concern and when does it become a relevant audit issue?”
KPMG
Risk Analyst
Waterloo, ON
Fall 2025No Offer
University of Waterloo · Accounting and Financial Management
3rd year · 2.9-3.2 GPA · 1 past internship
Average Interview
BehavioralVirtualMultiple rounds
Wasn't expecting Python on top of SQL and the mini case. Got through to the final round but didn't make it through after that.
Questions Asked
1.“Tell me about a complex risk problem you worked through analytically”
CRA
Auditing Student
Toronto, ON
Summer 2025No Offer
University of Waterloo · Accounting and Financial Management
3rd year · 3.3-3.6 GPA · 0 past internships
Easy Interview
Behavioral
Wonderlic aptitude test first through my university co-op office, then an interview for those who passed. Interview was behavioral and situational, not technical accounting theory. About 25 minutes. Questions about working independently and handling competing priorities
Questions Asked
1.“Describe a time you had to learn a new industry quickly for a client engagement”
KPMG
Audit Associate
Toronto, ON
Fall 2025No Offer
University of Waterloo · Accounting and Financial Management
2nd year · 3.3-3.6 GPA · 0 past internships
Average Interview
BehavioralTechnicalMultiple roundsIn-Person
Networking dinner the night before. Two interviews, one resume deep dive and one where they asked what an audit opinion means and when you'd issue a qualified one. More technical than typical Big 4
Questions Asked
1.“What controls would you look for when auditing revenue recognition?”
Deloitte
Audit Associate
Toronto, ON
Fall 2025Accepted
University of Waterloo · Accounting and Financial Management
2nd year · 2.9-3.2 GPA · 1 past internship
Average Interview
Case studyBehavioralMultiple roundsFast process
Half day virtual Launchpad event with presentations and group exercises then two 1 on 1 interviews. Standard behavioral and a simple case. CPA plans came up both times. Offer by end of week
Questions Asked
1.“Explain what an IT general control is”
Oxford Properties
Financial Analyst
Toronto, ON
Winter 2026No Offer
University of Waterloo · Accounting and Financial Management
3rd year · 2.5-2.8 GPA · 1 past internship
Hard Interview
Case studyMultiple rounds
Second round they gave me the case the morning of and I had to present same day. I underestimated how much they expected on the valuation side and they pushed hard on cap rates and my assumptions. Didn't make it past that.
Questions Asked
1.“How do you prioritize when multiple deals or asset reviews are running simultaneously?”
2.“What's the difference between a gross and net lease structure?”
PwC
Audit Associate
Waterloo, ON
Winter 2026Declined Offer
University of Waterloo · Accounting and Financial Management
3rd year · 3.3-3.6 GPA · 1 past internship
Average Interview
BehavioralPre-recordedMultiple roundsVirtual
Games assessment first, then Hirevue, then two final interviews with a partner and senior manager. Partner asked about influencing without authority. they offered me the position. but declined for better culture elsewhere.
Questions Asked
1.“Tell me about a time you had to ask an uncomfortable but necessary question”
Protiviti
Audit Associate
Toronto, ON
Fall 2025No Offer
University of Waterloo · Accounting and Financial Management
3rd year · 2.9-3.2 GPA · 1 past internship
Average Interview
BehavioralCase studyMultiple rounds
On campus interview had behavioral questions about internal audit plus a case study given 24 hours in advance (clutch). Thought I presented well but they picked someone else.
Questions Asked
1.“How does sampling work in an audit? What factors affect sample size”
2.“How do you audit accounts receivable? What are the key assertions?”
EY
Risk Analyst
Toronto, ON
Fall 2025No Offer
University of Waterloo · Accounting and Financial Management
3rd year · 2.9-3.2 GPA · 1 past internship
Easy Interview
BehavioralVirtualMultiple rounds
Two person panel caught me off guard.My answer wasn't structured enough, didn't move forward
Questions Asked
1.“How does Basel III affect a bank's capital requirements”
2.“What is a credit rating and how do rating agencies assign them?”
Toyota
Financial Analyst
Toronto, ON
Summer 2026Accepted
University of Waterloo · Accounting and Financial Management
3rd year · 3.3-3.6 GPA · 1 past internship
Easy Interview
BehavioralMultiple roundsVirtual
Quick phone screen with behavioral stuff then a second call with three managers. Why Toyota, leadership examples, resume deep dive. Cambridge plant role. Offer came fast, about two weeks
Questions Asked
1.“Tell me about a financial model or analysis you built from scratch”