KPMG Interview Prep

Walk me through your resume.

My names Macy Purdy, I'm a sophomore at UD studying accounting, I'm involved in 2 great student organizations... explain...

Questions to ask

Where did you go to school? How'd you end up in Phoenix? -Devin Booker fan? What do you think sets KPMG apart from other firms? How did you end up in the FDD practice? I know this practice is relatively small. What would you say is a trait that all the people in the practice share? Would you say you're relatively close with the people on the team? What would you say is the best part of this job? Do you mind giving a little insight on the main differences between the buy side and sell side of the deal? Which order do you go about the 3 main duties of working capital, quality of earnings, and debt and debt like? Or are different people assigned different roles to collectively finish the deal?

What would you expect working a typical day in this position?

- A lot of financial statement analysis - revaluing EBITDA by taking out non-operational expenses and revenues - Classifying "debt-like" items as debt for deal purposes such as lease payments or accrued interest - Assessing the working capital value - Overall a lot of analysis, judgement, ethics and collaboration which fits well for me based on my background and interests

What would you consider your greatest strength/how would people describe you?

- Helpful - I love to help people whenever I can whether it's my teammates on the vending project I'm on or my friends with accounting homework. I've been raised with these values and I feel great knowing I'm making a difference. I think that's what led me to KPMG... the "for better" value really relates to me a lot are you a part of any service outside of work?

Tell me a time you worked on a task you didn't enjoy/got bored.

- Honestly building this website for our Flyer Consulting client hasn't been the most exciting thing ever, but I think at the end of the day there's always gonna be work that needs to be done that might not be the most exciting or interesting, but the clients needs is what will always come first and I think that's what should be prioritized. However, I think the reason I'm applying to this role is because I feel like I'd genuinely enjoy most of it.

What attracted you to accounting?

- I really enjoy numbers and solving problems conceptually - No paying for grad school - Love money and working with it

Why should we hire you?

- I'm detail orientated - although I don't have a ton of professional experience yet I've completed several assignments and projects such as making a financial model from scratch for our FC client or writing research papers for my accounting classes - I'd like to say I'm a very personable person that can add a unique and fresh perspective coming from someone younger, I work great in teams and have experience doing so already - I think these traits fit the roll well, I know advisory involves a lot of collaboration and detail when analyzing financial statements. I think most importantly I take feedback and criticism very well and actually value it so I can improve as a professional

What are KPMG's five values and how do you align with them?

- Integrity - Excellence - Courage - Together - For Better

Why KPMG?

- More interested in larger firms because I believe there's more room for growth and vertical opportunity - recently a 1.5 billion dollar investment towards sustainability -KPMG read to achieve 100k book donation to kids (aligns with my own values of helping children) -The core values of integrity, excellence, courage, together, and for better align with me and I think they're some of the most important attributes of a positive work environment If you don't mind I'd like to ask the same question..

Can you tell me about a time you made a mistake/received feedback/criticism and how you reacted?

- My Honors English class I was still a fairly inexperienced writer, I received a lot of constructive criticism about my analysis skills early on. I was told I wasn't being concise enough and needed to work on connecting my analysis to facts. In response I went to office hours to work with my professor directly and he was happy to help. I know my initiative paid off because I went from mediocre papers to having the highest grade in the class for the research paper final.

What led you to apply for this position/why FDD?

- My sister works FDD at pwc which led me to doing more of my own research - I know the main duties is performing a quality of earnings analysis to wipe away all non-operating activities, revaluing working capital and creating a peg to keep the deal fair for the buyer, and doing debt and debt like analysis to factor that into the deal terms - Overall this position seems very hands on and collaborative which is why I applied. In addition I feel like my activities would add value to the business which would make my work feel meaningful.

Are you open to relocating? Overtime?

- Open to relocation depending on the city but definitely Phoenix - Definitely willing to work overtime to an extent, but I think maintaining a work life balance is very important to me. I need to have time to recharge and take care of myself in order to put forth my best work. While I'm prepared for some weeks to be much more busy than others, I don't want to sit here a lie and say I'm ready to work 90 hours every week

How do you deal with stressful situations?

- Planning and organizing - Budgeting my time - Taking care of myself

Tell me about a time you had to overcome an obstacle to get something done.

- Really want to study abroad for a semester - I pushed ahead with my classes. Although it's hard being in junior level classes so young, I believe it's well worth it to get that life changing experience

Describe a time you struggled during an assignment or project. What did you do and what was the result?

- Something I've really struggled with is helping make a website for our Flyer Consulting client. I've never done anything like it. I asked the computer engineer on the team if I could schedule a quick meeting with him to go through the basics. For the rest I dedicated a lot of time watching tutorial videos so I could deliver the best result for my client. I now know how to build a website and add buttons that link and send to different places.

Describe a time you found a creative way to solve a problem.

- Studying abroad as an accounting major, very hard to do but I planned ahead and rearranged my schedule

How do you effectively balance your workload?

- Taking a small amount of time to plan out my day and week and prioritize my tasks - Google calendar! - Being sure I take time for myself whether it's exercise or a good nights sleep so I can put forth my best effort at work

Tell me about a time you took initiative/stepped up to the plate.

- Taking the Head of Sustainability Position for Hanley - They really needed someone to do it, although I was completely new I took the opportunity because I felt it was a great chance to gain leadership experience early on and do work I'm passionate about.

What would you consider your greatest weakness?

- Very detail orientated and taking a bit to long to do things at times - Hard skill - professional business style reports - used to writing analysis papers, but actively working on this skill

What motivates you?

- Working in a positive and encouraging work environment - Having room to grow as an individual, whether that's being promoted or receiving criticism so I can learn from my mistakes.

What makes a successful team environment?

- communication, collaboration, and timeliness

Describe the most challenging situation you've dealt with and how you reacted.

- soccer, knee injury, finding another passion

Describe your goals.

- work a fufilling job and make a difference in whatever community I end up in - Get my CPA license and finish school strong, learning as much as possible in the process

How would you describe a leader?

-Great communication skills - important so the team members fully understand their responsibility -Approachable - team members feel comfortable clarifying questions -Organized - goals and tasks are in order and punctual to ensure the team isn't set back

TOP 10 TIPS - (editing for friends to use)

1. Answer every question concisely. Less is more - the more you talk, the more likely you are to go off on a tangent and lose your train of thought. This is very common when you're nervous, so try to be aware. This will be a lot easier if you're prepared and are confident on what position you are interviewing for. Sounds stupid, but you'd be surprised how many people apply to a million positions, get an interview, and don't know anything about the company or qualifications when the questions come around. 2. Never fall for the "this or that" question. For example, you might be asked "would you rather lead a team or work under a manager?" Questions in this format are designed to have you commit 100% to one side, which is a trap. Because both have pros and cons. Always reiterate the positives of both and follow with a neutral statement. "I believe being a leader is a great way to build crucial skills such as agility, innovation, and decision-making. It's also an excellent opportunity to combine people's strengths and downplay people's weaknesses if the team is led successfully. However, it's critical to work under someone with more experience to build your hard skillset and receive feedback. Therefore, it would depend on the role and situation, but both choices are great opportunities." No one's gonna drill you to pick one or the other, and now you don't sound like an a*shole that always wants to be in control or someone who never wants to step to the plate. 3. Be honest. For example, if you're asked if you would work overtime every week, don't say "definitely!". They know that's BS and are gonna be turned off. Instead, say something neutral. "I understand providing service for the client is the ultimate responsibility, and I am more than willing to do so as long as I can work in a healthy environment that supports my well-being." That's much more honest and believable. 4. Don't be a hard*ss. No one wants to hire a robot with no personality. Be yourself and don't be afraid to make a few jokes as long as it's professional, or mention something like sports. 5. Ask them as many questions as they ask you. Not only does this show you're interested and conversational, but it also reduces the time they get to ask you stuff. People also love to talk about themselves. Don't be afraid to follow up their questions with some of your own. For example, if they ask why you applied to this position (pretty much guaranteed), ask how they ended up at the company. 6. Be prepared for the question about a time you worked on a team and it didn't go as planned. Do NOT make anyone sound lazy. "We had a team member that didn't participate so I did their work". Although this is usually how it goes, the interviewer wants to see legit problem solving skills and how you react to adverse situations. Instead, say something like "we had a team member struggling so we utilized communication and problem solving to ensure the work was completed. I took an active role by blah blah blah" 7. You'll also get a question about your weakness. Do NOT say something and spin it into a positive like everyone tells you. Again, the interviewer wants to see accountability. You're better off giving something tangible that's somewhat related to the roll and saying you're actively working on it. For me it was report/proposal writing. 8. Come up with 10 solid "points" that you've practiced that can answer multiple questions. For example, studying abroad can be used for taking a risk, being in a new environment, a struggle, etc. You can't be prepared for every question, but you can be prepared to spin points into an answer. 9. Take a breath before answering. Again, you're nervous, so you're going to want to jump at it. Take 3-5 seconds, breathe, and form a concise answer. This also shows you're not robotic or rehearsed all your answers, and you're less likely to stumble. If you genuinely blank out, just ask if you can come back to the question. 10. Tailor your answers to the role. Consulting jobs are going to look for commendable social skills and ability to work well in teams. For tax, that's pretty much useless, and interviewers want precise attention to detail. The point is, when you come up with 10 foundational points, make sure they match what the job description is seeking.

Do you prefer working in a team or working individually?

Although I'm capable of completing exceptional work on my own, I'd say I prefer the team setting. I think working with a team emphasizes each others strengths while downplaying each others weaknesses. Flyer Consulting really made me realize this after being a part of such a supportive, productive, and collaborative team.

Can you tell me about a time you took a risk?

Graduating early - I felt very stagnant because I went to a very small public school without a lot of opportunities so I took the jump and combined my junior and senior year - planned as much as I could but I had a lot less time to prep for my standardized tests - everything worked out and I'm very happy with my decision.

Tell me about yourself?

Hi, my name is Macy Purdy. I'm currently a sophomore at the University of Dayton studying Accounting. I've really enjoyed my time here at UD so far and have learned a lot about the accounting sector in both my classes and student organizations I'm apart of. This all led to me applying to this role because after doing some additional research I feel this position would be a great opportunity for me. Besides that, in my free time I love to lift weights and cook great food.

What's your greatest professional accomplishment?

I don't know if I have a specific achievement at this point in my academic and professional career to answer your question. I am very proud of getting my VITA certification and my GPA. Both took a lot of work and dedication. I think most of all I'd say being a part of Flyer Consulting. The admission process required "intern training" which was pretty rigorous, but I learned a lot about professionalism, public speaking and more. Overall I'm very proud of having the opportunity to work with nonprofits and small businesses with a good cause because making a difference in my community is really important to me.

Can you tell me about a time you faced an ethical dilemma?

I know KPMG really values integrity. The best example I can give is I've had people ask me to send test files for statistics class because the exams are on excel. I always have politely declined, although i feel in the end they're cheating themselves. But professionally, I've always been serious about being ethical. I've maintained confidentiality and have always acted with the client in mind for Flyer Consulting. I know this position takes ethics very seriously because it involves adjusting the deal price between companies.

What can you bring to KPMG that others may not?

I'd like to say I'm a very personable person. I think I can adapt to different people well which makes others comfortable going to me for help, which pairs well with my love for doing so. I think I'd get along with the team and emphasize each others strengths while downplaying each others weaknesses.

Tell me about a time you have a team member that failed to perform.

I'd like to say the team member didn't fail, but just had other personal struggles going on. While this stuff happens at times, he wasn't the best about communicating this to us as his team members. Our response was letting him know our concerns and dividing his assigned portion between the rest of our team members. In the end we got the project done and did really well. **Have you worked with difficult people at KPMG at times?

Can you tell me about a time you worked in a team and things didn't go as planned?

Two commuter students, two regular students - tough time finding times to work together - I met with both groups and concisely put our ideas together.

Are you applying for other jobs?

Yes, but I'm particularly interested in this position because of the Phoenix location and after my call with Sydney. She seemed super genuine... I know this is a really small team too with only 11 or so people so this office seems like a great culture fit for me.