EY India Tax Associate Interview Preparation Notes

Candidate: Ashwin S Kumar

Contact: +91-9544639335 | ashwinskumarvadakkumbad@gmail.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ashwin-s-kumar-1351272b2

Position Details

Position: Tax Associate

Company: EY India

Resume Content

• Detail-oriented and motivated Financial Analyst with a solid foundation in financial principles and data analysis
• Possessing strong analytical skills and a keen eye for detail, seeking to contribute expertise in financial analysis, data extraction, and business analytics to support organizational objectives

Education

• Master of commerce in finance | Kannur University, Kerala | 2021 - 2023
• Bcom with computer application | Kannur University, Kerala | 2018 - 2021

Extracurricular & Certifications/Internships/Projects

• JPMorgan Chase Investment Banking Job Simulation on Forage - Feb 2024
• Recommended an acquisition target for a client after analyzing financials and conducting due diligence; identified a company with 20% revenue growth potential, leading to a successful acquisition and increased market share
• Assisted in stakeholder management, ensuring responsiveness and commitment to quality
• Constructed a DCF model to calculate the valuation of the M&A target and adjusted the model to account for a competitor bid and supply chain interruption
• Created a 2-pager for the client containing a company profile and summary of the auction process
• New York Jobs CEO Council Financial Analyst Job Simulation on Forage - March 2024
• Completed a Simulation focused on financial analysis as an Analyst on the technology team at an investment bank
• Played a pivotal role in aiding senior bankers to determine the feasibility of establishing a partnership with BigTechCompany
• Developed a financial model, improving accuracy of revenue forecasts by 15% and Managed a $50 million investment portfolio, achieving an average annual return of 12% through risk management
• Assisted in handling financial business issues by providing comprehensive analysis and recommendations to support decision-making processes

Skills

• Financial Analysis
• Oral and Written Communications
• Profitability Analysis
• Business Analytics
• Problem solving
• Analytical Thinking
• Market Analysis
• Financial Forecasting and Modeling
• Presentation
• Critical thinking

Certifications

• Career essentials in business analysis-Microsoft
• Certification in Financial Modeling
• Finance and quantitative modeling for analyst specialization
• Business analytics with excel elementary to advanced

Activities and Honors

• National Service Scheme (NSS) Volunteer june 2018 – may 2021
• Member of tourism and development club in Mahatma Gandhi college iritty

Interview Preparation

Round 1: Written Test

• What are the different types of taxes that EY deals with in India? Explain one of them in detail.
• What are the recent changes in Indian tax laws and how do they impact businesses?
• What is the difference between direct and indirect taxes?
• What is GST and how has it affected the Indian economy?
• What are the basic accounting principles that every tax associate should know?
• Explain the concept of tax planning and its importance for individuals and businesses.
• What is the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion?
• What are the ethical considerations that a tax associate should keep in mind while dealing with clients?
• What are the basic IT skills required for a tax associate?
• What are the key challenges faced by tax associates in India?

Round 2: Behavioral Interview

Answers should be provided in Situation, Task, Action, Result (STAR) format.

• Describe a time when you had to deal with a difficult client. How did you manage the situation?
• Tell me about a project where you had limited resources but had to deliver exceptional results.
• Give an example of a time when you had to adapt to a new work environment or culture. How did you handle the transition?
• Describe a time when you had to work with a team to achieve a common goal. What was your role and how did you contribute to the team's success?
• What is your approach to handling a high-pressure work situation? Provide an example.
• Describe a situation where you identified an error or inefficiency in a process. How did you address it?
• Tell me about a time when you had to present a complex financial report to non-financial stakeholders. How did you ensure that they understood the key points?
• Give an example of a project where you had to balance competing priorities and deadlines. How did you manage the situation?
• Describe a time when you had to bring about a change in a process or procedure. How did you convince others to support your idea?
• What is the most challenging project you have worked on till date? What did you learn from it?

Round 3: Technical Interview

Questions will focus on your knowledge of tax laws and regulations, as well as your technical and coding skills.

• What is the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction?
• What is the tax rate for long-term and short-term capital gains in India?
• How do you calculate the taxable income of an individual or a company?
• What is the maximum limit for tax deductions under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act?
• What is the difference between Form 16 and Form 16A?
• What is the threshold limit for TDS on salary payments in India?
• Explain the concept of double taxation and how it is addressed through tax treaties.
• What is the Time and Space complexity for bubble sort?
• What is the Time and Space complexity for binary search?
• Design a program to calculate the tax payable by an individual based on their income and the current tax slabs.

Round 4: Design Interview

Questions will focus on your ability to design and implement solutions to complex business problems.

• Design a system to manage tax-related documents for a large multinational corporation.
• How would you design a data analytics solution to identify potential tax fraud cases?
• Describe a product or service that you think EY could offer to its clients to improve their tax compliance.
• What are the key features of a tax compliance software that you would prioritize in its design?
• Design a workflow for the tax planning and preparation process for an individual client.
• What are the key challenges faced by tax associates in India, and how would you address them through process improvements and technology?
• How would you design a training program for new tax associates to ensure that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their job effectively?
• What are some strategies that you would use to stay up-to-date with changes in tax laws and regulations?
• Describe an innovative solution that you have implemented in a previous role to improve efficiency or accuracy in financial analysis or tax compliance.
• How would you design a dashboard to monitor compliance with tax regulations and identify potential risks for a large organization?