Hi, I have an Interview with PWC - Deal Advisory team within deal strategy, operations services for m&a and divestitures

Hi Soumya

I don't think there are a lot of experts in Deal Advisory on this forum but for questions like this I always encourage candidates to go back to the recruiting team and ask them!

They know your background and are still keen to interview you which means you don't have to hide your lack of expertise in deal strategy. So my suggestion is as follows:

1) Research whatever you can online about PwC's Deal Advisory team and what they do

2) Write to PwC HR asking how the interview will be structured, what they will test and if there will be any technical questions related to deal strategy

3) Do practice some cases on deal strategy with an experienced coach

Finally after doing all the above - consider why you are still keen to join the deal advisory team and make sure to have a good motivation answer ready

Best of luck !

Hi Soumya,

You should absolutely expect cases/questions to be much more deal focused. As such, you should practice M&A/DD cases.

Furthermore, they would absolutely expect you to leverage your existing experience in your answers.

Finally, I interviewed with PwC in their Technology practice and I can tell you that it felt much less "case-y" than the pure strategy firms. As such, just be prepared to not be taken through a whole case. As an example, off the bat I was asked "How would you organize a backlog of IT enhancements". Of course, I used my judgement to not treat it like a case and just went through the classifications/process I would use and why. Make sure to read the cues here!

Hi Soumya,

You need to focus more on financial types of cases and evaluations, so this will be the focus of your interview as well as to advance your quantitative skills. 

If you need further insights, drop me a line, happy to help you. 

Best,

André