PwC Associate-Tax Interview Questions & Experience Guide

[anonymous]

Company Name: PwC

Position: Associate-Tax

Location: [Not specified]

Application Process: Applied via LinkedIn in December 2020.

Interview Rounds:

• Round 1 - Aptitude Test:

• Questions Asked: Online test consisting of 50 marks.

• Your Approach: Prepared for general aptitude topics like quantitative ability, logical reasoning, and verbal ability.

• Outcome: Cleared the test and moved to the next round.

• Round 2 - HR Interview:

• Questions Asked: Questions about education, family background, personal introduction, interest in joining PwC, and any prior work experience.

• Your Approach: Answered honestly and confidently, focusing on aligning my background and interests with the role.

• Outcome: Successfully cleared the HR round.

• Round 3 - Technical Interview:

• Questions Asked: Questions related to taxation and the subject matter relevant to the Associate-Tax role.

• Your Approach: Revised key concepts in taxation and related subjects beforehand to answer confidently.

• Outcome: Cleared the technical round.

• Round 4 - Final Technical Interview:

• Questions Asked: More in-depth technical questions about taxation and hints about the selection process.

• Your Approach: Stayed calm and focused, ensuring my answers reflected my understanding and enthusiasm for the role.

• Outcome: Received positive hints about selection.

Preparation Tips:

• Focus on aptitude topics like quantitative ability, logical reasoning, and verbal skills for the first round.
• Be thorough with your CV and prepare to discuss your background, education, and interests in detail for the HR round.
• Revise key technical concepts related to taxation and the role to ace the technical rounds.

Conclusion:
The interview process at PwC was structured and thorough. The key to success was being well-prepared for each round, from aptitude to technical questions. Staying confident and honest in the HR round also helped. For future candidates, I’d recommend focusing on both aptitude and technical knowledge, and ensuring your CV is up-to-date and well-understood.

[anonymous]

Company Name: PwC

Position: Associate-Tax

Location: [Location not specified]

Application Process: I applied through campus placement.

Interview Rounds:

• Round 1 - Resume Shortlist:

• Questions Asked: N/A (Resume-based shortlisting)

• Your Approach: Ensured my resume was crisp and highlighted relevant skills and experiences.

• Outcome: Successfully shortlisted for the next round.

• Round 2 - Aptitude Test:

• Questions Asked: The test consisted of 11 sections with limited time for each.

• Your Approach: Focused on time management and accuracy, prioritizing sections I was most confident in.

• Outcome: Cleared the aptitude test and moved to the technical round.

• Round 3 - Technical Round:

• Questions Asked:

  1. In-depth Financial and Accounting Knowledge
  2. Bad Note and Depreciation
  3. Financial Statements
  4. Fund Flow Statement
  5. Ratios and Journal entry

• Your Approach: Answered each question with clarity, providing examples where possible to demonstrate practical understanding.

• Outcome: Successfully cleared the technical round.

Preparation Tips:

• Be confident and try to give your answers with an example.
• Brush up on financial and accounting concepts, especially topics like depreciation, financial statements, and journal entries.

Conclusion:
Overall, the interview process was smooth and well-structured. I felt prepared for the technical round, but I could have practiced more timed aptitude tests to improve my speed. My advice to future candidates is to focus on both technical knowledge and time management during the aptitude test.

[anonymous]

Company Name: PwC

Position: Associate-Tax

Application Process: Applied through campus placement.

Interview Rounds:

• Round 1 - Aptitude Test:

• Questions Asked: Verbal, Accounts, and logical reasoning questions.

• Your Approach: Focused on time management and accuracy, especially in the Accounts section.

• Outcome: Cleared the round successfully.

• Round 2 - Technical Round:

• Questions Asked: Questions on Accounting Standards, Journals, and Trial Balance.

• Your Approach: Revised key accounting concepts and standards beforehand to answer confidently.

• Outcome: Performed well and moved forward in the process.

Preparation Tips:

• Brush up on accounting fundamentals, especially standards and journal entries.
• Practice logical reasoning and verbal ability for the aptitude test.
• Stay calm and manage time effectively during the test.

Conclusion:
The interview process was smooth, and the questions were aligned with the role. Preparing thoroughly for accounting concepts helped a lot. For future candidates, focus on clarity of concepts and practice aptitude tests regularly.

[anonymous]

Company Name: PwC

Position: Associate-Tax

Location: [Location not specified]

Application Process: Applied via campus placement before September 2023.

Interview Rounds:

• Round 1 - Technical Round:
  • Questions Asked:
    1. What are the three golden rules of accounting?
    2. A journal entry question.
  • Your Approach: I reviewed the fundamental principles of accounting, focusing on the golden rules (Debit the receiver, credit the giver; Debit what comes in, credit what goes out; Debit expenses and losses, credit incomes and gains). For the journal entry question, I applied these rules to the given scenario.
  • Outcome: Successfully cleared the round.

Preparation Tips:

• Be confident during the interview.
• Brush up on the basics of accounting, especially the golden rules and journal entries.

Conclusion:
The interview was straightforward, and my preparation paid off. I would advise future candidates to focus on core accounting concepts and practice journal entries to build confidence.

[anonymous]

Company Name: PwC

Position: Associate-Tax

Location: [Not specified]

Application Process: I applied through campus placement.

Interview Rounds:

• Round 1 - Aptitude Test:

• Questions Asked: Basics of mathematics.

• Your Approach: I brushed up on fundamental math concepts like percentages, ratios, and basic algebra to ensure I was prepared.

• Outcome: I passed this round and moved on to the next stage.

• Round 2 - One-on-One Interview:

• Questions Asked:

  1. Golden rules of accounting.
  2. Du Pont Analysis.

• Your Approach: For the accounting question, I recalled the three golden rules (Debit the receiver, credit the giver; Debit what comes in, credit what goes out; Debit expenses and losses, credit incomes and gains). For Du Pont Analysis, I explained its components (profit margin, asset turnover, and financial leverage) and its significance in financial analysis.

• Outcome: The interview went well, and I felt confident about my answers.

Preparation Tips:

• Don’t be nervous; stay calm and composed during the interview.
• Revise basic accounting principles and financial analysis concepts thoroughly.

Conclusion:
Overall, the interview process was smooth, and the questions were aligned with the role’s requirements. I could have practiced more case studies to better articulate my thoughts during the one-on-one round. For future candidates, I’d recommend focusing on core accounting and financial analysis topics and staying confident throughout the process.

[anonymous]

Company Name: PwC

Position: Associate-Tax

Location: [Not specified]

Application Process: Applied via campus placement before May 2023.

Interview Rounds:

• Round 1 - Aptitude Test:

  • Questions Asked: Aptitude-related questions covering quantitative and qualitative aspects.
  • Your Approach: Prepared by revising basic aptitude topics and practicing sample questions.
  • Outcome: Cleared the round successfully.

• Round 2 - One-on-one Round:

  • Questions Asked:
    • Basic accounting and tax-related questions.
    • Questions about past internships.
    • Generic HR-related questions.
  • Your Approach: Reviewed accounting and tax fundamentals beforehand and reflected on internship experiences to answer confidently.
  • Outcome: Successfully cleared the round.

Preparation Tips:

• Focus on aptitude preparation, especially quantitative and qualitative reasoning.
• Brush up on basic accounting and tax concepts.
• Be ready to discuss past internships and experiences in detail.
• Remember that team dynamics and manager support play a crucial role in your experience, so consider this when evaluating the role.

Conclusion:
The interview process was smooth, and the questions were aligned with the role’s requirements. While PwC offers a great work culture, the team you work with can significantly impact your experience. My advice to future candidates is to prepare thoroughly for aptitude and technical questions while also being mindful of the team environment during the interview process.

[anonymous]

Company Name: PwC

Position: Associate-Tax

Location: [Not specified]

Application Process: Applied via campus placement in February 2023.

Interview Rounds:

• Round 1 - Resume Shortlist:

• Questions Asked: None (resume screening).

• Your Approach: Ensured my resume was concise and focused on relevant skills and experiences. Avoided personal details like photos, gender, age, or address.

• Outcome: Shortlisted for the next round.

• Round 2 - Aptitude Test:

• Questions Asked: Questions related to finance, accounting, and reasoning.

• Your Approach: Revised basic accounting and finance concepts beforehand. Practiced reasoning questions to improve speed and accuracy.

• Outcome: Cleared the aptitude test.

• Round 3 - Technical Round:

• Questions Asked: Questions related to accounting and finance, such as tax, golden rules, and balance sheet-related topics.

• Your Approach: Focused on explaining concepts clearly and providing practical examples where applicable.

• Outcome: Successfully answered the questions and moved to the next round.

• Round 4 - One-on-one Round:

• Questions Asked: Questions related to my resume, probing into the details I had mentioned.

• Your Approach: Prepared to discuss every point on my resume in detail, ensuring I could justify my experiences and skills.

• Outcome: The interviewer seemed satisfied with my responses.

Preparation Tips:

• Brush up on basic accounting and finance concepts, especially those related to taxation.
• Familiarize yourself with the Indian tax system.
• Practice reasoning and aptitude questions to improve problem-solving speed.

Conclusion:
Overall, the interview process was smooth and well-structured. I felt prepared for most of the questions, but I could have practiced more reasoning problems to improve my speed in the aptitude test. For future candidates, I’d recommend thoroughly reviewing your resume and being ready to discuss every detail confidently. Also, focus on core accounting and tax concepts, as they are crucial for this role.

[anonymous]

Company Name: PwC

Position: Associate-Tax

Location: ICFAI Business School, Pune

Application Process: Applied via campus placement at ICFAI Business School, Pune, and was interviewed before September 2023.

Interview Rounds:

• Round 1 - Aptitude Test:

  • Questions Asked: The aptitude test consisted of 3 sections: Quantitative, Verbal Ability, and Accounts and Taxation.
  • Your Approach: Focused on revising basic concepts in accounts and taxation, and practiced quantitative and verbal ability questions from previous placement papers.
  • Outcome: Cleared the round successfully.

• Round 2 - One-on-one Interview:

  • Questions Asked:
    1. Tell me about yourself?
    2. Why PwC? Name other Big 4 firms?
  • Your Approach: Prepared a concise introduction highlighting my academic background and interest in taxation. Researched PwC’s work culture and values to answer “Why PwC?” and listed other Big 4 firms (Deloitte, EY, KPMG).
  • Outcome: The interview went well, and I was able to articulate my thoughts clearly.

Preparation Tips:

• Clear your basics of accountancy and taxation.
• Be confident during the interview and practice common interview questions.

Conclusion:
Overall, the interview process was smooth, and the questions were aligned with the role. I would advise future candidates to focus on their fundamentals and stay updated with industry trends, especially about the Big 4 firms. Confidence and clarity in communication are key!

[anonymous]

Company Name: PwC

Position: Associate-Tax

Location: Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow

Application Process: Applied via campus placement at Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow, and was interviewed before February 2022.

Interview Rounds:

• Round 1 - Resume Shortlist:

• Questions Asked: N/A (Resume-based shortlisting)

• Your Approach: Ensured my resume was well-formatted and aligned to make it easy for the recruiter to read.

• Outcome: Successfully shortlisted for the next round.

• Round 2 - Aptitude Test:

• Questions Asked: Basic level aptitude questions.

• Your Approach: Prepared by revising basic aptitude topics and practiced sample questions.

• Outcome: Cleared the aptitude test.

• Round 3 - One-on-one Round:

• Questions Asked:

  1. Questions based on internship, projects, and resume details. There were also many cross-questions.
  2. Basic questions related to income tax.

• Your Approach: Thoroughly reviewed my resume and brushed up on income tax basics to answer confidently.

• Outcome: Successfully answered the questions and progressed further in the process.

Preparation Tips:

• Prepare your resume well, ensuring it is clear and properly formatted.
• Revise basic concepts related to income tax as they are likely to be asked.

Conclusion:
Overall, the interview process was smooth and focused on both resume details and basic tax knowledge. Ensuring my resume was well-prepared and revising fundamental tax concepts helped me perform well. For future candidates, I’d recommend paying attention to resume details and brushing up on core tax topics.

[anonymous]

Company Name: PwC

Position: Associate-Tax

Location: [Not specified]

Application Process: Applied via LinkedIn in December 2020.

Interview Rounds:

• Round 1 - Aptitude Test:

• Questions Asked: Online test consisting of 50 marks.

• Your Approach: Prepared for general aptitude topics like quantitative ability, logical reasoning, and verbal ability.

• Outcome: Cleared the test successfully.

• Round 2 - HR Interview:

• Questions Asked: Questions about education, family background, personal introduction, interest in PwC, and any prior work experience.

• Your Approach: Answered honestly and confidently, focusing on aligning my career goals with PwC’s values.

• Outcome: Cleared the HR round.

• Round 3 - Technical Interview:

• Questions Asked: Questions related to taxation and the subject matter relevant to the role.

• Your Approach: Revised core taxation concepts and linked them to practical scenarios.

• Outcome: Performed well and advanced to the next round.

• Round 4 - Final Technical Interview:

• Questions Asked: More in-depth technical questions about taxation and hints about the selection process.

• Your Approach: Stayed composed and answered with clarity, showing enthusiasm for the role.

• Outcome: Received positive hints about selection.

Preparation Tips:

• Focus on aptitude topics like quantitative ability, logical reasoning, and verbal skills for the first round.
• Be thorough with your CV and prepare to discuss your education, background, and work experience in the HR round.
• Revise core taxation concepts and practical applications for the technical rounds.
• Stay confident and composed throughout the process.

Conclusion:
The interview process at PwC was structured and thorough. The aptitude test was a good screening round, while the HR round was more about personality fit. The technical rounds tested my subject knowledge and practical understanding. I could have prepared more case studies for the technical rounds, but overall, it was a great learning experience. For future candidates, I’d recommend being well-prepared for both aptitude and technical questions, and staying confident during the interviews.