Type · Accounting
How do the three financial statements link together? If you had a $10 increase in depreciation, how would it flow through the statements?
How to Pass the 9fin IB Analyst Interview in 2026
Growth · IB Analyst Interview Guide
Sign up to see ATSHeadquartered in United KingdomInterview language: English
The 9fin DNA (TL;DR)
The technical deep-dive round at 9fin heavily assesses a candidate's grasp of the distressed debt and Structured Credit markets. Interviewers look for precise analytical thinking and the ability to articulate complex financial concepts, crucial for serving clients like Global Investment Banks.
The 9fin Interview Loop
Your onsite loop will typically consist of 5 rounds.
- 1
Round 1
Recruiter ScreenMotivation, fit, GPA, deal interest. - 2
Round 2
Technical ScreenAccounting, valuation (DCF, comps, precedent transactions), enterprise vs equity value. - 3
Round 3
Market KnowledgeRecent deals, market events, sector outlook, why this firm. - 4
Round 4
SuperdayMultiple back-to-back interviews with MDs/VPs covering technical + behavioral + fit. - 5
Round 5
Behavioral / LeadershipPast evidence of ownership, influence, resolving conflict.
The Danger Zone: Top Reasons Candidates Fail
Based on our database of 9fin interview outcomes, avoid these common traps:
- Failing to connect personal skills or experiences to 9fin's specific needs.
- Using an inappropriate discount rate (WACC) or making arbitrary adjustments.
- Not considering how AI might change the *type* of data or analysis users demand.
- Not clearly stating the use cases for each metric in M&A or valuation contexts.
Test Yourself: Real 9fin Questions
Three real prompts pulled from our database.
Type · Ownership
At 9fin, our data accuracy in the leveraged finance space is our product. Tell me about a time you identified a subtle inconsistency or error in a complex dataset that others had overlooked. How did you verify the anomaly, and what steps did you take to ensure the integrity of the final output?
Type · Valuation
Walk me through a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analysis. What are the key drivers, and what are some common pitfalls?
+ many more questions, signals, and worked examples
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9fin Interview Question Bank
A sample from our database, grouped by round. Sign up to see the full set.
9 of 13 questions shown
1
Recruiter Screen
1- 1
Type · Motivation
Why are you interested in investment banking, and specifically at 9fin within the fintech space?
2
Technical Screen
3- 2
Type · Valuation
Walk me through a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analysis. What are the key drivers, and what are some common pitfalls? - 3
Type · Valuation
Explain the difference between Enterprise Value and Equity Value. When would you use one over the other? - + 1 more questions in this round (sign up to unlock)
3
Market Knowledge
3- 4
Type · Market Trends
What are the most significant recent trends or developments in the fintech sector, particularly concerning data and analytics for financial professionals? - 5
Type · Deal Knowledge
Can you discuss a recent M&A transaction or financing round within the fintech space that you found interesting? What were the key strategic rationales? - + 1 more questions in this round (sign up to unlock)
4
Superday
3- 6
Type · Valuation
How would you value a pre-revenue SaaS company like a hypothetical new product from 9fin? What metrics would be most important? - 7
Type · Technical
Imagine 9fin is considering acquiring a smaller competitor. What key financial and strategic factors would you analyze to assess the deal's attractiveness? - + 1 more questions in this round (sign up to unlock)
5
Behavioral / Leadership
3- 8
Type · Ownership
At 9fin, our data accuracy in the leveraged finance space is our product. Tell me about a time you identified a subtle inconsistency or error in a complex dataset that others had overlooked. How did you verify the anomaly, and what steps did you take to ensure the integrity of the final output? - 9
Type · Influence
Describe a situation where you had to persuade a stakeholder or team member who initially disagreed with your viewpoint. How did you approach it? - + 1 more questions in this round (sign up to unlock)
Unlock all 13 9fin questions, free
No credit card. Every question with its framework, the grading signals interviewers score against, and a worked answer for each.
Interview tracks at 9fin
How 9fin's DNA translates across functions. Pick your role.
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Practice 9fin interviews end-to-end
9fin Mock Interview
Run a live mock interview with our AI interviewer using 9fin-style prompts. Get scored on structure, signal, and answer length - exactly how the real loop grades you.
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STAR Stories for 9fin Behavioral Rounds
Build a Story Bank of your past wins, mapped to the leadership signals 9fin interviewers grade on. Reuse them across every behavioral round.
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9fin Interview Prep Hub
The frameworks behind every 9fin round: CIRCLES for product sense, hypothesis-driven debugging for analytical, STAR for behavioral. Learn each one in 10 minutes.
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Interview Frameworks
CIRCLES, STAR, AARRR, RICE, MECE. The exact frameworks that make 9fin interviewers nod instead of frown. Step-by-step playbooks with the moves and the pitfalls.
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Sample answers
What a strong answer to these 9fin interview questions shows.
How do the three financial statements link together? If you had a $10 increase in depreciation, how would it flow through the statements?
A strong answer shows: Strong grasp of accounting principles and interrelationships.; Logical thinking and ability to trace financial impacts..
At 9fin, our data accuracy in the leveraged finance space is our product. Tell me about a time you identified a subtle inconsistency or error in a complex dataset that others had overlooked. How did you verify the anomaly, and what steps did you take to ensure the integrity of the final output?
A strong answer shows: Meticulous attention to detail; Proactive problem solving; Understanding of data integrity importance; Evidence of technical curiosity.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the 9fin interview process take?
Most candidates spend between 4 and 8 weeks from recruiter screen to offer. The onsite loop itself runs in a single day or is split across two half-days, with debrief and offer typically within 5 business days after.
How should I prepare specifically for 9fin?
Focus on three things: (1) the company DNA shown above - what they actually grade for, (2) the rounds in your loop, especially the round most candidates underestimate, and (3) drilling on the question types in this guide using a structured framework like CIRCLES or STAR.
Does this apply to engineering or design roles at 9fin?
The DNA stays the same - what changes is the round mix. SWE candidates face coding screens instead of Product Sense; designers face portfolio reviews and design exercises. The "what they value" and behavioral signals carry across all functions.
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