Moelis Accounting Interview Questions 2027: 3 Statements & Walk-Throughs
Accounting questions are the quiet killer of Moelis interviews. Candidates pour hours into DCF and LBO, then freeze on "walk me through the three statements" — the question every interviewer uses to check whether your foundation is real. If you cannot link the statements cleanly, nothing else you say about valuation will be believed.
The Core Moelis Accounting Interview Questions
The Moelis accounting interview questions that matter most are the walk-throughs: "Walk me through the three financial statements," "How does $10 of depreciation flow through all three?", "Walk me through a D&A add-back," and "How do the statements link?" Interviewers listen for precision — revenue to net income on the income statement, net income flowing into retained earnings on the balance sheet, and the cash flow statement reconciling the two. Hesitation on any link is a red flag.
How to Nail the 3-Statement Walk-Through
Memorize this flow and practice it until it is boring:
Income statement: Revenue minus COGS and operating expenses gives EBIT; minus interest and taxes gives net income. Cash flow statement: Start with net income, add back non-cash charges (D&A), adjust for working capital changes, subtract capex — that is cash flow. Balance sheet: Net income (minus dividends) flows into retained earnings; cash from the cash flow statement hits the cash line; assets must equal liabilities plus equity.
Then practice the shock questions: depreciation up $10 (net income down $6 at 40% tax, cash up $4), inventory write-downs, deferred revenue. Each one tests the same links.
Preparing Moelis Accounting Interview Questions
- Drill the real walk-throughs. Our 2027 Moelis Investment Banking Online Assessment Tutorials includes the exact Moelis accounting interview questions — three-statement flows and every classic shock scenario — with step-by-step model answers.
- Say them out loud. Accounting answers must be spoken, not just understood on paper. Record yourself and listen for hesitation.
- Master five shock scenarios. Depreciation, capex, working capital changes, debt paydown, and equity issuance — know each one's full three-statement impact.
A shaky three-statement walk-through poisons the rest of your interview — the interviewer stops trusting your DCF, your LBO, everything. It is also the most drillable topic in the entire process. A few focused sessions with the real questions turns accounting from your weakest link into your most automatic answer.
FAQs
What are the three financial statements? The income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement — linked through net income, retained earnings, and cash.
How does depreciation affect the three statements? $10 of depreciation reduces pre-tax income by $10; at 40% tax, net income falls $6, cash rises $4 (tax shield), PP&E falls $10 net of the add-back.
Why do you add back D&A on the cash flow statement? Because D&A is a non-cash expense — it reduced net income but no cash left the business, so it must be added back to arrive at cash flow.
What is working capital's effect on cash flow? Increases in current assets (like inventory) use cash; increases in current liabilities (like payables) provide cash.
Preparing for Moelis & Company's accounting questions? Our 2027 Moelis Investment Banking Online Assessment Tutorials has the exact questions and answers — $79 one-time, instant download.
