Moelis & Company — Investment Banking Mock Interview
Practice Moelis's technically exhaustive interview style and boutique-focused behavioral questions.
Preview This Mock Interview
60-second preview — upgrade to Diamond for full sessions
How to Prepare for Moelis & Company Interviews
Know the Comprehensive Enterprise Value Formula
Moelis opens with the full enterprise value formula and expects you to include items beyond the standard textbook version, such as capital leases, unfunded pension obligations, and net operating loss adjustments. Also prepare to identify flawed multiples like Price/EBITDA and EV/Net Income and explain why the numerator and denominator must represent consistent claims.
Prepare for Complex Restructuring Scenarios
The technical session includes multi-tranche restructuring problems with secured and unsecured creditors, collateral shortfalls, and deficiency claims. Practice calculating recovery rates across the capital structure waterfall and analyzing distressed bonds trading at a discount. This reflects Moelis's strong restructuring practice.
Have a Polished Stock Pitch Ready
The behavioral session asks for a stock pitch and expects a structured investment thesis with specific metrics. Prepare a pitch covering the business model, competitive moat, key financial drivers, valuation relative to peers, and catalysts. The interviewer evaluates both the analytical substance and your ability to communicate a concise, compelling narrative.
Articulate Boutique Versus Bulge Bracket Trade-offs
Moelis explicitly asks about the advantages and disadvantages of boutique versus bulge bracket firms. Prepare a balanced answer covering lean teams with more responsibility, absence of conflicts from lending businesses, entrepreneurial culture, and direct senior exposure at boutiques, while acknowledging bulge bracket advantages in product breadth and global reach.
What Makes Moelis & Company Interviews Unique
Exchange Ratio and Accretion/Dilution Graphing
The technical session asks you to graph accretion and dilution as a function of the exchange ratio in an all-stock deal, identifying the break-even point. This visual and conceptual approach to M&A math is distinctive and tests whether you understand the mechanics deeply enough to explain the relationship graphically rather than just calculating a single scenario.
Full LBO Capital Structure From Revolver to Mezzanine
Moelis walks through every layer of LBO debt including revolving credit facilities, Term Loan A and B, senior notes, subordinated notes, and mezzanine debt. You are expected to explain the differences in terms, pricing, amortization, and covenant structures across each tranche, reflecting the firm's deep experience in leveraged transactions.
Finite-Life DCF and Duration Concepts
The technical session includes a coal mine valuation requiring a finite-life DCF with no terminal perpetuity, and contrasts the impact of interest rate changes on a technology company versus a coal company using duration-like reasoning. These questions test whether you can adapt standard valuation frameworks to non-standard situations rather than applying templates blindly.
Decision Framework for Firm Selection
The behavioral session probes your decision-making framework for choosing between firms, expecting a structured answer covering people and culture, learning and development, and platform and reputation. Moelis values candidates who have thought systematically about their career decisions rather than simply naming the most prestigious option.
More Firms Topics
View allGoldman Sachs
Simulates a technical and behavioral interview at Goldman Sachs using questions reported in real interviews. Covers firm-specific technical questions spanning accounting, valuation, M&A, and LBOs.
J.P. Morgan
Simulates a technical and behavioral interview at J.P. Morgan using questions reported in real interviews. Covers firm-specific technical questions spanning accounting, valuation, M&A, and LBOs.
Morgan Stanley
Simulates a technical and behavioral interview at Morgan Stanley using questions reported in real interviews. Covers firm-specific technical questions spanning accounting, valuation, M&A, and LBOs.
Evercore
Simulates a technical and behavioral interview at Evercore using questions reported in real interviews. Covers firm-specific technical questions spanning accounting, valuation, M&A, and LBOs.
Lazard
Simulates a technical and behavioral interview at Lazard using questions reported in real interviews. Covers firm-specific technical questions spanning accounting, valuation, M&A, and LBOs.
Citi
Simulates a technical and behavioral interview at Citi using questions reported in real interviews. Covers firm-specific technical questions spanning accounting, valuation, M&A, and LBOs.
About This Moelis & Company Mock Interview
These sessions simulate Moelis's interview approach across technical and behavioral formats. The technical session covers comprehensive enterprise value formulas including capital leases and unfunded pensions, valid versus flawed multiples, WACC U-shape mechanics, detailed cost of equity and CAPM calculations, UFCF derivations, complex EV back-solving from LFCF yield, gift card and asset sale three-statement walkthroughs, minority interest consolidation, goodwill calculation with step-ups, EV bridge construction, stock split mechanics, complex all-stock M&A with exchange ratio graphing, full LBO debt tranches from revolver through mezzanine, and restructuring scenarios with collateral and deficiency claim analysis. The behavioral session covers pitchbook structure, boutique versus bulge bracket differentiation, stock pitch preparation, decision frameworks, and quantitative rigor examples.
This topic is part of the Firms section of our investment banking mock interview library. It includes 2 sessions covering both technical and behavioral interview types. Each session includes multi-speaker audio with realistic interviewer questions and candidate responses, plus a full interactive transcript you can follow along with or study independently.
Audio Recording
47 minutes of multi-speaker audio
Full Transcript
Interactive transcript with timestamps
1 Technical + 1 Behavioral
Technical & Behavioral
200K+ students have used IB Vine to help land offers at top firms.
Analyst
The IB Vine technical prep is beyond helpful, it's so much more fun quizzing myself every now and then vs. reading through the guides again.
Analyst
I personally found that the 'IB Vine Select' collection had some of the exact questions I was asked in my Qatalyst interviews.
Analyst
Thanks for starting up IB Vine. Couldn't have landed my offer without your help!
User Story
I honestly think you're doing gods work since IB Vine democratizes the whole interview process and helps a lot of students ace their interviews.
Analyst
I found this website really helpful, which also helps me better prepare for the technical interview in IBD position and get an offer.
Seen on WallStreetOasis
Check out IB Vine, specifically the 'IB Vine Select' questions. Once you can get a handle of those, it seems like you are in a spot where you're applying the concepts rather than simply memorizing them
Analyst
I've used IB Vine for my recruitment, and I could not imagine the journey without it. Thank you for creating a phenomenal resource.
Seen on WallStreetOasis
Beyond the 400 questions guide, try to understand a deeper level and the underlying concepts of the questions being asked. Use ibvine, it really helps.
Seen on WallStreetOasis
IB Vine has excellent questions, especially multistep ones. In my experience I've gotten grilled on accretion/dilution, bond math, and merger model questions. IB Vine has great practice for all of those.
User Story
As a nontraditional transfer student who has been rendered unavailable to many resources at my university (Leadership positions at clubs, immediately behind the recruiting cycle, etc.) IB Vine has been an absolute game changer in my IB prep.
Seen on WallStreetOasis
From my experience interviewing FT for IB, it’s not enough to just know the 400 questions anymore (it’s a good starting point) but to look at even more advanced questions. Would recommend IB Vine.
Seen on Twitter
heard all the new kids use IB Vine now. the questions on IB Vine helped me get the concepts down when I had to recruit and make a lot of BB/MM interviews easier than I expected for techs
User Story
Just got off the phone with a kid who interned at a Dallas PE firm. He mentioned that IB Vine helped him secure that internship as well as his Summer Analyst offer, especially since he came from a non-target with no resources.
Analyst
The IB Vine technical prep is beyond helpful, it's so much more fun quizzing myself every now and then vs. reading through the guides again.
Analyst
I personally found that the 'IB Vine Select' collection had some of the exact questions I was asked in my Qatalyst interviews.
Analyst
Thanks for starting up IB Vine. Couldn't have landed my offer without your help!
User Story
I honestly think you're doing gods work since IB Vine democratizes the whole interview process and helps a lot of students ace their interviews.
Analyst
I found this website really helpful, which also helps me better prepare for the technical interview in IBD position and get an offer.
Seen on WallStreetOasis
Check out IB Vine, specifically the 'IB Vine Select' questions. Once you can get a handle of those, it seems like you are in a spot where you're applying the concepts rather than simply memorizing them
Analyst
I've used IB Vine for my recruitment, and I could not imagine the journey without it. Thank you for creating a phenomenal resource.
Seen on WallStreetOasis
Beyond the 400 questions guide, try to understand a deeper level and the underlying concepts of the questions being asked. Use ibvine, it really helps.
Seen on WallStreetOasis
IB Vine has excellent questions, especially multistep ones. In my experience I've gotten grilled on accretion/dilution, bond math, and merger model questions. IB Vine has great practice for all of those.
User Story
As a nontraditional transfer student who has been rendered unavailable to many resources at my university (Leadership positions at clubs, immediately behind the recruiting cycle, etc.) IB Vine has been an absolute game changer in my IB prep.
Seen on WallStreetOasis
From my experience interviewing FT for IB, it’s not enough to just know the 400 questions anymore (it’s a good starting point) but to look at even more advanced questions. Would recommend IB Vine.
Seen on Twitter
heard all the new kids use IB Vine now. the questions on IB Vine helped me get the concepts down when I had to recruit and make a lot of BB/MM interviews easier than I expected for techs
User Story
Just got off the phone with a kid who interned at a Dallas PE firm. He mentioned that IB Vine helped him secure that internship as well as his Summer Analyst offer, especially since he came from a non-target with no resources.
Analyst
The IB Vine technical prep is beyond helpful, it's so much more fun quizzing myself every now and then vs. reading through the guides again.
Analyst
I personally found that the 'IB Vine Select' collection had some of the exact questions I was asked in my Qatalyst interviews.
Analyst
Thanks for starting up IB Vine. Couldn't have landed my offer without your help!
User Story
I honestly think you're doing gods work since IB Vine democratizes the whole interview process and helps a lot of students ace their interviews.
Analyst
I found this website really helpful, which also helps me better prepare for the technical interview in IBD position and get an offer.
Seen on WallStreetOasis
Check out IB Vine, specifically the 'IB Vine Select' questions. Once you can get a handle of those, it seems like you are in a spot where you're applying the concepts rather than simply memorizing them
Analyst
I've used IB Vine for my recruitment, and I could not imagine the journey without it. Thank you for creating a phenomenal resource.
Seen on WallStreetOasis
Beyond the 400 questions guide, try to understand a deeper level and the underlying concepts of the questions being asked. Use ibvine, it really helps.
Seen on WallStreetOasis
IB Vine has excellent questions, especially multistep ones. In my experience I've gotten grilled on accretion/dilution, bond math, and merger model questions. IB Vine has great practice for all of those.
User Story
As a nontraditional transfer student who has been rendered unavailable to many resources at my university (Leadership positions at clubs, immediately behind the recruiting cycle, etc.) IB Vine has been an absolute game changer in my IB prep.
Seen on WallStreetOasis
From my experience interviewing FT for IB, it’s not enough to just know the 400 questions anymore (it’s a good starting point) but to look at even more advanced questions. Would recommend IB Vine.
Seen on Twitter
heard all the new kids use IB Vine now. the questions on IB Vine helped me get the concepts down when I had to recruit and make a lot of BB/MM interviews easier than I expected for techs
User Story
Just got off the phone with a kid who interned at a Dallas PE firm. He mentioned that IB Vine helped him secure that internship as well as his Summer Analyst offer, especially since he came from a non-target with no resources.
Analyst
The IB Vine technical prep is beyond helpful, it's so much more fun quizzing myself every now and then vs. reading through the guides again.
Analyst
I personally found that the 'IB Vine Select' collection had some of the exact questions I was asked in my Qatalyst interviews.
Analyst
Thanks for starting up IB Vine. Couldn't have landed my offer without your help!
User Story
I honestly think you're doing gods work since IB Vine democratizes the whole interview process and helps a lot of students ace their interviews.
Analyst
I found this website really helpful, which also helps me better prepare for the technical interview in IBD position and get an offer.
Seen on WallStreetOasis
Check out IB Vine, specifically the 'IB Vine Select' questions. Once you can get a handle of those, it seems like you are in a spot where you're applying the concepts rather than simply memorizing them
Analyst
I've used IB Vine for my recruitment, and I could not imagine the journey without it. Thank you for creating a phenomenal resource.
Seen on WallStreetOasis
Beyond the 400 questions guide, try to understand a deeper level and the underlying concepts of the questions being asked. Use ibvine, it really helps.
Seen on WallStreetOasis
IB Vine has excellent questions, especially multistep ones. In my experience I've gotten grilled on accretion/dilution, bond math, and merger model questions. IB Vine has great practice for all of those.
User Story
As a nontraditional transfer student who has been rendered unavailable to many resources at my university (Leadership positions at clubs, immediately behind the recruiting cycle, etc.) IB Vine has been an absolute game changer in my IB prep.
Seen on WallStreetOasis
From my experience interviewing FT for IB, it’s not enough to just know the 400 questions anymore (it’s a good starting point) but to look at even more advanced questions. Would recommend IB Vine.
Seen on Twitter
heard all the new kids use IB Vine now. the questions on IB Vine helped me get the concepts down when I had to recruit and make a lot of BB/MM interviews easier than I expected for techs
User Story
Just got off the phone with a kid who interned at a Dallas PE firm. He mentioned that IB Vine helped him secure that internship as well as his Summer Analyst offer, especially since he came from a non-target with no resources.
Mock Interview Library
Unlock All Mock Interviews
Upgrade to Diamond for full access to all 93 mock interview sessions with complete audio and interactive transcripts.