Top 12 Accenture Business Analyst Interview Questions + Guide in 2024

Accenture is renowned for its innovative approach to technology and consulting. As a leader in the industry, Accenture boasts a global reach and focuses on delivering high-quality solutions across various sectors, including defense, national security, public safety, and civilian services.

As a Business Analyst at Accenture, you will bridge the gap between technological capabilities and business needs. Your responsibilities will include analyzing organizational processes, gathering and validating business requirements, and ensuring effective communication between stakeholders and development teams. The role demands a blend of technical acumen and strong problem-solving skills, ideally with experience in Agile methodologies.

Are you looking to join an industry innovator? Our Interview Query guide will help you navigate the interview process, offering insights and tips to excel, especially on the commonly asked Accenture business analyst interview questions. Let’s get started!

The interview process usually depends on the role and seniority; however, you can expect the following on a Accenture business analyst interview:

Recruiter/Hiring Manager Call Screening

If your resume is shortlisted, an Accenture recruiter will contact you for a preliminary screening. This call will verify your qualifications, work experiences, and interest in the role. Behavioral questions may also be asked to gauge your fit for the company’s culture.

The recruiter call will typically last about 30 minutes and might include surface-level technical and behavioral questions.

Technical Take-Home Assessment

Once you pass the initial screening, you may receive a take-home coding or analytical assessment. The Business Analyst position could involve solving business cases, SQL queries, or creating reports. You’ll typically have a few days to complete the assessment.

Group Case Study Round

Following the take-home assessment, candidates are often invited to an “All Access Day,” which includes various group activities:

1. Introduction to Accenture’s Work: You will be mentored and introduced to Accenture’s projects.
2. Online Group Case Study: Candidates work together on a business case. You will have a few minutes to present your solution to the panel.

Virtual Interview Rounds

Next, you will undergo multiple virtual interview rounds with different stakeholders, such as managers, supervisors, and colleagues from the business unit:

1. Behavioral Interview: Questions about your past work experiences, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities.
2. Technical Interview: Focused on your analytical skills, understanding of business models, and ability to translate business requirements into technical specifications.
3. Recorded Interview: Some candidates might be asked to record their answers to pre-defined questions.

Onsite or Final Round Interview

If you clear the virtual interviews, you might be invited for an onsite interview or another final round via video conferencing. This final stage often includes:

1. Detailed Technical Interview: Further assesses your technical skills and problem-solving approach.
2. Business Case Presentation: You might need to present your take-home assignment or a new case study to a panel.

Typically, interviews at Accenture vary by role and team, but commonly, Business Analyst interviews follow a fairly standardized process across these question topics.

1. What are the drawbacks of the given data layouts, and how would you reformat them for better analysis?

Assume you have data on student test scores in two different layouts (dataset 1 and dataset 2). Identify the drawbacks of these layouts and suggest formatting changes to make the data more useful for analysis. Additionally, describe common problems seen in “messy” datasets.

2. Write a function to merge two sorted lists into one sorted list.

Write a function to merge two sorted lists into one sorted list. Bonus: What’s the time complexity?

3. Create a function one_element_removed to find the missing integer between two nearly identical lists.

There are two lists, list X and list Y. Both lists contain integers from -1000 to 1000 and are identical, except that one integer is removed in list Y that exists in list X. Write a function one_element_removed that takes in both lists and returns the integer that was removed in (O(1)) space and (O(n)) time without using the Python set function.

4. Write a function sorting to sort a list of strings in ascending alphabetical order from scratch.

Given a list of strings, write a function, sorting, to sort the list in ascending alphabetical order. Do NOT use the built-in sorted function. Return the new sorted list rather than modifying the list in place. Bonus: Have your solution be (O(n \log n)).

5. How would you justify the complexity of a neural network model and explain predictions to non-technical stakeholders?

Your manager asks you to build a neural network model to solve a business problem. How would you justify the complexity of this model and explain its predictions to non-technical stakeholders?

6. How would you build a fraud detection model with a text messaging service for transaction approval?

You work at a bank that wants to detect fraud and implement a text messaging service to allow customers to approve or deny transactions. How would you build this model?

7. How would you encode a categorical variable with thousands of distinct values?

You have a categorical variable with thousands of distinct values. How would you encode it?

8. What is the difference between XGBoost and random forest algorithms, and when would you use one over the other?

Explain the difference between XGBoost and random forest algorithms. Provide an example of when you would use one over the other.

9. What is the probability that it’s actually raining in Seattle given your friends’ responses?

You call 3 random friends in Seattle to ask if it’s raining. Each has a ²⁄₃ chance of telling the truth and a ¹⁄₃ chance of lying. All 3 say “Yes.” Calculate the probability that it is actually raining.

10. What is the mean and variance of the distribution of (2X - Y) given (X) and (Y) are independent normal variables?

Given (X \sim N(3, 2^2)) and (Y \sim N(1, 2^2)), determine the mean and variance of the distribution of (2X - Y).

11. What is the estimated annual cost of downtime caused by overlapping jobs, and how would you solve this using probability or simulation?

Every night between 7 pm and midnight, two computing jobs from two different sources are randomly started, each lasting an hour.

Unfortunately, when the jobs simultaneously run, they cause a failure in some of the company’s other nightly jobs, resulting in downtime for the company that costs $1000.

The CEO, who has enough time today to hear one word, needs a single number representing the annual (365 days) cost of this problem.

Note: Write a function to simulate this problem and output an estimated cost

Bonus: How would you solve this using probability?

12. How would you evaluate the success of a new driver payment structure combining a 2.5% order commission with a $50 bonus for every fifth order?

Let’s say you work for a food delivery company. We have a payment structure for delivery drivers where they make 5% of every order. A product manager wants to launch a new payment structure for delivery drivers where delivery drivers make 2.5% of each order and $50 after each fifth order.

How would you determine the success of this new structure?

You should plan to brush up on any technical skills and try as many practice interview questions and mock interviews as possible. A few tips for acing your Accenture interview include:

1. Understand Business Processes: Accenture looks for candidates who have a strong understanding of business processes and can align them with technology solutions.

2. Showcase Communication Skills: Effective communication is crucial in a Business Analyst role. Be prepared to demonstrate your ability to convey complex information clearly and concisely.

3. Cultural Fit: Accenture values collaborative and innovative thinking. Highlight experiences where you’ve shown these qualities and how you can contribute to Accenture’s culture.

What is the average salary for a Business Analyst at Accenture?

What skills are essential for the Business Analyst position at Accenture?

A strong candidate for the Business Analyst position at Accenture should possess excellent analytical skills, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills. Familiarity with Agile methodologies, experience in requirements gathering, and technical knowledge in tools like SQL, Jira, and Confluence are highly valued. Additional certifications like Lean Six Sigma or ServiceNow certifications can also be beneficial.

How does Accenture ensure a fair and inclusive hiring process?

Accenture is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. All employment decisions are made without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, veteran status, or any other protected category. Accenture also provides reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities or religious observances during the interview process.

What kind of projects do Business Analysts at Accenture typically work on?

Business Analysts at Accenture work on various projects, including system implementations, process improvements, and technology integrations. They collaborate with multiple teams to analyze business requirements, design optimal solutions, and ensure successful project delivery. Projects often span various industries, including public safety, defense, health services, etc.

The journey to becoming a Business Analyst at Accenture is both challenging and rewarding. It is marked by a comprehensive evaluation process that spans various stages.

If you want more insights about the company, check out our main Accenture Interview Guide, where we have covered many interview questions that could be asked. We’ve also created interview guides for other roles, such as software engineer and data analyst, where you can learn more about Accenture’s interview process for different positions.

You can also check out all our company interview guides for better preparation, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Good luck with your interview!