Square Business Analyst Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Square is a global technology company that aims to empower businesses by providing integrated commerce solutions and financial services.

As a Business Analyst at Square, you'll play a pivotal role within the Revenue Operations and Enablement team, driving the development of scalable solutions that enhance the efficiency of the Sales and Account Management divisions. Your key responsibilities will include analyzing and calculating commission structures, ensuring accurate and timely payouts, and supporting inquiries from the sales team. You'll collaborate with cross-functional partners to manage and optimize the incentive management tool, ensuring it evolves with business needs. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical skills, proficient SQL knowledge, and experience with incentive management systems, alongside excellent communication abilities to influence and build relationships across teams.

This guide will help you prepare for your interview by giving you insights into the role's expectations and the skills that will set you apart as a candidate for Square.

The interview process for a Business Analyst role at Square is structured and involves multiple stages to assess both technical and interpersonal skills.

1. Initial Screening

The process typically begins with an initial phone screening conducted by a recruiter. This conversation lasts about 30 minutes and focuses on your background, skills, and motivations for applying to Square. The recruiter will also provide insights into the company culture and the specifics of the role, ensuring that you have a clear understanding of what to expect.

2. Hiring Manager Interview

Following the initial screening, candidates usually have a video call with the hiring manager. This interview is more in-depth and centers around behavioral questions that assess your past experiences and how they relate to the responsibilities of the Business Analyst position. The hiring manager will be looking for evidence of your analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and how you handle various work situations.

3. Technical Assessment

The next step often involves a technical assessment, which may be conducted via a video call with a team member. This part of the interview focuses on your technical skills, particularly in SQL and data analysis. You may be asked to perform a coding exercise in a shared coding environment, where you will demonstrate your ability to write SQL queries and analyze data effectively. Be prepared to answer questions that require you to think critically about how you would approach specific analytical challenges.

4. Team Interviews

Candidates may then participate in a series of interviews with various team members. These sessions typically involve case study questions that assess your strategic thinking and ability to tackle real-world business problems. You might be asked to discuss how you would approach issues such as customer retention, market expansion, or operational efficiency. This stage is crucial for evaluating how well you would fit within the team and contribute to Square's objectives.

5. Final Interview

In some cases, there may be a final interview with senior leadership or cross-functional partners. This interview is designed to gauge your alignment with Square's values and mission, as well as your ability to collaborate across different teams. Expect to discuss your vision for the role and how you can contribute to the company's growth and success.

As you prepare for these interviews, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the types of questions that may be asked throughout the process.

Here are some tips to help you excel in your interview.

Understand the Company Culture

Square values innovation and collaboration, so it's essential to demonstrate your ability to work well in a team and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement. Be prepared to discuss how your past experiences align with Square's mission to empower sellers and enhance their operations. Show enthusiasm for their integrated solutions and how they help businesses thrive.

Prepare for Behavioral Questions

Expect a significant focus on behavioral questions that assess your past experiences and how they relate to the role. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses. Highlight instances where you successfully collaborated with cross-functional teams, tackled complex problems, or contributed to process improvements. This will showcase your analytical skills and ability to drive results.

Brush Up on SQL and Analytical Skills

Given the technical nature of the role, be ready to demonstrate your SQL proficiency. Practice writing intermediate SQL queries, including using CASE WHEN statements and multiple JOINs, as these are commonly tested in the interview process. Additionally, be prepared to discuss your analytical approach to problem-solving, especially in scenarios related to sales operations and incentive management.

Showcase Your Communication Skills

Strong written and verbal communication skills are crucial for this role. Be prepared to discuss how you have effectively communicated complex data insights to non-technical stakeholders in the past. Highlight your ability to build relationships and influence cross-functional teams, as this will be key in managing inquiries and collaborating with various departments.

Anticipate Case Study Questions

You may encounter case study questions that require you to think critically about business challenges, such as customer retention or international expansion. Practice structuring your thoughts and articulating your analysis clearly. Consider how you would approach these scenarios, what data you would need, and how you would measure success.

Follow Up Professionally

After your interviews, send a thoughtful follow-up email to express your gratitude for the opportunity and reiterate your interest in the role. This not only shows professionalism but also reinforces your enthusiasm for joining Square. Given the feedback from previous candidates about communication, a well-crafted follow-up can help you stand out.

By preparing thoroughly and aligning your experiences with Square's values and expectations, you'll position yourself as a strong candidate for the Business Analyst role. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Business Analyst interview at Square. The interview process will likely assess your analytical skills, understanding of business operations, and ability to communicate effectively with cross-functional teams. Be prepared to demonstrate your problem-solving abilities and your experience with data analysis tools, particularly SQL.

Analytical Skills

1. Describe a complex analysis you conducted and the impact it had on your organization.

Square values data-driven decision-making, so they will want to see how your analytical work has led to tangible results.

How to Answer

Focus on the methodology you used, the data sources you analyzed, and the outcome of your analysis. Highlight how your findings influenced business decisions.

Example

“I conducted a comprehensive analysis of customer churn rates by segmenting data based on demographics and purchase history. By identifying key factors contributing to churn, I proposed targeted retention strategies that reduced churn by 15% over the next quarter.”

2. How do you prioritize multiple projects with competing deadlines?

This question assesses your project management skills and ability to handle pressure.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to prioritization, such as using a matrix to evaluate urgency and importance, and how you communicate with stakeholders.

Example

“I prioritize projects by assessing their impact on business goals and deadlines. I use a priority matrix to categorize tasks and regularly communicate with stakeholders to ensure alignment on expectations and timelines.”

3. Can you explain a time when you had to analyze data from multiple sources?

This question evaluates your ability to synthesize information from various datasets.

How to Answer

Describe the sources of data you used, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them to provide insights.

Example

“I was tasked with analyzing sales performance across different regions, which required data from our CRM, financial systems, and market research. I created a unified dashboard that integrated these sources, allowing us to identify underperforming areas and adjust our strategy accordingly.”

4. What tools do you use for data analysis and why?

Square is interested in your technical proficiency and familiarity with industry-standard tools.

How to Answer

Mention specific tools you have experience with, and explain why you prefer them based on their features and your needs.

Example

“I primarily use SQL for data extraction and analysis due to its efficiency in handling large datasets. Additionally, I utilize Excel for data visualization and reporting, as it allows for quick adjustments and sharing with stakeholders.”

SQL and Data Management

1. How would you write a SQL query to find the top 10 customers by sales?

This question tests your SQL skills and understanding of data retrieval.

How to Answer

Explain your thought process in structuring the query, including the use of aggregate functions and sorting.

Example

“I would use a SELECT statement to retrieve customer IDs and their total sales, applying the SUM function. Then, I would use GROUP BY to aggregate the sales by customer and ORDER BY to sort the results in descending order, limiting the output to the top 10.”

2. Describe a time when you had to troubleshoot a data discrepancy.

This question assesses your problem-solving skills in data management.

How to Answer

Detail the steps you took to identify the source of the discrepancy and how you resolved it.

Example

“I noticed a discrepancy in our sales reports where the totals didn’t match the CRM data. I traced the issue back to a data entry error in the CRM and worked with the team to correct the entries. I also implemented a validation process to prevent similar issues in the future.”

3. What is your experience with incentive management systems?

This question gauges your familiarity with tools relevant to the role.

How to Answer

Discuss any specific systems you have used and how they contributed to your work.

Example

“I have experience using Xactly for managing sales incentives. I utilized it to analyze commission structures and ensure compliance with compensation plans, which helped streamline our payout processes and improve transparency for the sales team.”

4. How do you ensure data accuracy in your analyses?

This question evaluates your attention to detail and commitment to quality.

How to Answer

Explain the methods you use to verify data accuracy and the importance of this in your analyses.

Example

“I ensure data accuracy by conducting regular audits and cross-referencing data from multiple sources. I also implement checks within my SQL queries to catch any anomalies before finalizing my reports.”

Business Acumen

1. How would you approach a case where the company is considering international expansion?

This question assesses your strategic thinking and understanding of market dynamics.

How to Answer

Outline the steps you would take to analyze the opportunity, including market research and risk assessment.

Example

“I would start by conducting a market analysis to identify potential regions for expansion, assessing factors like market size, competition, and regulatory environment. I would also evaluate our current capabilities and resources to ensure we can support the expansion effectively.”

2. Describe a time when you improved a process within your team.

This question looks for evidence of your initiative and ability to drive change.

How to Answer

Share a specific example of a process you improved, the steps you took, and the results achieved.

Example

“I noticed our reporting process was taking too long due to manual data entry. I proposed and implemented an automated reporting system that integrated with our existing tools, reducing the reporting time by 50% and allowing the team to focus on analysis rather than data entry.”

3. How do you handle conflicting priorities from different stakeholders?

This question evaluates your interpersonal skills and ability to manage expectations.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to communication and negotiation when faced with conflicting demands.

Example

“I prioritize open communication and seek to understand the underlying needs of each stakeholder. I facilitate discussions to align on priorities and find a compromise that meets the most critical business objectives while keeping everyone informed of progress.”

4. What metrics do you consider most important for measuring sales performance?

This question assesses your understanding of key performance indicators in a sales context.

How to Answer

Identify the metrics you believe are crucial and explain why they matter.

Example

“I consider metrics such as customer acquisition cost, lifetime value, and conversion rates to be essential for measuring sales performance. These metrics provide insights into the efficiency of our sales strategies and help identify areas for improvement.”