For a Fund Accountant role at a major financial institution like UBS, the process usually consists of two to three stages:
HR Screening (Phone Call): A 15–30 minute chat with a recruiter. They will verify your CV, ask about your motivation for joining UBS, check your salary expectations, and assess your English proficiency.
Technical & Behavioral Interview (Panel): A 45–60 minute interview with a Hiring Manager and a Team Leader or Senior Fund Accountant. This stage tests both your accounting knowledge and how you handle workplace scenarios.
Practical Test (Optional): Some teams require a short Excel-based test where you must perform a basic reconciliation, calculate a Net Asset Value (NAV), or demonstrate proficiency with VLOOKUP and Pivot Tables.
UBS places a heavy emphasis on accuracy and risk management. You should be prepared to discuss the core responsibilities of fund accounting:
Net Asset Value (NAV): You must know how to calculate NAV.
Formula: (Total Assets - Total Liabilities) / Number of Outstanding Shares.
Expect follow-ups like: "What happens to the NAV if a fund issues a dividend?" or "How would a sudden drop in a bond's price affect the NAV?"
Reconciliations: Be ready to explain the process of reconciling cash and position balances between the fund manager and the custodian bank. They may ask how you would investigate a discrepancy.
Financial Instruments: Have a basic understanding of Equities, Fixed Income (Bonds), and Derivatives (Forwards, Options, Futures), and how they are priced.
Corporate Actions: Know the difference between mandatory and voluntary corporate actions (e.g., dividends, stock splits, mergers) and how they impact a fund's accounting records.
Excel Skills: Be honest about your level. You will likely be asked how often you use formulas, Pivot Tables, or Macros/VBA.
