PwC interview questions, and the case
After an online assessment, PwC holds live virtual interviews: two in a row for Assurance and Tax (one behavioral, one innovation scenario-based), and a case interview for most Advisory roles. PwC asks you to prepare examples of its PwC Professional framework, Trusted Leadership and Distinctive Outcomes.
Updated
- Assessment first. Most entry-level applications aren't complete until you finish PwC's assessment.
- Two live virtual interviews. For Assurance and Tax: one behavioral, one innovation scenario-based.
- A case for Advisory. Most Advisory roles have one, typically 30 to 45 minutes.
- Two dimensions. Trusted Leadership and Distinctive Outcomes, the PwC Professional framework.
- No AI. PwC doesn't permit AI during its assessment or interviews.
What PwC says it looks for
From PwC's own careers pages:
Trusted Leadership
Do you understand your impact on others, coach and work side by side with people, and keep finding ways to grow?
Distinctive Outcomes
Do you commit to quality, integrity and inclusive behaviors, apply a business mindset and collaborate to deliver for clients?
In the case: structure and comfort with ambiguity
PwC's case interviewers listen for structured thinking, comfort with ambiguity, clear communication, business intuition and basic numeracy.
Curiosity and coachability
Thoughtful questions, and how well you respond to guidance or new information during the case.
From The PwC Professional and PwC's case interview prep page.
How PwC's process runs
For US entry-level and MBA roles, as PwC describes it.
Apply, assessment, interviews, offer
Step 1
Apply
Most roles are filled on a rolling basis, and some have deadlines. No cover letter is needed. You can interview for only one opportunity at a time.
Step 2
Assessment
It arrives by email within a few hours of applying, and your application isn't complete until you finish it. Senior associate, seasonal and specialist roles skip it.
Step 3
Live virtual interviews
Assurance and Tax: two in a row, one behavioral and one innovation scenario-based. Most Advisory roles add a case. MBA Advisory: one round of three, one case and two behavioral.
Step 4
Offer
For MBA roles PwC aims to give a decision within three weeks of the interview day, with the offer letter about a week after.
PwC tells you the Advisory interview format in your invitation. It doesn't publish how it scores the assessment.
14 PwC interview questions
The two case prompts are PwC's own sample cases, summarized. The rest are our own wording, built on the PwC Professional and PwC's interview formats.
Advisory case4 questions
PwC says there is no perfect answer. It wants your reasoning out loud.
A traditional global bank with very profitable US branches can't grow deposits consistently and is preparing a digital transformation. How would you approach it?
PwC's sample case, digital transformation at a large financial institution
What a strong answer does
Clarify the goal, split it into customers, channels and costs, then say where you'd start and why.
- “What would you want to know before recommending anything?”
- “What's the trade-off between speed and cost here?”
A healthcare organization is considering an expansion. What would you want to know first?
PwC's sample case, exploring a healthcare expansion strategy
What a strong answer does
Start from what the client is trying to achieve and the constraints, then the options and how you'd compare them.
Estimate the US market for a home health monitoring device.
What a strong answer does
PwC says you may estimate market size. State the approach, round on purpose and sanity-check the answer. Example answer
A client's profits are down even though revenue is up. Where do you look?
What a strong answer does
Costs first, split into fixed and variable, then mix. Say what number would prove you wrong. Example answer
Behavioral, built on the PwC Professional5 questions
PwC asks for examples of both dimensions from work, school, activities or volunteering.
Tell me about a time you coached or helped a teammate improve.
What a strong answer does
Trusted Leadership: coaching and working side by side. Show what changed for them. Example answer
Tell me about a time your work affected others in a way you didn't expect.
What a strong answer does
Trusted Leadership asks whether you understand your impact on others. Say what you noticed and changed.
Tell me about a time you held to a quality standard under time pressure.
What a strong answer does
Distinctive Outcomes starts with quality and integrity. Show the choice you made and its cost. Example answer
Tell me about a time you learned something new to get a job done.
What a strong answer does
Growth is part of Trusted Leadership. Name the skill, how you learned it and how you used it. Example answer
Tell me about a time you challenged an old way of doing things.
What a strong answer does
PwC says Distinctive Outcomes come from challenging old assumptions. Show the evidence you used. Example answer
Scenario questions (Assurance, Tax)3 questions
Our own examples of the hypothetical kind PwC names for its second interview.
Your team has always done a task by hand. How would you decide whether to automate it?
What a strong answer does
Weigh time saved, accuracy and risk, then say how you'd test it on a small piece first.
A client asks for something new that your team has never delivered. What do you do?
What a strong answer does
Clarify the need, find who in the firm has done it, and agree on a first small step with the client.
You notice a number in a client file doesn't match its source. What happens next?
What a strong answer does
Check it, document it and raise it with your senior. Don't fix it quietly or ignore it. Example answer
Motivation2 questions
Why PwC, and why this practice?
What a strong answer does
Tie the practice's work to your own experience, and mention someone at PwC you spoke to. Example answer
Do you have any questions for me?
What a strong answer does
Ask about the interviewer's current work or team. PwC calls the case a two-way conversation, and the interview is too. Example answer
More to prepare with
Mistakes that cost PwC candidates
Leaving the assessment for later
Your application isn't complete until it's done, and PwC urges you to finish it as soon as possible.
Using AI during the process
PwC doesn't permit AI during its assessment or interviews.
Hunting for the right answer in the case
PwC says there's no perfect answer and it's listening to your reasoning. Think out loud.
Generic behavioral stories
PwC asks for examples of its two dimensions. Map each story to one of them before the day.
How to prepare for PwC
Built on PwC's own advice.
Weeks before
Map stories to the framework
Two stories for Trusted Leadership and two for Distinctive Outcomes, from work, school or volunteering.
For Advisory
Work PwC's two sample cases
Use a timer, take notes and practice speaking your answers out loud, as PwC suggests.
Daily
Sharpen mental math
Percentages and ratios. PwC says no advanced math is required.
On the day
Pen, paper and questions
PwC encourages notes on paper or a virtual whiteboard, and clarifying questions during the case.
Think out loud on a case, then get scored
Soreno's AI interviewer runs a case one question at a time, follows up on your structure and scores structure, math and judgment. Free for 7 days.
Questions people ask
What is the PwC interview process?
For most US entry-level roles: apply, complete PwC's assessment, then live virtual interviews. Assurance and Tax candidates typically have two in a row, one behavioral and one innovation scenario-based. Most Advisory roles include a case.
Does PwC have a case interview?
Yes, for most Advisory positions. PwC says it typically lasts 30 to 45 minutes as part of a longer process, and the scenarios differ by practice group.
What is the PwC Professional?
PwC's global framework for recruiting, developing and managing its people, with two dimensions: Trusted Leadership and Distinctive Outcomes. PwC asks you to prepare examples of both.
Do I need business experience for the PwC case?
Not at the associate level, PwC says. It wants a clear, structured approach and thoughtful questions. At MBA or senior associate level it expects deeper business insight and judgment.
Can I use AI in PwC's assessment or interviews?
No. PwC says the use of AI during the assessment and interview process is not permitted.
Can I interview for more than one PwC role?
Not at the same time. PwC says you are only eligible to interview for one opportunity at a time.
How long until PwC makes a decision?
For MBA roles PwC aims to give an offer decision within three weeks of your interview day. For other roles it doesn't publish a timeline.