EY Data Analyst Interview Experience (2026)

The EY data analyst interview is more business-focused than I expected. They want analysts who can translate data into business insights.

• Role: Data Analyst
• Location: Chicago, IL
• Year: 2026
• Timeline: 3 weeks, application to offer
• Rounds: Online Assessment → Technical Screen → Case Study → Behavioral Round → Manager Round
• Difficulty: Medium - business analytics focus
• Outcome: Offer accepted
• Compensation: $78k base / $88k total comp

The Application Process

I applied through EY's careers portal in November 2024. EY's data analytics practice works across all service lines - audit, tax, and consulting. The interview process reflected this cross-functional focus.

Round 1: Online Assessment

Format: 60-minute online assessment Duration: 55 minutes Sections: SQL queries, Excel functions, data interpretation, business scenarios

The assessment tested SQL skills with business-relevant queries, Excel functions for financial analysis, and data interpretation with business scenarios. The business scenarios presented real client situations and asked how I'd approach data analysis.

What they were testing: Technical data skills, business acumen, and ability to apply data to business problems.

Round 2: Technical Screen

Format: 60-minute video call with shared screen Interviewer: Senior Data Analyst Duration: 58 minutes

The technical screen was a practical data analysis exercise. The interviewer shared a dataset with sales data and asked me to:

"Analyze this sales data, identify trends, and present actionable insights for the client."

I used SQL to query the data, Excel for analysis, and created visualizations. The interviewer asked about my methodology, how I'd validate my findings, and what additional data I'd want.

What they were testing: Data analysis skills, business thinking, and ability to communicate insights.

Interviewer approach: Practical and business-focused. The senior analyst treated it like a real client project.

Round 3: Case Study

Format: 90-minute video call Interviewer: Data Analytics Manager Duration: 88 minutes

The case study was about a retail client wanting to optimize inventory management using data. The manager provided sales and inventory data and asked me to:

1. Identify inventory inefficiencies
2. Recommend data-driven solutions
3. Present findings to a mock client

I analyzed the data, found overstock and stockout patterns, and recommended a data-driven inventory optimization approach. The manager challenged my assumptions and asked me to defend my recommendations.

What they were testing: Data analysis skills, business acumen, and client communication abilities.

Interviewer approach: Challenging but fair. The manager wanted to see both technical depth and business thinking.

Round 4: Behavioral Round

Format: 45-minute video call Interviewer: Senior Manager Duration: 43 minutes

The behavioral round focused on data analytics in consulting. Key questions:

"Tell me about a time your data analysis led to a significant business impact." "Describe a situation where you had to work with messy or incomplete data." "How do you approach presenting technical findings to non-technical stakeholders?"

I used examples from previous roles, focusing on business impact and communication skills.

What they were testing: Business impact, problem-solving, and communication abilities.

Interviewer approach: Business-focused and experienced. The senior manager shared stories about client projects.

Round 5: Manager Round

Format: 30-minute video call Interviewer: Practice Leader Duration: 28 minutes

The manager round was high-level and strategic. He asked about my interest in data analytics, how I saw it applying to professional services, and my career goals. He also discussed EY's data analytics investments and growth areas.

What they were testing: Career motivation, strategic thinking, and long-term fit with the firm.

Interviewer approach: Visionary and mentorship-focused. The practice leader offered career advice.

The Insider Insight

EY's data analytics practice emphasizes business translation - they want analysts who can translate data into actionable business insights, not just run queries. During my interviews, multiple people asked about the business impact of my work, not just the technical details. If you can demonstrate that you think about business outcomes when analyzing data, you'll stand out. I always framed my technical work in terms of business value - revenue impact, cost savings, risk reduction - this was consistently appreciated.

Compensation

The offer was $78k base with a $10k signing bonus and performance bonus, bringing total first-year comp to around $88k. For Chicago in 2026, this is competitive for data analyst roles in consulting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is the EY Data Analyst interview? The difficulty is medium - they test business analytics skills more than pure technical ability. You need solid data skills and business acumen.

How long does the EY data analytics interview process take? From application to offer, expect 2–3 weeks. The process is efficient and business-focused.

What data tools does EY use? EY uses SQL, Excel, Tableau, Power BI, Python, and R for data analytics. They also use proprietary tools for audit and tax analytics.

How much do Data Analysts make at EY? Mid-level data analysts in Chicago can expect $75–85k base, with total comp around $85–95k including bonus.