PFM Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 115 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Which role are you interviewing for?
12 roles · 115 reportsCandidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at PFM.
PFM
Financial Modeler
Mid Average Neutral experience No offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Technical screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
We had a 15-min HR chat, then a 30-min call with the hiring manager, followed by a 30-min call with some Senior Financial Modelers. It was pretty much what I expected, you know, for a technical role, you need to have a finance background.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- Can you list the three primary financial statements?
- What's one of your core values?
PFM
Public Policy Intern
Intern Average Positive experience Accept offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
Submitted my resume and got an interview without any prior informal chats. The process was straightforward, involving basic behavioral and STAR questions. Communication with the recruiter and the team was good. They got back to me within a week after the final interview.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you describe an instance where you used quantitative analysis to address a specific question?
PFM
Analyst
Senior Average Neutral experience Decline offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Onsite Background check
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
It started with a recruiter call. Then I had two managers interview me. The final round was with the Managing Director. The HR and MD interviews were chill, like a regular chat where they wanted to know me. The manager interviews were more formal, asking behavioral questions that really tested my industry experience, which made sense for a senior role. The whole process was fast and communication between offices was good. I did pull out before an offer though because after the final interviews there were delays and no communication.
Confirmed questions1 question
- How would you balance addressing a client's urgent debt requirements with their longer-term financial planning goals?
PFM
Public Finance Analyst
Entry Average Neutral experience No offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Take home Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
I applied through my university's job board and landed a first round interview. It was a 30-minute chat with two managers/directors at their SF office. They basically read off a list of questions. It felt a bit awkward because they didn't seem super into what I was saying and barely acknowledged my answers before moving to the next question. It was tough to tell how I was doing. A couple weeks later, they asked me to formally apply on their website and complete a take-home math assessment. A few days after that, I was invited for a final interview at the SF office, but I turned it down since I had already accepted another job.
Confirmed questions8 questions
- What do you know about the PFM group and what makes you interested in public finance?
- Can you tell me about your most recent internship?
- Is there anything else you'd like to share that we haven't covered?
PFM Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from PFM interview reports.
“At 6:15, what's the angle between the clock hands?”
Read reports →“Could you explain the difference between municipal bonds and corporate bonds?”
Read reports →“Given the upcoming election, what are your predictions for the economy in the coming months? Do you anticipate the Fed will increase interest rates?”
Read reports →“Considering you have many activities and clubs, do you have any spare time for fun?”
Read reports →“Which of your classes did you like the least and why?”
Read report →“How would you balance addressing a client's urgent debt requirements with their longer-term financial planning goals?”
Read report →“What draws you to the fixed income market and to PFM?”
Read report →“Tell me about your favorite math course in college and explain why you enjoyed it.”
Read report →“Could you tell me about a class you disliked and the reasons why?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 115 PFM interview reports.