Finance Day 0 Cheat Sheet: Formulas, Macro Numbers and Interview Rules
Instant-recall reference for finance interviews. These formulas, live Indian macro numbers, banking benchmarks, and golden rules are the numbers and habits you must know cold before walking into any finance placement interview. All macro figures are current as of FY2024-25 and subject to change.
- Present Value (PV) = FV Γ· (1 + r)^n, where r = discount rate and n = number of periods.
- WACC = KeΒ·E/(D+E) + Kd(1-t)Β·D/(D+E), where Ke = cost of equity, Kd = pre-tax debt cost, and t = tax rate.
- DCF Intrinsic Value = Ξ£ FCF_t/(1+WACC)^t + TV/(1+WACC)^n, with Terminal Value from Gordon Growth or Exit Multiple.
- India macro numbers to know cold include Repo Rate 6.50%, 10-Year G-Sec Yield β 6.8 - 7.2%, and Total MF AUM βΉ 63-65 lakh Cr+.
- Banking quick numbers include CASA Ratio, Net Interest Margin, Gross NPA Ratio, Provision Coverage Ratio, CAR, ROA, and ROE.
- Structure + Indian context + intellectual honesty = interview success.
How to Use This Cheat Sheet
This cheat sheet condenses the formulas, live Indian macro numbers, and golden rules you must know cold before walking into any finance placement interview. Use it as a Day 0 recall layer: first formulas, then advanced valuation and risk cards, then current India macro and banking benchmarks, and finally interview mindset rules.
Core Finance Formulas
Start with the formulas that appear repeatedly in valuation, corporate finance, banking, credit, and market discussions. Every ratio needs a benchmark, and every formula needs the business context behind it.
g = perpetual growth rate; must be less than WACC.
Advanced Formula Cards
These cards are especially useful in valuation, M&A, free cash flow analysis, risk, and distress screening. Keep the bridge between equity value and enterprise value clear, and match the cash flow to the correct discount rate.
India Macro Numbers - FY2024-25
All figures are sourced from RBI, SEBI, AMFI, NSE/BSE published reports as of FY2024-25. Macro numbers change - verify the latest before your interview.
Banking Quick Numbers - India
Banking benchmarks are sector-dependent, and private banks, PSU banks, size, and the credit cycle can change the interpretation. Always quote a range, not a single number.
Always quote a range, not a single number - it signals you understand that metrics vary by bank type (PSU vs private), size, and credit cycle. Anchoring to HDFC Bank and SBI as reference points is always well-received.
10 Golden Rules for Finance Interviews
These golden rules are about mindset, not memorisation. Finance interviews test how you think under uncertainty - not whether you can recite formulas.
The Interviewer's Perspective: These golden rules are about mindset, not memorisation. Finance interviews test how you think under uncertainty - not whether you can recite formulas. Structure + Indian context + intellectual honesty = interview success.
Market cap β Enterprise Value. Always bridge the two: EV = Market Cap + Net Debt + Minorities - Cash. Confusing these is an instant red flag for IB and PE roles.
