Bristol Myers Squibb India Risk Analyst Interview: Rounds, Questions and Preparation

What the job involves

Risk Analysts in GCCs, consulting, and Big 4 firms assess financial, operational, and compliance risks, often supporting global clients or parent companies. Day to day involves data analysis, risk reporting, internal control testing, and collaborating with audit, finance, and business teams to mitigate risks. In a pharma GCC like Bristol Myers Squibb India, they may focus on enterprise risk, SOX compliance, or third-party risk management.

Role and Technical Knowledge

1. 1

   What is the difference between risk assessment and risk management?

   Explain that risk assessment is identifying and evaluating risks, while risk management includes mitigation, monitoring, and control activities.

2. 2

   How would you apply the COSO framework to a pharma company's financial reporting?

   Cover the five components: control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication, and monitoring, with examples like segregation of duties.

3. 3

   What are key risks in the pharmaceutical industry and how can they be mitigated?

   Mention regulatory, supply chain, clinical trial, and intellectual property risks, with mitigations like compliance programs and diversified suppliers.

4. 4

   Explain the concept of materiality in risk and audit.

   Define materiality as the threshold above which misstatements affect decisions, and note it varies by company size and industry.

Practical Scenarios

1. 5

   You find a control gap in a vendor payment process. How do you handle it?

   Describe documenting the gap, assessing impact, informing stakeholders, and recommending a remediation plan with timelines.

2. 6

   How would you assess third-party risk for a new clinical research organization?

   Outline due diligence, financial health checks, compliance audits, and ongoing monitoring with KPIs.

3. 7

   If you have to analyze a large dataset to identify fraud patterns, what steps would you take?

   Mention data cleaning, exploratory analysis, anomaly detection techniques, and using tools like Excel or Python.

4. 8

   A business unit wants to bypass a control for efficiency. What do you do?

   Explain balancing risk and efficiency, escalating to management, and suggesting compensating controls if approved.

Behavioural and Situational

1. 9

   Tell me about a time you worked in a team to solve a problem.

   Use STAR format, highlight your role, collaboration, and the outcome, linking to risk or compliance if possible.

2. 10

   Describe a situation where you had to analyze data to make a decision.

   Focus on data gathering, analysis method, decision made, and impact, showing analytical thinking.

3. 11

   How do you handle tight deadlines with multiple tasks?

   Discuss prioritization, time management, and communication, with an example from academics or internships.

4. 12

   Give an example of when you had to explain a complex idea to a non-expert.

   Show clarity, use of analogies, and checking understanding, emphasizing communication skills.

HR and Company Fit

1. 13

   Why do you want to work as a Risk Analyst in a GCC or Big 4?

   Connect your interest in risk, analytical skills, and desire to work in a global environment with exposure to diverse industries.

2. 14

   What do you know about our company and this role?

   Research the company's risk functions, recent news, and how the role supports business objectives, showing genuine interest.

3. 15

   Where do you see yourself in five years?

   Align career growth with the company, mentioning gaining certifications like FRM or CIA and taking on more responsibility.

4. 16

   What are your strengths and weaknesses?

   Highlight strengths like attention to detail, and a weakness you are improving, with a concrete example.