Moelis & Company Interview Guide 2026

Moelis has an entrepreneurial, meritocratic culture where junior bankers can take on significant responsibility. The firm is known for its flat hierarchy and direct access to senior bankers. Hours are demanding but the culture rewards initiative. Exit opportunities are excellent across PE and corporate development.

Moelis's summer analyst process follows the accelerated sophomore-year recruiting cycle. Applications typically open in February through April, with HireVue-style video interviews used as a first screen in many cycles, followed by phone or virtual rounds, and culminating in a Superday either in the New York office at 399 Park or virtually.

Moelis interviews are technical-heavy and known for being demanding without being gimmicky. A typical analyst Superday includes four to six back-to-back interviews. Early rounds are dominated by accounting, valuation, and modeling fundamentals — be prepared to walk through the three statements interaction, build a DCF from memory, explain the differences between trading comps and precedent transactions. The technical bar escalates quickly: expect follow-ups on circular references in LBO models, the impact of net operating losses on a transaction, and how synergies should be modeled.

For Restructuring candidates, the technical battery shifts to credit and capital structure. Common topics include capital structure waterfalls and fulcrum security identification, the differences between a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization and a 363 sale, debtor-in-possession financing mechanics, and exchange offers.

Case studies appear with some frequency at the Superday stage, particularly for full-time and lateral roles. Behavioral and fit questions are weighted heavily and are not perfunctory. Moelis bankers want to see commercial instinct, intellectual curiosity, and maturity. 'Why Moelis' is a question candidates should answer with specificity — referencing the firm's structure, the cross-staffing model, particular deals, or specific senior bankers shows preparation. Expect resume walk-throughs to be meticulous: every line is fair game.

**The technical-grinder analyst or associate** — runs the early screening rounds with a methodical battery of accounting, valuation, and modeling questions. Testing whether you can keep pace and whether your foundations hold up under pressure.

**The commercially oriented VP or director** — uses recent deals as the launchpad for fit and judgment. Expect questions like 'walk me through a recent Moelis transaction and tell me what you'd have advised differently.'

**The senior MD or partner** — steers the conversation toward judgment, ambition, and intellectual depth. These rounds rarely feature heavy technicals; instead expect questions about your career arc, what you'd want to learn in the seat, a deal or company you've been following closely.

Moelis has been consistently ranked in the top 10 globally on announced M&A league tables and is a top-tier global Rx advisor. Recent representative mandates have included advising on a steady stream of large-cap M&A, sponsor-backed transactions, and sovereign wealth-related deals out of the Middle East. The firm has been active advising on Saudi-related transactions through its Dubai franchise, including capital markets and M&A activity tied to Vision 2030 initiatives.

On the Restructuring side, Moelis has been involved in a long list of in- and out-of-court matters — recent reported mandates have spanned the energy, retail, healthcare, and consumer sectors. Candidates should be ready to discuss a recent Moelis mandate with substance — strategic rationale, valuation framework, and what made the situation analytically interesting.