Lincoln International Interview Process: Rounds, Timeline & Compensation
Michael King, PE Investment Manager ·
Lincoln International runs for London hires, candidates report a leaner process than at bulge-bracket peers: two one-on-one interviews, the first focused on CV, background and motivation, the second on commercial awareness and prior work experience. Elsewhere in the network the process runs longer — an HR interview, a cognitive or personality assessment and a technical test, followed by a Superday of typically three back-to-back 30-minute interviews with VPs, directors and MDs (some offices report up to six). Technical questions skew toward valuation methodology and financial modelling rather than obscure edge cases, alongside deal and market-awareness fit questions.. Lincoln runs its middle-market M&A advisory business globally rather than through a single fixed on-cycle calendar the way US bulge brackets do; candidate accounts put the full process at anywhere from about three weeks to one to two months depending on office and role. London and the rest of Europe hire off-cycle, on a rolling basis tied to individual group need rather than one publicised superday season. London-reported figures put a first-year analyst base at roughly £75k, with self-reported pay across the analyst population (mixing tenure levels) averaging closer to £105k base and around £154k all-in with bonus (Wall Street Oasis, Glassdoor) — toward the upper end of the £55k-£85k first-year band typical at bulge-bracket banks. In the US, first-year analysts are reported on a $100k base plus a roughly $7k signing bonus and a $50k-$78k year-end bonus, taking total first-year comp to about $157k-$185k. As at any advisory bank, this is base-and-bonus cash — there is no carry or equity participation at analyst level.
Interview rounds
For London hires, candidates report a leaner process than at bulge-bracket peers: two one-on-one interviews, the first focused on CV, background and motivation, the second on commercial awareness and prior work experience. Elsewhere in the network the process runs longer — an HR interview, a cognitive or personality assessment and a technical test, followed by a Superday of typically three back-to-back 30-minute interviews with VPs, directors and MDs (some offices report up to six). Technical questions skew toward valuation methodology and financial modelling rather than obscure edge cases, alongside deal and market-awareness fit questions.
Typical timeline
Lincoln runs its middle-market M&A advisory business globally rather than through a single fixed on-cycle calendar the way US bulge brackets do; candidate accounts put the full process at anywhere from about three weeks to one to two months depending on office and role. London and the rest of Europe hire off-cycle, on a rolling basis tied to individual group need rather than one publicised superday season.
Compensation range
London-reported figures put a first-year analyst base at roughly £75k, with self-reported pay across the analyst population (mixing tenure levels) averaging closer to £105k base and around £154k all-in with bonus (Wall Street Oasis, Glassdoor) — toward the upper end of the £55k-£85k first-year band typical at bulge-bracket banks. In the US, first-year analysts are reported on a $100k base plus a roughly $7k signing bonus and a $50k-$78k year-end bonus, taking total first-year comp to about $157k-$185k. As at any advisory bank, this is base-and-bonus cash — there is no carry or equity participation at analyst level.
Notes
Founded in Chicago in 1996, Lincoln International is a pure middle-market M&A advisory firm with no bulge-bracket capital markets, trading or large-cap M&A business to compete for staffing against — its 1,000+ professionals work across more than 20 offices in 15 countries, including London. The firm completed an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange in May 2026, a genuine differentiator from most of its privately-held mid-market advisory peers on this site. Its mid-market focus means deal sizes and case material in interviews tend toward smaller, sponsor-backed transactions rather than the mega-cap deals bulge-bracket candidates are asked to discuss.
Frequently asked questions
How many interview rounds does Lincoln International run?
For London hires, candidates report a leaner process than at bulge-bracket peers: two one-on-one interviews, the first focused on CV, background and motivation, the second on commercial awareness and prior work experience. Elsewhere in the network the process runs longer — an HR interview, a cognitive or personality assessment and a technical test, followed by a Superday of typically three back-to-back 30-minute interviews with VPs, directors and MDs (some offices report up to six). Technical questions skew toward valuation methodology and financial modelling rather than obscure edge cases, alongside deal and market-awareness fit questions.
How long does the Lincoln International interview process take?
Lincoln runs its middle-market M&A advisory business globally rather than through a single fixed on-cycle calendar the way US bulge brackets do; candidate accounts put the full process at anywhere from about three weeks to one to two months depending on office and role. London and the rest of Europe hire off-cycle, on a rolling basis tied to individual group need rather than one publicised superday season.
What does Lincoln International pay first-year hires?
London-reported figures put a first-year analyst base at roughly £75k, with self-reported pay across the analyst population (mixing tenure levels) averaging closer to £105k base and around £154k all-in with bonus (Wall Street Oasis, Glassdoor) — toward the upper end of the £55k-£85k first-year band typical at bulge-bracket banks. In the US, first-year analysts are reported on a $100k base plus a roughly $7k signing bonus and a $50k-$78k year-end bonus, taking total first-year comp to about $157k-$185k. As at any advisory bank, this is base-and-bonus cash — there is no carry or equity participation at analyst level.