Macquarie Interview Process: Rounds, Timeline & Compensation
Michael King, PE Investment Manager ·
Macquarie runs typically 3-4 stages: an online application with aptitude/psychometric testing, a first-round video or phone interview (45-60 minutes, focused on commercial awareness and motivation), then one or two further interviews with an Associate and VP/Director — for Macquarie Capital roles these often include mental valuation questions worked without a calculator, plus the odd brainteaser, before a final assessment day mixing more technical and behavioural interviews. In the UK, Macquarie Capital's graduate and summer applications open in the autumn and are assessed on a rolling basis, so popular divisions can fill their interview capacity within 6-8 weeks of the process opening — a strong but late application can lose out to an earlier, comparable one. In London, first-year Macquarie Capital analyst base pay is reported in the region of £55k-£70k, with Macquarie's own commentary suggesting its bonus pool runs roughly 20-40% below Goldman Sachs or JPMorgan, though still competitive with elite boutiques — so total first-year comp likely lands below the typical bulge-bracket range. The US benchmark is stronger: a $108k base plus a $52k-78k year-end bonus and $9k signing bonus for around $169k-195k in total 2026 pay.
Interview rounds
Typically 3-4 stages: an online application with aptitude/psychometric testing, a first-round video or phone interview (45-60 minutes, focused on commercial awareness and motivation), then one or two further interviews with an Associate and VP/Director — for Macquarie Capital roles these often include mental valuation questions worked without a calculator, plus the odd brainteaser, before a final assessment day mixing more technical and behavioural interviews
Typical timeline
In the UK, Macquarie Capital's graduate and summer applications open in the autumn and are assessed on a rolling basis, so popular divisions can fill their interview capacity within 6-8 weeks of the process opening — a strong but late application can lose out to an earlier, comparable one
Compensation range
In London, first-year Macquarie Capital analyst base pay is reported in the region of £55k-£70k, with Macquarie's own commentary suggesting its bonus pool runs roughly 20-40% below Goldman Sachs or JPMorgan, though still competitive with elite boutiques — so total first-year comp likely lands below the typical bulge-bracket range. The US benchmark is stronger: a $108k base plus a $52k-78k year-end bonus and $9k signing bonus for around $169k-195k in total 2026 pay.
Notes
Macquarie's process leans harder on markets awareness and rapid mental maths than most bulge-bracket interviews — calculators aren't allowed in technical rounds, and brainteasers are something of a house tradition, so drilling arithmetic under time pressure matters as much as valuation mechanics. Its infrastructure and natural resources franchise is the strongest differentiator to bring up in interviews: fluency in asset-level infrastructure deals stands out far more than generic M&A prep.
Frequently asked questions
How many interview rounds does Macquarie run?
Typically 3-4 stages: an online application with aptitude/psychometric testing, a first-round video or phone interview (45-60 minutes, focused on commercial awareness and motivation), then one or two further interviews with an Associate and VP/Director — for Macquarie Capital roles these often include mental valuation questions worked without a calculator, plus the odd brainteaser, before a final assessment day mixing more technical and behavioural interviews
How long does the Macquarie interview process take?
In the UK, Macquarie Capital's graduate and summer applications open in the autumn and are assessed on a rolling basis, so popular divisions can fill their interview capacity within 6-8 weeks of the process opening — a strong but late application can lose out to an earlier, comparable one
What does Macquarie pay first-year hires?
In London, first-year Macquarie Capital analyst base pay is reported in the region of £55k-£70k, with Macquarie's own commentary suggesting its bonus pool runs roughly 20-40% below Goldman Sachs or JPMorgan, though still competitive with elite boutiques — so total first-year comp likely lands below the typical bulge-bracket range. The US benchmark is stronger: a $108k base plus a $52k-78k year-end bonus and $9k signing bonus for around $169k-195k in total 2026 pay.