Moelis & Company Interview Process: Rounds, Timeline & Compensation
Michael King, PE Investment Manager ·
Moelis & Company runs 2 rounds in the US: a first-round interview (often on Zoom, roughly 30-45 minutes) covering CV walkthrough and deal experience alongside core technical questions on accounting, valuation (DCF, EV, unlevered free cash flow) and cost of equity, followed by a Superday of 3-6 back-to-back interviews spanning Analyst to Managing Director level, mixing behavioural questions with LBO modelling and restructuring technicals. UK and European hiring follows a similar two-round structure but runs through on-campus applications and standard recruiting channels rather than the accelerated US on-cycle process.. US analyst recruiting runs on the compressed on-cycle process: first-round interviews are frequently followed within a day or two by a Superday invitation, and offers are commonly extended the day of the Superday itself. The analyst class is small - reportedly around 70-90 hires globally with an acceptance rate estimated in the low single digits. UK recruiting is off-cycle and spread across the year: the London Summer Analyst Programme typically opens applications around August, with the process itself often starting in spring, rather than compressing into a US-style headhunter sprint. In London, self-reported analyst base pay clusters around £65k-£90k, with total first-year comp (including bonus) most consistent with the wider elite-boutique band of roughly £100k-£150k once bonus is added - though public London-specific data points for Moelis are thinner than for larger peers like Evercore or Lazard. The US benchmark is a $110k base plus a reported $10k signing bonus, with year-end bonuses of roughly $100k-$145k, putting total first-year US comp around $220k-$265k.
Interview rounds
2 rounds in the US: a first-round interview (often on Zoom, roughly 30-45 minutes) covering CV walkthrough and deal experience alongside core technical questions on accounting, valuation (DCF, EV, unlevered free cash flow) and cost of equity, followed by a Superday of 3-6 back-to-back interviews spanning Analyst to Managing Director level, mixing behavioural questions with LBO modelling and restructuring technicals. UK and European hiring follows a similar two-round structure but runs through on-campus applications and standard recruiting channels rather than the accelerated US on-cycle process.
Typical timeline
US analyst recruiting runs on the compressed on-cycle process: first-round interviews are frequently followed within a day or two by a Superday invitation, and offers are commonly extended the day of the Superday itself. The analyst class is small - reportedly around 70-90 hires globally with an acceptance rate estimated in the low single digits. UK recruiting is off-cycle and spread across the year: the London Summer Analyst Programme typically opens applications around August, with the process itself often starting in spring, rather than compressing into a US-style headhunter sprint.
Compensation range
In London, self-reported analyst base pay clusters around £65k-£90k, with total first-year comp (including bonus) most consistent with the wider elite-boutique band of roughly £100k-£150k once bonus is added - though public London-specific data points for Moelis are thinner than for larger peers like Evercore or Lazard. The US benchmark is a $110k base plus a reported $10k signing bonus, with year-end bonuses of roughly $100k-$145k, putting total first-year US comp around $220k-$265k.
Notes
Moelis built its name on restructuring and complex, contested M&A rather than vanilla sell-side coverage, so expect capital structure and recovery-analysis questions layered onto standard DCF/LBO/three-statement basics. A reported acceptance rate in the low single digits reflects a small global analyst class rather than a bulge-bracket-sized program, so genuine interest in advisory over exit opportunities tends to carry real weight in the process.
Frequently asked questions
How many interview rounds does Moelis & Company run?
2 rounds in the US: a first-round interview (often on Zoom, roughly 30-45 minutes) covering CV walkthrough and deal experience alongside core technical questions on accounting, valuation (DCF, EV, unlevered free cash flow) and cost of equity, followed by a Superday of 3-6 back-to-back interviews spanning Analyst to Managing Director level, mixing behavioural questions with LBO modelling and restructuring technicals. UK and European hiring follows a similar two-round structure but runs through on-campus applications and standard recruiting channels rather than the accelerated US on-cycle process.
How long does the Moelis & Company interview process take?
US analyst recruiting runs on the compressed on-cycle process: first-round interviews are frequently followed within a day or two by a Superday invitation, and offers are commonly extended the day of the Superday itself. The analyst class is small - reportedly around 70-90 hires globally with an acceptance rate estimated in the low single digits. UK recruiting is off-cycle and spread across the year: the London Summer Analyst Programme typically opens applications around August, with the process itself often starting in spring, rather than compressing into a US-style headhunter sprint.
What does Moelis & Company pay first-year hires?
In London, self-reported analyst base pay clusters around £65k-£90k, with total first-year comp (including bonus) most consistent with the wider elite-boutique band of roughly £100k-£150k once bonus is added - though public London-specific data points for Moelis are thinner than for larger peers like Evercore or Lazard. The US benchmark is a $110k base plus a reported $10k signing bonus, with year-end bonuses of roughly $100k-$145k, putting total first-year US comp around $220k-$265k.