Big Four Interview Process: Where the Four Firms Differ

How Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC hire, from online test to partner interview: the shared stages, each firm's differences, case rounds and scam signs.

The Big Four interview process follows one broad pattern at Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC in the UK: an online application, an online assessment, recorded video answers at Deloitte, KPMG and PwC, a final assessment stage, and then an offer followed by pre-joining checks. The differences are in the final stage and the country. In the UK, Deloitte ends with a prepared topic discussion and a skills and motivation interview, KPMG with a half-day event called Launch Pad, EY with an Experience Day and PwC with a virtual assessment centre followed, on graduate programmes, by an in-person interview with a senior leader, while KPMG's US early-career page describes two live video interviews and mentions no online test at all.

We built this page from each firm's own careers pages as we read them in October 2026, naming the country for every detail because each member firm runs its own process, and saying so where a firm publishes nothing.

The five stages the four firms share

The application decides more than it seems

Deloitte UK's application takes about 15 minutes and typically asks graduates for a 2:1 or higher. KPMG US says its application takes about 10 minutes with a resume and an unofficial transcript, recruits on a rolling basis, and lets you hold no more than two active applications at once. EY India estimates about 30 minutes for the profile and application, and asks for a separate application for each role.

The detail that matters most is what happens if you are rejected. Deloitte UK accepts one application per programme per academic year, running September to August, and EY UK asks rejected candidates to wait at least six months before applying to another early-career vacancy, using a new email address. Your first application to a programme is therefore your only one for that cycle, so choose the service line and office deliberately.

The online assessment is a gate, not a grade

Each firm tests early in at least one country, although KPMG's US early-career page mentions no test. Deloitte UK runs an Immersive Online Assessment that mixes behavioural questions with numerical and verbal reasoning, followed by a Job Simulation with written and video answers. KPMG UK pairs an untimed skills assessment of about 20 minutes with a 36-minute timed cognitive test, and EY US uses a 45-to-60-minute assessment you must finish within 48 hours, may take only once, and never see a score for. Our Big Four online assessment guide covers each firm's tests in detail.

The recorded interview has no follow-up questions

KPMG UK's video interview is six pre-recorded questions from an AI avatar called Leah; KPMG says to allow 40 minutes, and a member of its Student Recruitment team scores the recordings. Deloitte UK folds its video answers into the Job Simulation rather than running a separate stage. PwC UK's on-demand video interview runs on the SHL platform, with questions on screen and no live interviewer, and one of its assessors reviews your recorded answers afterwards.

A recorded interview cannot ask "and what did you do next?", so each answer has to be complete on the first take. Name the situation in one sentence, spend most of your time on what you personally did, and finish with a result you can state plainly.

The final stage is where the firms diverge

Deloitte UK's final stage has two exercises for most programmes: a discussion with an assessor about a topic you were asked to research and analyse beforehand, typically 30 to 40 minutes, and a skills and motivation interview of around 50 minutes. It runs in person at Deloitte offices for Graduate, Industrial Placement, BrightStart and Entry Level Apprentice roles, and virtually for the Summer Vacation Scheme.

KPMG UK's Launch Pad is an in-person half day of assessed and non-assessed activities where you meet people from your business area and location, "from partners to trainees", with dates running from November 2026 to May 2027. EY UK invites shortlisted candidates to an in-person Experience Day at its UK offices, with virtual options for summer internships, and says shortlisting looks at your application and your performance throughout the whole process. PwC UK describes its penultimate stage as a virtual immersive assessment centre, and on graduate programmes the final stage is an in-person interview with a senior leader from the business area you are matched to.

The offer comes with checks

KPMG UK says successful Launch Pad candidates have their job offer within 2 working days. EY India sends a formal written offer and then onboards you through a global onboarding portal. Deloitte UK requires new joiners to clear Personal Independence checks before they join, which can restrict holding certain financial interests, such as shares, funds and bonds, with audit clients of the firm. EY UK asks for proof of nationality and immigration status to confirm your right to work.

The four firms, one paragraph each

Deloitte publishes detailed stage-by-stage information in the UK, offers free practice in its Candidate Zone, and warns that websites selling assessment insights are not endorsed and that using answers from websites would breach its Integrity Guidelines. In the US it publishes case interview guidance with two practice tools, a case tool for entry-level Consultative Offerings roles and a scenario tool for entry-level Audit & Assurance roles. Our Deloitte interview questions page covers the questions themselves.

EY attaches firm rules to its US assessment and is open about the interview in India, where it asks candidates to "interview us about the scope of the role" and says interviews may combine in-person, phone and video formats. EY India may also set a written assessment online or at a testing centre.

KPMG publishes the quickest turnaround we found in the UK, with job offers within 2 working days of Launch Pad, and in the US its early-career page describes two live video interviews with business leaders, with interview selection usually within two weeks of applying and offer decisions within two weeks of interviewing.

PwC UK's own early-careers page lists the stages as an online application, an online assessment, an on-demand video interview, a virtual assessment centre, a role-matching step for graduate programmes, a business assessment interview with a senior leader, and then the offer. PwC's Acceleration Centers in India say selected candidates meet PwC professionals in person or virtually, and advise reviewing the PwC Professional framework before interviewing. Our PwC interview questions page covers what those interviews ask.

What the partner or manager interview is for

A motivation interview such as Deloitte UK's will press on "why this firm" and "why this service line", and generic answers fail both. A strong answer has three parts: something specific you learnt about this firm, what the service line does day to day, and evidence that you have already done a smaller version of that work.

An illustrative answer for a KPMG UK audit role might run: "At a KPMG campus event a trainee described testing a client's revenue figures, which is the part of my placement I enjoyed most, when I reconciled supplier invoices against the ledger and found a duplicated payment. Audit would give me that checking work every day." The specifics carry it, and none would fit another firm's answer unchanged. For the behavioural questions that fill the rest of these interviews, our behavioural interview questions guide shows how to structure the stories.

Where consulting and advisory add a case

Deloitte US says its interview process may include a case or scenario interview that tests problem-solving, analytical ability and strategic thinking, and it recommends five steps: ask clarifying questions, identify the assumptions, summarise the issues, state a recommendation, and outline next steps and expected impact. It adds that you are not expected to give the "right" answer, but to convey your logic and thought process clearly.

Deloitte UK's topic discussion works like a prepared case, because the mandatory preparation is research and analysis on a set topic. Deloitte Australia adds a case study or practical assessment for selected experienced roles, designed to show how you structure a business problem and communicate recommendations, and PwC US says the majority of its Advisory positions require a case interview. The EY and KPMG pages we read do not describe a separate case round, so ask your recruiter, and practise speaking your reasoning aloud, because Deloitte values how you reach an answer over the answer itself.

Technology roles and the India delivery centres

In India, some of the firms hire through separate technology and delivery entities: KPMG India's careers page sends applicants to separate portals for KPMG India, KPMG Global Services and KDN India, and EY India says its written assessment depends on country, service line and role. None of the Indian pages we opened publishes a test syllabus or round count, so rely on your invitation.

For coding-heavy roles, our Deloitte coding questions page covers the technical side. If you are weighing a Big Four technology role against an IT services offer, our IT services interview process comparison shows how TCS, Infosys and others test candidates.

What changes for experienced hires

None of the experienced-hire pages we read mentions an assessment centre, and the process becomes a run of interviews, although EY India says it may still ask for a written assessment. Deloitte Australia's page is the clearest example: its talent team reviews applications within 7 to 14 business days, then holds an initial conversation, one or more interviews with the hiring team, a recorded video interview for some roles, a case study for selected positions and a final interview with a senior leader or Partner. Its first interview is generally with your potential Coach or manager, so expect detailed questions about the role from the start.

Deloitte Australia then sends a written offer through a secure portal and runs reference, qualification and criminal history checks. KPMG UK advises experienced applicants to tailor the CV to the specific job, keep it to ideally two pages with accurate dates, and expect hiring managers to "ask challenging questions" against the firm's values, competencies and skills.

Preparation that carries across all four

• Choose one service line and one office before you apply, because Deloitte UK and EY UK both limit how soon you can try again.
• Build four or five stories with a clear personal action and a result, since recorded interviews give you no follow-up prompts.
• Read each firm's own pages about its services and recent work, and use one specific detail in your "why this firm" answer.
• Rehearse a short case aloud using Deloitte's five steps, even if you are applying for audit or tax.
• Prepare two questions to ask your interviewers, because Deloitte US calls the interview a two-way street and KPMG UK says good questions show you have done your research.

How to tell a real Big Four offer from a scam

Each of the four firms publishes a warning, in at least one country, that it does not charge candidates. Deloitte India says it has authorised no one to collect money from jobseekers and that only an authorised Deloitte official may confirm an offer, and KPMG India says it charges no fees or security deposit. KPMG US says it will never request money or credit card information to secure a job, and EY US says its recruiting process does not include asking for payments or highly confidential financial information.

The PwC notice we could open was PwC Italy's, which says its selection process never involves requests for payment or financial data. To check something suspicious, Deloitte India uses intalentaquery@deloitte.com and KPMG US uses us-hrscatsadmin@kpmg.com, while EY US says every legitimate job requires an application on its official careers website.

Practise the interviews with Verve AI

Answers to "why this firm" and "why this service line" tend to sound generic until you have tested them aloud. Verve AI's AI Mock Interview gives you an AI recruiter to rehearse them with, using question banks that include Behavioral, Finance and Consulting, and afterwards provides "a detailed performance report with personalized feedback and scoring". Several of the firms publish rules on AI use: Deloitte UK says "Interviews must be completed without AI assistance", EY US says "Using generative AI tools or other assistance is prohibited" for its assessment, KPMG UK asks you to confirm you complete its assessments "without the assistance of others, or any artificial intelligence or other resources", and PwC US says "the use of AI during the assessment and interview process is not permitted", so use practice tools beforehand and answer on your own on the day.

FAQ

How many interview rounds are in the Big Four process?

None of the four firms publishes one round count for every role. KPMG US describes two live video interviews for early-career candidates, and Deloitte UK's final stage has two exercises for most programmes. Deloitte Australia's experienced hires face one or more hiring-team interviews before a final interview.

Do Big Four firms use case interviews?

Some do for some roles. Deloitte US publishes case interview guidance with practice tools for consulting and audit, and Deloitte UK asks you to discuss a topic you have researched. PwC US says the majority of its Advisory positions require a case interview, while the EY and KPMG pages we read describe no separate case round.

How long does the Big Four interview process take?

It depends on the firm and country. KPMG UK says offers come within two working days of Launch Pad, and KPMG US says offer decisions usually come within two weeks of interviewing. Deloitte UK says it gives feedback within four weeks after its online stages, while EY UK says timelines vary by programme, office and volume of applications.

Can I reapply if I am rejected?

Yes, but not straight away at some firms. Deloitte UK accepts one application per programme per academic year, from September to August. EY UK asks rejected candidates to wait at least six months, or three months for apprenticeships, and to use a new email address.

Sources

• Deloitte UK early-careers stages (application time, 2:1, Immersive Online Assessment, Job Simulation, final stage topic discussion 30-40 min and skills and motivation interview around 50 min, in-person vs virtual, feedback within four weeks, Candidate Zone, websites selling assessment insights not endorsed, using answers from websites breaches Integrity Guidelines): https://www.deloitte.com/uk/en/careers/early-careers/early-careers-assessment.html
• Deloitte UK FAQ (one application per programme per academic year, Personal Independence checks): https://www.deloitte.com/uk/en/careers/early-careers/early-careers-faq.html
• Deloitte UK Integrity and AI guidance ("Interviews must be completed without AI assistance"): https://deloitte.com/uk/en/careers/early-careers/integrity-guidance.html
• Deloitte US behavioural interview tips (what interviewers want, two-way street): https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/careers/about-deloitte-deloitte-careers-behavioral-interview-tips.html
• Deloitte US case and scenario interviews (five steps, no "right" answer, case tool for Consultative Offerings, scenario tool for Audit & Assurance): https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/careers/join-deloitte-careers-case-interview-tips.html
• Deloitte Australia experienced-hire process (7-14 business days, stages, first interview with Coach or manager, case study, senior leader or Partner, portal offer, checks): https://www.deloitte.com/au/en/careers/experienced/interview-process-careers.html
• Deloitte India recruitment fraud advisory: https://www.deloitte.com/in/en/careers/explore-your-fit/students/advisory-for-career-aspirants.html
• EY US early-careers assessment (45-60 minutes, 48 hours, one attempt, no scores, AI rule): https://ey.com/en_us/careers/early-careers-assessment-faqs
• EY UK early-careers FAQ (Experience Days, shortlisting, six-month wait and new email, right-to-work proof, timelines vary): https://www.ey.com/en_uk/careers/students/faqs
• EY India how we hire (30-minute application, separate applications, interview formats, written assessment by country, service line and role, written offer, onboarding portal): https://www.ey.com/en_in/careers/how-we-hire
• EY US recruitment fraud alert: https://ey.com/en_us/careers/recruitment-fraud-alert
• KPMG UK graduate process (job preview quiz, skills and cognitive assessments, Leah video interview, Launch Pad dates and cities, offer within 2 working days, assessment declaration): https://www.kpmgcareers.co.uk/graduate/applying-to-kpmg/application-process
• KPMG UK experienced-hire advice (tailored CV, two pages, challenging questions): https://www.kpmgcareers.co.uk/experienced-professional/applying-to-kpmg/application-advice/
• KPMG US early careers (10-minute application, rolling, two active applications, two live video interviews, two-week timelines, location advice): https://www.kpmguscareers.com/early-career/
• KPMG US job scam warning: https://resources.kpmguscareers.com/Job%20Scam%20Warning_2022.pdf
• KPMG India careers (fraud alert, KPMG India, KGS and KDN portals): https://kpmg.com/in/en/careers.html
• PwC UK early-careers assessment and selection process (online application, SHL online assessment, on-demand video interview, virtual assessment centre, business assessment interview with a senior leader, offer and onboarding): https://www.pwc.co.uk/careers/early-careers/applying/assessment-selection-process.html
• PwC Acceleration Centers India entry-level process (in-person or virtual interviews, PwC Professional framework): https://jobs-ta.pwc.com/global/en/ACs-in-India-Entry-Level-Campus-Recruitment-Process
• PwC Italy fraud disclaimer: https://jobs-it.pwc.com/it/en/disclaimer-fraudulent-ads
• Verve AI Mock Interview (AI recruiter, Behavioral, Finance and Consulting banks, performance report wording): https://docs.vervecopilot.com/features/mock-interview
• PwC US entry-level recruiting (rolling recruitment, case interviews for most Advisory positions, AI not permitted during the assessment and interview process): https://www.pwc.com/us/en/careers/entry-level/recruiting.html
• PwC US Advisory case study preparation: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/careers/entry-level/advisory-case-study-prep.html
• PwC US candidate AI guidance: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/careers/candidate-AI.html