Preparing for an interview at ISS Governance requires a balanced approach. You must demonstrate both technical precision and the executive presence required to advise sophisticated clients.

Analytical Proficiency – This is the foundation of the Consultant role. Interviewers will closely evaluate your ability to parse financial data, construct models, and use Excel efficiently. You must show that you can work quickly and accurately under pressure, particularly during timed technical assessments.

Domain Literacy – You need a strong working knowledge of corporate governance principles, executive compensation structures, and ESG frameworks. Showing familiarity with ISS Governance's public proxy voting guidelines and research methodologies will immediately set you apart from other candidates.

Client-Facing Communication – As a consultant, you are the face of the firm. You must prove that you can translate complex financial and governance data into clear, persuasive, and structured narratives for C-suite executives and institutional investors.

Adaptability & Process Management – The corporate governance cycle is highly seasonal and fast-paced. Interviewers look for candidates who can manage tight timelines, adapt to shifting priorities, and maintain a high standard of quality without constant supervision.

The interview process at ISS Governance is structured to evaluate your technical capabilities, domain expertise, and cultural alignment. Candidates generally describe the process as fast-moving but rigorous, requiring multiple touchpoints with both local and global teams.

A typical interview journey consists of an initial HR screening, a hiring manager interview, a structured technical assessment, and a final panel or stakeholder round. The firm places a heavy emphasis on practical skills, meaning you should expect to prove your analytical capabilities in a real-world testing environment rather than just discussing them conceptually.

The timeline above outlines the standard progression for the Consultant role. Candidates should interpret this as a highly structured sequence where each stage serves as a strict filter. Successfully navigating this process requires consistent preparation, particularly in ensuring your technical skills are sharp before reaching the assessment phase.

To excel in the ISS Governance interview process, you must understand the specific areas where candidates are evaluated and what constitutes a strong performance in each.

Data Analysis & Financial Modeling

This area assesses your hands-on analytical capabilities. ISS Governance relies heavily on data-driven insights, and you must prove that you can manipulate financial and compensation data accurately.

Be ready to go over:

• Data Manipulation – Creating pivot tables, utilizing advanced lookup functions (VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH), and writing nested logical statements in Excel.
• Financial Calculations – Understanding basic financial metrics, performance-metric calculations, and peer group benchmarking.
• Data Quality Control – Identifying inconsistencies, errors, or outliers in large datasets.

Advanced concepts to master:

• Modeling complex performance-based executive compensation structures.
• Normalizing financial data across different accounting standards or reporting currencies.

Example scenarios:

• "You are given a raw dataset of executive pay across 50 peer companies. Create a pivot table that shows the median base salary, bonus, and equity awards, segmented by company size."
• "Calculate the realizable pay of a CEO over a three-year period given a specific set of stock performance hurdles."

ESG & Corporate Governance Expertise

This evaluation area tests your conceptual understanding of the governance landscape and your ability to apply ISS Governance's methodologies to real-world corporate scenarios.

Be ready to go over:

• Proxy Guidelines – The core principles governing shareholder voting, board independence, and executive compensation alignment.
• ESG Benchmarking – How environmental, social, and governance factors are quantified and compared across industries.
• Regulatory Frameworks – Awareness of key regulatory bodies and disclosure requirements in your region (e.g., SEC in the US, FCA in the UK).

Advanced concepts to master:

• Evaluating the governance implications of dual-class share structures or poison pills.
• Assessing the materiality of specific ESG metrics for highly specialized industries.

Example scenarios:

• "A company is proposing an equity incentive plan that exceeds standard dilution thresholds. What factors would you analyze to determine whether to recommend a vote 'For' or 'Against'?"
• "Explain how you would construct an ESG peer benchmark for a multinational manufacturing firm."

Client Advisory & Communication

This area measures your ability to build relationships, present data-driven arguments, and manage client expectations under pressure.

Be ready to go over:

• Structured Presentation – Delivering clear, concise summaries of complex analytical reports.
• Objection Handling – Navigating difficult conversations when clients disagree with an ISS Governance recommendation or score.
• Stakeholder Management – Adapting your communication style for different audiences, from internal sales teams to external corporate issuers.

Advanced concepts to master:

• Managing high-stakes advisory calls during peak proxy season when client anxiety is elevated.
• Aligning client expectations with standard ISS Governance policy boundaries without compromising analytical integrity.

Example scenarios:

• "A corporate client calls to complain that their ESG score is lower than their primary competitor's. How do you walk them through the methodology to resolve the issue constructively?"
• "Summarize a 100-page proxy statement analysis into a 5-minute briefing for an institutional investor client."

On a day-to-day basis, a Consultant at ISS Governance manages a portfolio of clients, guiding them through the complexities of corporate governance and ESG compliance. You will spend a significant portion of your time analyzing corporate filings, such as proxy statements and annual reports, to extract key data points regarding executive compensation, board composition, and shareholder proposals.

Using this data, you will build comparative models and benchmark reports that help clients understand where they stand relative to their peers and market best practices. You will collaborate closely with internal research analysts to stay aligned on policy interpretations and work alongside the sales team to support client retention and business development efforts.

Additionally, you will participate in client advisory calls, presenting your findings directly to corporate issuers or institutional investors. During peak proxy season, the role demands high efficiency and focus, as you will be responsible for delivering accurate, high-quality analyses under tight market-driven deadlines.

To be competitive for the Consultant position, candidates must demonstrate a strong academic background and a specific set of technical and professional skills.

• Must-Have Technical Skills – Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (including pivot tables, financial formulas, and data visualization tools) and strong analytical reasoning.
• Must-Have Domain Knowledge – A solid understanding of corporate finance, executive compensation, or ESG frameworks.
• Nice-to-Have Qualifications – Advanced degrees such as an MBA, JD, or Master's in Finance/Sustainability, as well as prior experience in ESG benchmarking or proxy advisory.
• Experience Level – Typically 2 to 5 years of experience in management consulting, corporate governance advisory, investment banking, or financial services.

Key Competencies:

• Analytical Rigor – High attention to detail with a zero-tolerance attitude toward data entry errors.
• Communication – Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex data clearly.
• Time Management – Proven ability to prioritize tasks and deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines.