Business Case Interviews

If you pass the analytical exam, you will face case interviews. These are interactive, scenario-based discussions where an interviewer presents a complex business problem and asks you to solve it in real-time.

Be ready to go over:

• Problem Structuring – Breaking down a vague business problem into mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive (MECE) branches.
• Hypothesis Generation – Formulating educated guesses on what is driving the business issue and systematically testing them.
• Synthesis – Delivering a clear, actionable recommendation based on the findings of your case analysis.

Example scenarios:

• "A competitor has just launched a zero-fee digital savings account. How should Security Bank respond to protect its market share?"
• "Our credit card application drop-off rate on the mobile app has spiked by 20% this month. How would you investigate and resolve this?"
• "We are considering migrating our legacy core banking system to a cloud-based infrastructure. What risks and cost factors should we analyze?"

Stakeholder Management & Behavioral Alignment

As a Business Analyst, you must collaborate with diverse and sometimes conflicting teams. Interviewers will probe your interpersonal skills, leadership capabilities, and cultural fit.

Be ready to go over:

• Conflict Resolution – Navigating disagreements between business stakeholders and technical teams.
• Handling Ambiguity – Structuring your work when project requirements or business goals are poorly defined.
• Translating Complexity – Explaining highly technical systems or constraints to non-technical business leaders.

Example scenarios:

• Discussing a time you had to manage a project when a key stakeholder suddenly changed their requirements mid-development.
• Explaining how you handled a situation where you disagreed with a senior manager's strategic direction.

As a Business Analyst at Security Bank, your day-to-day responsibilities will vary depending on your assigned business unit, but the core focus remains on driving value through structured analysis.

You will be responsible for leading the requirements-gathering process for new products, features, and process improvements. This involves organizing and facilitating workshops with business users, product managers, operations teams, and compliance officers to extract clear, actionable business needs. You will translate these needs into detailed functional and non-functional specifications, user stories, and process flow diagrams that the engineering team can seamlessly execute.

In addition to documentation, you will act as a key partner during the implementation phase. You will work closely with Quality Assurance (QA) teams to design comprehensive test cases and coordinate User Acceptance Testing (UAT) with business stakeholders. When technical roadblocks arise, you will perform root-cause analysis, weigh the trade-offs of potential solutions, and present recommendations to project leads to keep timelines on track. Post-implementation, you will analyze product performance data to ensure the project achieved its intended business outcomes.

Security Bank maintains high standards for its analytical roles. To be highly competitive, you should meet the following requirements:

• Must-have skills – Strong quantitative and analytical skills with the ability to perform manual calculations. Proficiency in writing clear business requirements documents (BRDs), functional specifications, and user stories. Excellent verbal and written English communication skills, as you will present directly to senior bank leaders.
• Nice-to-have skills – Experience working within a financial institution, bank, or fintech startup. Practical knowledge of Agile/Scrum methodologies and tools like Jira and Confluence. Basic data querying skills (SQL) or experience with data visualization tools (PowerBI, Tableau).
• Experience level – Typically, a bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, Computer Science, or a highly quantitative field is required. While Security Bank actively recruits top-performing fresh graduates for junior roles, mid-to-senior positions generally require 2 to 5 years of experience in business analysis, management consulting, or process engineering.

Q: How difficult is the analytical exam? A: The exam is widely considered difficult. It is highly quantitative and timed, meaning you must work quickly and accurately. Many candidates compare the format to management consulting entry exams, which prioritize logic and data interpretation over simple trivia.

Q: Can I use a calculator during the interview process? A: No. You are not allowed to use calculators during either the written analytical exam or the interactive case interviews. You should practice performing basic arithmetic, percentages, and divisions manually on scratch paper.

Q: What is the typical timeline from the first interview to an offer? A: The timeline can vary significantly. While some candidates complete the process quickly via recruitment events, others experiencing the multi-stage online loop report that it can take several weeks. It is highly recommended to stay in active contact with your recruiter throughout the process.

Q: What is the hybrid or remote work setup for Business Analysts? A: Security Bank generally operates on a hybrid work model, requiring some days in their corporate offices (primarily located in Makati City or Manila) and allowing remote work on other days. The exact split depends on the specific team and project requirements.

• Master Mental Math: Since calculators are prohibited, spend time practicing basic calculations, fractions, percentages, and long division on paper. Being comfortable with numbers will significantly reduce your anxiety during the exam and case interviews.
• Practice McKinsey PST Practice Tests: Candidates consistently report that the analytical exam mirrors the structure of McKinsey-style problem-solving tests. Utilizing free online practice materials for these consulting tests is one of the most effective ways to prepare.
• Follow Up Proactively: The hiring process can sometimes experience communication gaps. If you do not hear back within a week of a scheduled round or final interview, send a polite, structured follow-up email to your recruiter to request an update.

• Align with "BetterBanking": Throughout your interviews, emphasize how your work ultimately benefits the end customer. Security Bank values candidates who do not just focus on technical execution but also understand the human and business impact of their projects.
• Structure Your Case Answers: When given a case study, do not jump straight to the solution. Ask clarifying questions, state your assumptions clearly, lay out a structured framework, and walk your interviewer through your logic. They care far more about your thinking process than arriving at a single "correct" answer.

The Business Analyst position at Security Bank is an exceptional opportunity to drive meaningful change within one of the Philippines' most respected financial institutions. It is a role that demands high analytical capability, structured thinking, and strong communication, but it rewards you with high visibility, professional growth, and the chance to shape the future of banking.

To succeed, focus your preparation on mastering the analytical exam and practicing structured business cases. Ensure you can perform quantitative calculations manually and can articulate your professional experiences using clear, structured frameworks. By dedicating time to these core areas, you will stand out as a highly prepared, top-tier candidate.

The compensation data above reflects the competitive salary packages offered to Business Analysts at Security Bank. When evaluating an offer, consider the complete package, which often includes performance-based bonuses, health benefits, and excellent opportunities for internal career progression. You can explore additional interview experiences, salary insights, and preparation resources for Security Bank on Dataford to ensure you are fully prepared for every step of your journey. Good luck!