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Analytical Modeling and Documentation Questions

Design and document analytical models and spreadsheets so they are auditable, maintainable, and easy for others to review and update. Core practices include structuring workbooks with a dedicated assumptions or inputs section, clearly separating raw data, detailed calculations, and summary outputs or key performance indicators, and applying consistent formatting, headers, and naming conventions. Avoid hard coded numbers by centralizing inputs, using named ranges and descriptive cell references, and documenting complex formulas with cell comments or explanatory notes. Maintain a documentation or readme sheet that explains model purpose, layout, assumptions, how to update inputs, and known limitations. Build validation checks and error flags, modularize logic for reuse, and design for scalability across larger data sets or additional time periods. Be prepared to explain sensitivities and scenario analysis, demonstrate how the model supports audit and review, and describe processes for versioning and change tracking.

HardTechnical
0 practiced
Design a corporate analytical model template that enforces structure (Inputs/Raw/Calc/Output), includes named ranges and validation checks, and requires a README. Explain how you'd distribute the template (SharePoint, add-in), lock core logic while allowing controlled customization, and update templates centrally without breaking existing models.
MediumTechnical
0 practiced
Design a 'Data Profile' sheet that documents key profiling metrics for a raw dataset in a workbook: include cardinality, null/missing percentages, unique values, min/median/max, basic distribution bins or sparkline, and top 10 distinct values/suspect outliers. Explain which metrics auditors typically find most useful and how to automate generation.
EasyBehavioral
0 practiced
Tell me about a time you documented a complex analytical model for non-technical stakeholders: what did you include (assumptions, inputs, outputs, step-by-step calculation summary), how did you structure the documentation or README, how did you deliver it, and what was the feedback or outcome?
MediumTechnical
0 practiced
Describe best practices for exposing workbook outputs to a dashboard (Tableau or Power BI) so the dashboard can refresh automatically and remain auditable. Explain how you'd structure the output data (tidy tables), document the refresh cadence and ETL path, and validate matching numbers between workbook and dashboard.
HardTechnical
0 practiced
Design an automated reconciliation routine (describe algorithm or pseudocode) that reads a workbook's KPIs, recalculates each KPI from the raw data source using Python/pandas, compares values within tolerances, and outputs a human-readable audit report that includes provenance (which source rows contributed). Include handling of missing inputs and floating-point noise.

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