By Andre Atallah, CEO of EP Advisory
Financial Advisory Analyst · London · 2027 start
Ad closes Sat 17 OctDeadline was set for Sat 17 OctMissed it? Your options
Short answer: Apply now. Lazard’s job ad closes at the end of Saturday 17 October 2026, UK time, and review is rolling.This year’s ad has closed. The deadline was set for the end of Saturday 17 October 2026, UK time. You send a one-page CV with no cover letter. Then you take Criteria tests and a five-question video in one sitting. A virtual assessment centre and two in-person interviews follow.
Where are you now?
Independent guide. EP Advisory is not affiliated with Lazard.
Lazard’s 2027 Financial Advisory Analyst Programme in London is open now.The deadline for Lazard’s 2027 Financial Advisory Analyst Programme in London was set for 17 October. This guide now covers the stages after you apply. Lazard says Financial Advisory is what other banks call the Investment Banking Division. Its 2027 Summer Internship deadline was set for 4 October 2026.
This playbook covers each stage, from the CV to the final round, and what to do if you miss the date. For nearly 10 years, we’ve helped more than 5,000 professionals get hired. Want to know if your CV will pass screening in the UK? Check your CV for free: a score in 30 seconds, then a fix for each problem.
01/10
Your route to an offer
Pick your stage and tick each step when done. Dates come from Lazard’s 2027 ad and UK careers pages.
1. Apply by 17 October 20261. Apply (deadline was set for 17 October 2026)
Apply now. The ad closes at the end of Saturday 17 October, UK time. Review is rolling, so earlier applicants are seen first.This year’s ad has closed. The deadline was set for the end of Saturday 17 October. If you applied, your next step is the Criteria tests. If not, see your options below.
2. Criteria tests
Aptitude, behavioural and video, in one go. Use a stable internet connection.
3. Assessment centre
Exercises with a few other candidates. Lazard sends a briefing first.
4. Final round
Two interviews of about 30 minutes with senior bankers. Typically within a week of the assessment centre.
Your ticks save on this device.
02/10
The programme at a glance
One open routeOne analyst route, one London office, any degree subject.
17 Oct 2026
Job ad closes, end of day UK timeDeadline was set for end of day, UK time
London
20 Manchester Square, hybrid
July 2027
Start date, then 6 weeks’ training
2:1
Or equivalent, any subject
1 a year
London Financial Advisory applications
Not published
Salary and number of places
Where these facts come from
- The ad. The 2027 London analyst ad, posted 21 September 2026, is for “students due to complete their studies in 2027 or recent graduates”.
- Grades. A predicted or achieved 2:1 or overseas equivalent, in any subject (London recruitment FAQ).
- Your team. Analysts join “a sector or product team according to their team preference and business need”.
- Pay. Not published. Lazard mentions a “competitive base salary” and a discretionary bonus.
03/10
What Lazard looks for
Lazard asks for qualities, not a finance degree or internship. Show each one with proof on your CV and in your answers.
Proactivity
Show it by: something you started without being asked.
Enthusiasm
Show it by: a specific reason you want advisory work.
Attention to detail
Show it by: a one-page CV with no errors.
Teamwork
Show it by: your part in a small team’s result.
Communicating with impact
Show it by: something complex you made clear.
Thinking differently
Show it by: an idea of yours that changed a plan.
What Lazard says, in its own words
- Top qualities. A Lazard banker named “Proactivity … Enthusiasm … attention to detail” (Sharing insights).
- People skills. “As our business is purely to provide quality advice to clients, and in a small team environment, the ability to work well in a team, to communicate well and with impact are very important.”
- Personality. It “is ultimately what mostly differentiates one candidate from another, provided the technical basis are all covered to an extent.”
- Mindset. The ad asks for “a passion and flair for thinking differently and deeply about the challenge in front of you.”
04/10Stage 1 · Apply
How to apply
Apply now. Lazard’s job ad closes at the end of Saturday 17 October 2026, UK time. Its UK careers page gives a different date, but go by the ad.This year’s ad has closed. The deadline was set for the end of Saturday 17 October 2026, UK time. The steps below show how it worked, so you can prepare for next time.
Review is rolling. Lazard says roles “may be filled prior to the stated deadline”, so earlier applicants are seen first.
1
Profile and CV
On Lazard’s careers site
2
Criteria tests
One sitting, 35 to 40 min
3
Assessment centre
Virtual, small group
4
Final round
Two interviews, in person
5
Offer
In writing, 1 week to accept
More on the form, the limit and updates
- The form. An online profile and your CV. “There is no requirement to attach a covering letter.” Applications go only through the online system.
- Your CV. Grades from school, university and further education, with years. All work experience, “including non-finance related”. Key skills and achievements. One page, checked for errors.
- Written questions. Lazard publishes none.
- One application. Lazard takes one London Financial Advisory application a year. A second “will not be considered”, and “the system will flag any duplicate applications”.
- Other offices. You can apply abroad at the same time. Use the same email address.
- Extra time. Say so on the form. Then email [email protected] with supporting documents before the tests.
- Updates. By email. Lazard says “please check junk/spam folders just in case”.
Your CV: do and don’t
Do
“Valued a listed retailer with a three-statement model for a student investment fund pitch”
Grades first. Every job, even non-finance ones, with a result.
Don’t
“Passionate about M&A and financial markets”
A claim with no proof, taking space on a one-page CV.
Our CV achievement examples show how to write those lines, and our guide to writing a strong CV covers the rest. Getting ready to apply for jobs in the UK? Check your CV for free: see it the way a recruiter does, then fix each problem.
Save Lazard and over 2,000 other UK schemes to one free calendar. See what closes next and what you have applied to.
Track my schemes freeFree account, no card.
Missed the deadline? Your options
- Placement year. The London Industrial Placement is rolling, with no end date.had no end date when we checked on 17 October 2026. Check the ad is still open. It is for placement-degree students graduating in 2029.
- Early in your degree. London Spring Insight takes applications from 19 October to 15 November 2026.London Spring Insight was due to take applications from 19 October to 15 November 2026. Look for the next one on the same page. Successful attendees can be “fast-tracked” to the next internship (UK early careers page).
- Danish speakers. The M&A Internship, Denmark runs six months in the London office from January 2027. “Fluency in English and Danish mandatory”. It closes on 30 October 2026.Its deadline was set for 30 October 2026.
- Offices abroad. Amsterdam prefers Dutch and closeswas listed to close on 25 October. Brussels needs Dutch or French and closeswas listed to close on 24 October. Paris M&A internships ask for French and English.
- Off-cycle. Lazard says “In some years, we may recruit off cycle interns, typically for a 6-month period.” None was listed in London when we checked on 14 October 2026.Check Lazard’s student job list for London off-cycle ads.
- Next year. Lazard says “you will be able to apply again if you have been unsuccessful in previous years”. This year’s ad opened on 21 September.
05/10Stage 2 · Tests
Lazard online tests: Criteria
Lazard’s tests come from Criteria. Three parts, in one sitting of about 35 to 40 minutes.
35-40 min
One sitting, three parts
15 min
Aptitude test, no calculator
5 questions
Video, reviewed by recruiters
Lazard sends candidates to “Criteria Support” for help (UK early careers page). It does not name the tests, so the names below are our reading of Criteria’s pages.
The three parts, one by one
Aptitude: a 15-minute timed test
Timed, with no calculator. Lazard says “there is no deduction in scoring for educated guesses”.
Our reading: likely Criteria’s CCAT. Criteria says it has 50 questions in 15 minutes, mixing verbal, maths and logic, and spatial items. “Less than 1% of candidates answer all 50 questions.” The average is 24 right.
Your moves
- Never leave a blank. Guess and move on.
- Practise mental maths: averages, percentages and ratios.
Behavioural: untimed, about 10 minutes
Statements about how you work, untimed, about 10 minutes. You get a “Workplace Insights Report” by email afterwards.
Our reading: likely Criteria’s Employee Personality Profile, 140 items on twelve traits. Lazard says later stages “may probe these results”.
Your moves
- Answer as you are, not as you think a banker should be.
- Have one example ready for each strength your report names.
Video: five recorded questions
Five questions on “your motivation, cultural fit, and interest in our organization and industry”. A practice question comes first, and you can repeat it.
Lazard does not publish the timings. Each question shows its own prep and recording time. Lazard’s recruiters review the videos. An AI tool also scores the transcript, with no voiceprint or face scan (Lazard’s AI notice). You can ask for a non-AI format or a human review.
Your moves
- Speak from points in your head, not a script.
- Dress smartly. Business attire is not needed.
What the screens look like
Described from Criteria’s own pages and its 2021 getting-started video. Lazard’s screens may differ.
Screen 1
The invite email
What you do: click “Start Assessment”.
Screen 2
“Let’s Verify Some Details”
What you do: confirm your name, email and where you live.
Screen 3
Your Event ID
What you do: save it. Criteria calls it “your personal bookmark” if you pause.
Screen 4
Your testing to-do list
What you do: check each part, then start the first.
Screen 5
The test landing page
What you do: read “How to Complete”, then press “Let’s Get Started”.
Screen 6
Aptitude questions
What you do: watch the 15-minute clock. Pick an answer and move on.
Screen 7
Behavioural statements
What you do: say how well each statement fits you. No clock.
Screen 8
Video questions
What you do: try the practice question. Each real question shows its prep and recording time.
Stuck? Every screen has a Criteria Support chat icon at the bottom right.
The rules: allowed and not allowed
Allowed
- Educated guesses, with no marks lost
- Extra time, if you ask before the tests
- A non-AI video format or a human review, on request
- Criteria’s chat support during the tests
Not allowed
- A calculator
- “any other problem-solving device”
- Taking the three parts on different days
From Lazard’s UK early careers page and AI notice.
For more practice ideas, see our tips for passing a psychometric test.
On the day: set-up, pausing and retakes
- Device. Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari, on a computer. On a phone, “texts, calls, notifications, and screen activity timeout can cause you to be locked out”.
- Network. “Avoid public networks such as Universities or Libraries”, Criteria says.
- Pausing. Close the browser fully, or “the time will run out on you”. You can stop a few times, “but there is a limit”.
- Retakes. If you took the aptitude or behavioural test “in the last 12 months”, you do not retake it. The video is always new, “as questions will differ”.
Go further: the best outside help
Our own picks, checked on 14 October 2026. We are not linked to any of these sites and earn nothing from them.
From Criteria, the test maker
- About the CCATCriteria Corp · sample questions · no accountThe test maker’s rules and samples for a 15-minute, no-calculator test like Lazard’s.Free
- Criteria practice testsCriteria Corp · asks for your name and email · about 10 minShort aptitude and personality practice, not scored or linked to any application.Free
- About video interviewingCriteria Corp · no accountA practice question first, then a prep clock and a recording clock for each question.Free
- How to get started with your Criteria assessmentCriteria Corp · video on its FAQ page · 2021 · 3 minA tour of the test site, from the invite link to your Event ID and how to pause.Free
From Lazard
- Notice on AI-enabled interview toolsLazard · PDF · September 2026How Lazard scores the video, and how to ask for a human review or a non-AI format.Free
Skip test solvers and “real Lazard test” packs. Lazard bans any problem-solving device.
Next: a 15-minute test with no calculator rewards practice against the clock. Our guide to psychometric and logic tests shows how to train for each type.
06/10Stage 3 · Assessment centre
Assessment centre and interviews
A virtual assessment centre comes first, then interviews in person. Lazard does not publish the exercises.
Assessment centreVirtual, small group
Exercises · A few other candidates · A briefing first
Final roundIn person
2 interviews · About 30 min each · Senior bankers
Lazard says: “you are not in direct competition with your fellow candidates”.
In the final round, Lazard expects “questions around Lazard, the financial markets, world affairs and some technical financial questions”.
Lazard’s own advice for the video and interviews
- No script. “The most common mistake is someone reading from a script and coming across as too overly prepared” (Sharing insights).
- Energy. “Keep your energy and enthusiasm throughout using your tone of voice.”
- Practice. “Practice how you are coming across in a mirror / camera.” Use any “interview workshops that your university career services centre may run”.
- Make it a chat. “Try and steer the conversation so it becomes a chat and not an interview.”
How to answer: point, proof, Lazard, chat
This answer frame is ours, not Lazard’s:
Point
Answer first, in one sentence.
Proof
One real example, with a number.
Lazard
Why it matters for advisory work.
Chat
End with a thought that invites a reply.
Follow-ups to rehearse
What exactly did you do?Why Lazard, not a larger bank?Which Lazard deal would you pick, and why?What would you change?
See our guides on how to pass a job interview and the toughest interview questions.
Practise: one question at a time
Fit and video questions
Common fit questions, from coaches at Mergers & Inquisitions. The answers are our short versions.
Your story
“Tell me about yourself.”
What they’re testing: a short path to this job, not your life story.
Show a strong answer
- Ninety seconds: your degree, two proofs from your CV, and why advisory work now.
Motivation
“Why investment banking?”
What they’re testing: a real reason you can back up.
Show a strong answer
- Name the work: analysis, research and client presentations, as Lazard’s ad lists them. Link it to something you have done.
Why Lazard
“Why Lazard?”
What they’re testing: research, not praise.
Show a strong answer
- Lazard says its business is “purely to provide quality advice to clients”, in small teams. Say why that suits you, with one proof.
Setback
Tell me about a time you failed.
What they’re testing: honesty and resilience.
Show a strong answer
- A real failure that was your fault. Spend most of the time on what you changed.
Lazard topics
Topics Lazard names for its final round. The questions and answers are ours.
Deals
Tell me about a recent deal Lazard advised on.
What they’re testing: that you follow Lazard’s work.
Show a strong answer
- Pick one from Lazard’s transactions list. Say who bought what, for roughly how much, and why. Then Lazard’s role and one risk.
Markets
What is happening in the markets and the world right now?
What they’re testing: that you read the news.
Show a strong answer
- One trend or event, one number, and what it means for Lazard’s clients. Then give your view.
The firm
What do you know about Lazard?
What they’re testing: the basics, in your own words.
Show a strong answer
- Financial Advisory and Asset Management are separate businesses. Financial Advisory gives advice, in small teams. Add one fact you found yourself.
Technical questions
Lazard publishes no technical syllabus. These are common basics. The answers are our short versions.
Accounting
Walk me through the three financial statements.
What they’re testing: how they link.
Show a strong answer
- Net income starts the cash flow statement and adds to equity. The change in cash updates cash on the balance sheet.
Value
Enterprise value or equity value: what is the difference?
What they’re testing: who each value belongs to.
Show a strong answer
- Equity value belongs to shareholders. Enterprise value is the core business, for all investors. Roughly, enterprise value is equity value plus debt, minus cash.
Valuation
How would you value a company?
What they’re testing: the three main methods.
Show a strong answer
- Comparable companies and precedent deals value it against others. A DCF values its own cash flows. Precedents often come out higher, because buyers pay for control.
DCF
Walk me through a DCF.
What they’re testing: the steps, in order.
Show a strong answer
- Project free cash flow for 5 to 10 years. Add a terminal value. Discount both at the cost of capital to get enterprise value.
Your story bank: a worksheet to print or copy
Two stories for each quality Lazard names. Learn them well enough to tell without notes.
| Quality | Story 1 | Story 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Proactivity | ||
| Enthusiasm | ||
| Detail | ||
| Teamwork | ||
| Impact | ||
| New thinking |
Go further: the best outside help
Our own picks, checked on 14 October 2026. We are not linked to any of these sites and earn nothing from them.
From Lazard
- Sharing insights: your questions answeredLazard London · no accountLazard’s recruiters and analysts on the video, the CV and how to turn an interview into a chat.Free
- Lazard transactionsLazard · updated daily · no accountLazard’s own deal list. Pick two recent UK or European deals you can talk about.Free
- Research and insightsLazard · latest report 13 Aug 2026Lazard’s own market reports, for the questions on markets and world affairs.Free
Read and watch
- Investment Banking Interview Questions and AnswersMergers & Inquisitions · updated 1 Mar 2026 · no accountA long free guide to the fit and technical questions banks ask, with model answers.Free
- Investment Banking Analyst Mock Interview at J.P. MorganAced on YouTube · US · 12 Feb 2026 · 49 minA full US mock at another bank. Watch how fit and technical questions mix.Free
Skip live AI interview helpers and scripts. Lazard says reading from a script is the most common mistake.
07/10Stage 4 · Final
Final round and offer
Two interviews in person, typically within a week of the assessment centre. Lazard sends finalists more guidance.
At Lazard’s offices
With “a number of our senior bankers”. Lazard repays “reasonable economy travel costs”.
Two interviews
About 30 minutes each: Lazard, markets, world affairs and technical questions.
Offer in writing
One week to accept and return the signed contract.
Offers, conditions and your first weeks
- Other offers. If one expires in this window, “let a member of the Graduate Recruitment Team know at the earliest opportunity”.
- Conditions. Offers depend on your right to work in the UK.
- Before you start. “compulsory Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulatory exams”.
- Training. Six weeks in London with the European analyst class.
Key dates: London analysts, 2027 start
21 Sep 2026
Analyst ad posted, review rolling
17 Oct 2026
Ad closes at the end of the day, UK time
17 Oct 2026
Applications were due by the end of the day, UK time
Not published
Test, assessment centre and offer dates
Not published
Test, assessment centre and offer dates
Late July 2027
Start, with six weeks of training
08/10
Visa sponsorship
Our reading: Lazard sponsors eligible candidates, so check your route early.
Lazard’s FAQ says: “Lazard will sponsor eligible candidates for work visas” (London recruitment FAQ). The 2027 ad does not mention visas. Ask [email protected] which route fits you before you apply.
The Graduate visa
- Graduate visa. It lasts “2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026” and “18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027” (GOV.UK). It needs no sponsor.
Need sponsorship? See our guides to UK companies that sponsor visas and staying in the UK after studying. This is general information, so check GOV.UK.
09/10
Key takeaways
Before you apply
- The ad closes at the end of Saturday 17 October 2026.This year’s deadline was set for the end of Saturday 17 October 2026. If you missed it, see the other routes above.
- Review is rolling, so earlier applicants are seen first.
- Send a one-page CV with grades and every job. No cover letter.
- Lazard takes one London Financial Advisory application a year.
- Criteria tests and a five-question video come in one sitting of 35 to 40 minutes.
- Final interviews cover Lazard, markets, world affairs and technical questions.
- The ad says nothing on visas, so confirm your route with the recruiter.
When a scheme gives a close date, we email you a few days before it closes. Save Lazard once and the reminder is set.
Set my reminders freeFree account, no card.
10/10
Frequently asked questions
When is the Lazard Financial Advisory analyst deadline?
Lazard’s 2027 analyst ad closes at the end of Saturday 17 October 2026, UK time. Its UK careers page gives a different date, but go by the ad. Review is rolling, so apply early.The deadline for Lazard’s 2027 analyst ad was set for the end of Saturday 17 October 2026, UK time. It opened on 21 September. Review is rolling, so apply early next time.
Who can apply for the Lazard Financial Advisory Analyst Programme in London?
Students finishing their studies in 2027, or recent graduates. You need a predicted or achieved 2:1 or overseas equivalent, in any subject. No finance internship or experience is needed.
Can I apply to more than one Lazard Financial Advisory role in London?
No. Lazard takes one London Financial Advisory application a year and flags duplicates. You can apply to its overseas offices at the same time.
What online tests does Lazard use, and is the video scored by AI?
Lazard uses Criteria. One sitting of about 35 to 40 minutes covers a 15-minute aptitude test with no calculator, an untimed behavioural test of about 10 minutes and a five-question video. Recruiters review the video, and an AI tool scores its transcript. You can ask for a non-AI format.
What happens after the Lazard online tests?
Candidates who meet Lazard’s criteria join a virtual assessment centre with a few other candidates. The final round typically follows within a week: two in-person interviews of about 30 minutes with senior bankers. Offers come in writing, with one week to accept.
Does Lazard sponsor visas for analysts in London?
Lazard’s London recruitment FAQ says it sponsors eligible candidates for work visas. The 2027 ad does not mention visas. Offers depend on your right to work in the UK. Confirm your route with the recruiter early.
What if I miss the Lazard deadline?
Placement-year students can apply to the rolling London Industrial Placement.Placement-year students can check the London Industrial Placement ad. Early-year students can apply to Spring Insight from 19 October to 15 November 2026.Early-year students can watch for next year’s Spring Insight. This year’s was due to take applications from 19 October to 15 November 2026. Danish speakers can try the Denmark M&A internship until 30 October.The Denmark M&A internship for Danish speakers had a deadline set for 30 October. Overseas offices also recruit, and you can reapply next year.
