Contact Us
×

Tag: Investment banking course

What is the Best Way to Start an Investment Banking Career?

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

 
Here’s Amee Rathod’s journey towards a career in investment banking and a job at BNP Paribas.
I had no idea what career I wanted to pursue after college! I suppose this is a dilemma that most other millennials are perplexed by.
I graduated in management studies in 2016, and during the awkward phase between college and a job, I came across Imarticus Learning. It was actually a friend who recommended the investment banking training at Imarticus.

I explored the course offerings, scanned Imarticus Learning reviews, consulted with my family, and decided to visit there to speak to a counselor.

The counseling session was extremely informative and guided me through the layout of the course, the concepts covered, and the placement services on completion. I finally decided to enroll.

My experience at Imarticus was excellent.
My trainers – Dharmesh Sir and Lourdes Maam, the mentors, and support staff were all incredibly supportive, cooperative and approachable. Every time I faced a challenge that I couldn’t tackle, the trainers were always on hand to reach out to me and clear my doubts and queries. I was able to sail through the program because of the individual focus and guidance I received.

Imarticus Learning’s placement services also were fantastic.
The resume building sessions and mock interviews helped me prepare for the interview rounds. I was placed at BNP Paribas through Imarticus after completing the course, and I couldn’t have asked for more.

I’ve now received the opportunity to travel to Bahrain for a 2-week training and set up the process in India upon my return.

I’m very thankful to Imarticus for the opportunity to work with BNP Paribas, a leading investment bank, and I will most certainly recommend the course.

Looking to launch your investment banking career? Click here and speak to a career counselor today.

What Softwares Do Investment Banker Use?

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

The investment banking sector is a branch of banking and financial services industry that helps organisations to raise funds and also provides advisory and consultancy services on an array of financial instruments available by assessing the needs and risk appetite of individuals and firms.

The role of an investment banker is among one of the most sought after job roles in the banking and financial industry, the high level of compensation and other rewarding perks certainly makes it one of the most lucrative career options and naturally it attracts a lot of competition.

The role of an investment banker is very diverse and dynamic, to say the least; it encompasses a range of responsibilities that the personnel need to adhere to. We are living in an era of the digital buzz; everything has its presence online and needs technology for escalation. The investment bankers also need to use many tools for smooth conduct of their operations. Before jumping over to the tools and software used by them let’s get a brief about what their role entails.

Roles & responsibilities of an investment banker

The job of an investment banker requires you to play many roles at once. At the centre of it all is the responsibility to raise money for your clients by finding suitable investors who have the required capital for long term investments. The role of an investment banker here is to act as a mediator between the company that is looking to raise funds through issuing shares and the investors who are looking to invest in profitable investment opportunities. Finding the right match and bridging this gap requires a lot of backend work that involves complex research and analysis of the company and the market.

Investment Banking Career

In addition to raising capital for clients, the role of an investment banker also entails guiding and helping companies on Mergers & Acquisition (M&A) deals. In the most basic terms, Mergers & Acquisitions help is the consolidation of two companies for positive synergies. When two or more companies join hands to combine their operations and form one entity it is termed as Mergers. When one company buys the other it is coined as an Acquisition deal. Mergers and Acquisitions are done to reduce competition in the field and collectively profit more from the combination of two entities instead of individually operating.

Other roles of an investment banker include working in an advisory capacity and guiding individuals and firms on profitable investment opportunities and complex securities that are comparatively new and have been developed due to financial innovations. Now that you understand the complexity of the role of an investment banker you have a fair idea as to what all they need to do on a daily basis, let’s get familiar with some of the essential software that investment bankers need to do their job.

Software used by Investment Bankers

Below is the list of some of the most essential tools that are required by investment bankers for smooth functioning:

Bloomberg Terminal

The Bloomberg terminal is a computer software system that helps the investment banker to collect relevant data with lightning-fast speed. What’s new today is stale tomorrow; the Bloomberg terminal helps to obtain real-time data, analytics and news to help investment professionals to make a smarter and accurate decision.

Thomson Reuters

In the digital world data is the real deal, the more data you have the more accurate your decision making gets. A considerable amount of time is spent by investment bankers in doing research and data analysis, the more you know the better your client will fair. Another tool in the pack for data collection from various companies in a considerably low amount of time.

Microsoft Office

Financial modelling is a big component of the investment banking industry, financial modelling is a type of mathematical model that helps in representing and projecting the financial performance of businesses. Microsoft Excel helps a great deal in this regards. Other Microsoft tools are MS Word and MS PowerPoint that helps to gather and present information.

Stock Market Eye

Stock Market Eye is a portfolio and tracking management software that helps individual investors and asset management professionals to keep track of their portfolios and assess the market to manage and update their portfolios effectively.

InStream

This software offers cloud-based wealth management and financial planning tool. It brings utility by helping financial advisor with planning, reporting and assessing market trends.

What is Certificate in Investment Banking?

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

Understanding Investment Banking

Investment Banking and the buzz around the role of an investment banker is very mainstream. If you are in any way connected to the financial services industry or aspiring for a career in the finance industry you must know about this jackpot career option. The reason why I used the term jackpot is that is how it appears to be from the outside.

So what exactly is Investment Banking and what does a day into the life of an investment banker looks like, is what all aspiring enthusiasts are excited about. Investment banking is a highly specialized field in the financial services industry that deals with the creation of capital for big corporate houses and other entities including government bodies.

Investment banks help companies to source for funds and also advice on the capital structure that’ll be best suitable for the firm according to the requirements of the company. It helps to underwrite debt or equity securities to raise capital. In addition to this investment banks also helps to mediate and facilitate mergers and acquisitions deals for the company by finding firms with high synergies based on their complex research and data analysis.

Investment banks also help individuals with high net-worth to manage their finances and help them park their fund into profitable investments, it also guides people on complex financial securities like the alternative investments and private equity by assessing the risk appetite of the individuals and their return requirements based on their investment.

A day into the life of an investment banker is filled with a lot of research and client sourcing for the company and guiding people on their personal investment plans.

Certificate in Investment Banking

For those of you who understood the ‘What’ of Investment banking and are still sure they want to pursue their career in the field, lets come to the ‘How’ of the same. So, how to start out when you are aspiring to be an investment banker? What exactly should be your plan to pursue your dreams of earning the jackpot title?

The best course of action is to gain professional specialization in the fields with courses specifically catering to the needs of building a career in the Investment Banking Industry. One of the best ways is to get a certification for Investment banking. The main focus is on imparting knowledge related to subjects such as Investment Banking Basics, Financial Statement Analysis, Asset Class Valuations, Corporate Finance, Asset restructuring, etc.

The certified in Investment banking certification is developed as a comprehensive global certification exam. The main emphasis of this certification is to develop and assess the candidate’s skills related to the investment banking field.

The certificate program in investment banking is framed to provide the candidate with expert knowledge about the subject matter to become successful in the field. The high perks and rewards naturally make the role more lucrative and in turn competitive, so a certification makes you stand out from the competition by upholding credibility.

This certificate program examines the candidate on his/her competency to build an organized and systematic approach to finding the valuations for listed and unlisted organizations within the context of deals like Mergers and acquisitions, Initial Public Offering (IPOs), Leveraged Buy-Outs (LBOs), and other investment-related decisions.

The majority of analysts, both aspiring and experienced, concluded that investing is an amalgamation of facts, models, mathematics, and analysis. The investment banking certification exam assimilates a multifaceted body of investment banking knowledge holistically packaging all these skills.

Conclusion
The certificate in Investment Banking provides a holistic development approach to building your career in the field and builds your competency.

What Are the Benefits of an Investment Banking Course

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

Key Responsibility Areas of Investment Banking

Anyone who ever aspired to build a career in the finance industry has aimed for the title of an investment banker. Well, it’s where the big bucks are made so naturally the competition is at an all-time high. With the growth of financial innovation the demand for professionals has also grown to a large extent. In the contemporary the world is a global village, hyper globalization has increased the chances of businesses coming together to gain from increased efficiency and reduced competition. Mergers and acquisitions have become commonplace with more companies striving to find out probable synergies and benefit from the same.
One of the key functioning areas for investment bankers is mergers and acquisition which requires investment bankers to act as intermediaries and help establish a profitable deal for both the parties involved by using the right valuations and industry insights to project the numbers. Yes, all this is as way too complex and requires a thorough understanding of the economy and the financial industry. So, naturally the specialization in finance is a prerequisite for acting in an investment banker’s capacity.

Why opt for an Investment Banking Course

The entry-level jobs in the investment banking industry do not require much, a bachelor’s degree in finance or economics would suffice to get positioned as an analyst but at higher levels you’ll need an MBA in Finance or other courses related to investment banking. So one of the biggest benefits of taking an investment banking course is a sudden surge in your pay scale. The course makes you eligible for higher pay as it increases your ability to demonstrate better knowledge in the domain than your peers and set you apart from the crowd.
The investment banking course involves complex pricing of securities and mediating deals between business giants, any reputable investment banking company will need professionals who are certified by a reputed institution for their skills in the IB space. An investment banking course comes as a big help in this regard, equipping you with the desired skill set and certifying the same.
In addition to this, the investment baking field offers a range of challenging opportunities and equally compelling rewards that makes opting for an investment banking course a good investment. So, what does the title actually holds in its realm? Investment banking gives you access to high profile transactions which gives you exclusive access to information. Other than this the investment banking field presents a challenging opportunity with steep learning curve, if you are looking for challenges in your job description and a plethora of knowledge that comes quickly this is the best option.

The emphasis of investment baking course is on multiple subjects ranging from private equity, venture capital, hedge funds corporate finance, valuations, cash flow statements, general accounting, ratio analysis and special emphasis on the working of Investment Banks. So basically a 360-degree approach to updated financial subjects.
The course commences with a talk on investment banking and then proceeds to give a summary of the finance and accounting expertise that is absolutely necessary for a good career opportunity in finance-related careers along with investment banking. The major emphasis of this course leans towards explaining the most relevant skills in this domain, namely, financial modeling & valuation.
The investment banking course also offers dynamic career opportunities in the fields like Private equity, asset management, corporate finance & strategy, private wealth management, etc. Basically there’s a lot to look forward to.

Conclusion
The investment banking course opens a plethora of opportunities for people aspiring for building a career in the IB industry or other finance-related segments.

Also Read: Career and Scope in Investment Banking Courses

Major Trends Driving Investment Banking in 2022

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

The role of technology in the investment banking industry has never been more significant and vital. Interpreting data based on the analytical details and flow of information is key to the investment banking industry. Needless to say, to stay ahead of the game, professionals must stay on top of all the current trends of technology within investment banking.
The investment banking industry evolved in India in the 19th century. In that period, trading industries were established by the European banks. At the same time, many international banks showed an interest in investment banking in India. Investment banks need a foundational transformation to deliver consistently from their main businesses and technology will play a major part in achieving the same.

The Major Trends Driving Investment Banking in the Future

Regulation
While a few may be delighted about rollbacks in regulation, one must approach this new movement with measured caution and cheer. Though some of the regulations may be reduced and reversed, suffice to say that others will be put in their place.
With the advent of technology, automation and AI take centre stage with machine learning and other such important tools. These help in the detection of risks and scams. However, with this progress, many more regulations have come into force. Several limits were placed on industries soon after the financial calamity. Things have settled since then and so, the regulations are likely to be relaxed, eventually. When this happens, tax rates and interest rates will move in favour of the bank.
Technology
The evolution of technology will have a tremendous impact on shaping the future of investment banking in India. Technology helps to promote safer work environments, enhance customer experience and increase productivity. Digitalization, AI, big data, mobile technologies, and augmented and virtual reality will transform the investment banking course across all financial sectors. In recent times, E-trading has become the leading technology in financial areas, hence, there is an urgent requirement to improve multiple trading platforms and investment banking IT systems.
The shift in the Workforce
Technology influences the manner in which individuals perform day-to-day tasks in an investment bank. ATMs have resulted in the migration of roles from transactional to analytical, and automation will also follow suit by assisting the movement of resources to a more managerial level.
Initially, few employees will be edgy regarding these structural changes however, it is important to note that automation and AI will not do away with jobs but only alter everyday activities. Customer service will still remain a priority and should not be compromised.
Hence, upskilling is certainly a smart approach for employees and managers alike in this field.
Future Generation
In future, the entire traditional and historic ways of investment banking get replaced with the latest in technological infrastructure and analytics. Digitization of customer experience and AI will occupy the world of investment banking. To rise as a global leader in finance, India needs to be open to accepting these changing trends. These evolving facets of investment banking assure not only global success but also enable the citizens to overcome various socio-economic issues and rise with the country.
Conclusion
These are some of the major trends in the investment banking sector and all these trends are assumed to reshape the industry of banking and investment. The coming times will bring upon a revolution of sorts with historical changes in traditional models.

How will Investment Banking Change in 20 Years or So in the Future

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

How will Investment Banking Change in 20 Years or So in the Future

Technological advancement has brought about a massive transformation in the capital market and banking sector. The banking segment is largely dependent on crucial business requirements including a company’s total capital, the involvement of investors and company acquisitions or mergers. Globally acclaimed banks exist mostly due to fundamental requirements to keep the economy up and running; investments bankers here play their due role by using their networks or connections to make these financial transactions happen. Investment banking is a business that involves high-stakes, higher costs, and an even higher chance of profiting business; however, bankers often have to spend years building the right kind of relationships with companies, investors, buyers, and sellers, something that is not taught as a skill in an investment banking course.

The gradual transition in the traditional process

Investment banking is going through a metamorphosis of its own, with innovations in technology causing major changes. Some of the transformations expected to affect investment banking in the near future are as follows:

Technological disruption– If technology is going to take an industry by storm, that is investment banking. Currently, the industry comprises interpersonal relationships, specific markets that focus only on private partnerships between companies, and businesses involving financial products. Newer models will evolve to sustain in a more technologically sustainable market; advancements in virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and the eruption of big data will take investment banking by storm. While digital platforms are fairly involved in day-to-day processes including trading in the capital markets, multiple trading platforms need to be brought together and this is where technology is going to break the barriers of traditional investment banking.

Taking a more client-centric approach- Investment banks, for a more futuristic approach, will have to focus on investment in products that cater to providing their clients with a 360-degree solution. While banks themselves need to make decisions regarding prioritizing clients, the overall bank-client coordination needs to improve at the organisational level itself. While coordination between client servicing teams with other departments will need to improve, models that bring together, employee coordination, client coordination, financial transactions and products need to be implemented.

Improvement in business models- Most companies work according to their own cultures and processes built by their employees; these processes are mostly functional for their markets and clientele base. While individual companies deal with their problems in their own ways, an overall solution for tacking emergencies must evolve on a gradual basis. With evolving markets, companies barely see the need to raise capital in public markets. Companies like these majorly prefer to stay private to lower overall technology costs and to also control other capital sources, high-reporting, and regulatory costs. Publicly listed companies have consistently decreased over the past couple of years, and globally acclaimed companies have found methods to raise capital without relying on traditional investment banking techniques. Other companies, small or big, need to eventually come up with similar non-traditional investment banking models to keep up with the future.
Overall transformation of the investment banking sector- Technology that is outdated, serves barely any purpose along with proving to be expensive in general. Increasing prices, risk management factors, and business management tactics have made banking a commodity that is proving to be extremely costly. Capital markets need better regulation, leverage needs to be lowered and products need to be made more marginally viable; all of which require a complete transformation for investment banks to future-proof themselves and prepare for the days to come.

Asset management disruption- One of the most profitable financial services in today’s day is asset management, for companies, HNWIs, and other clients. The new set of investment regulations has however limited asset management mostly to globally acclaimed institutions. On a more smaller scale, an app that helps investors or HNWIs understand the market and then consider investing would be a good way for other investment banks to attract a new set of audiences or users and draw leverage to their expertise in conducting research.

The way forward
Restructuring the functioning of investment banks needs immediate attention. While technological disruptions, security and regulatory issues stand in the way of a bright future of investment banking, over the next couple of years banks need to focus on how they can play their strengths to their advantage and yet offer services on a more specialised level. While basic investment banking courses will teach most of it, future-oriented skills pave the pay to a brighter career in this field.

Also Read: Introduction to Investment Banking

How Does the Life and Salary of a Software Engineer Compare with an Investment Banker?

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

How does the life and salary of a software engineer compare with an investment banker?

With companies like Facebook and Google paying lucrative salaries and more perks to software engineers these days, the question arises if investment banking is still a better career option? Which career path would offer a more luxurious lifestyle and a fatter paycheck? While most professionals securing professional success before the age of 25 are investment bankers, most engineers work in a more relaxed environment with foosball tables at work to cool off, when the stress gets out of hand. Still can’t make up your mind if you should opt for that investment banking course instead?

Investment bankers deal with vast and sophisticated financial transactions for firms, governments, and investors. It is a complex job that requires a top-tier financial degree and strong analytical, critical thinking, and quantitative abilities.

Understanding more about this job might assist you in deciding whether or not you want to pursue it. A highly skilled expert who offers a variety of payment options to firms, institutions, and investors is known as an investment banker.

Here is a comparison of the life and salary of a software engineer with that of an investment banker-

Education–

For starters, to kick off a career in software engineering, you only need a bachelor’s degree in the relevant field. However, as an investment banker to even get into an entry-level position, you have to go through a series of routes that are often tough, lengthy and hectic. A journey that starts with an undergraduate degree also requires a GPA of above 3.5 from a Tier 1 or Tier 2 B-school or an eminent university; not to consider how difficult it is to get into the top business schools in the country. That’s not all; once the education is over, considering that a student has passed with flying colours, to become an investment banker, he has to spend the next couple of years in his life gathering field experience from a reputed financial firm, as a financial analyst. Before that, comes the step of applying to various eminent firms, and getting placed with the very best.

Salary– In terms of who takes the fatter paycheck home, an investment banker’s salary is higher than that of a software engineer unless you bag a job at Facebook or Google of course. While the guy starting out at an IT firm may start with a more attractive package, an investment banker makes a good deal on his way up the career. Add incentives on behalf of the company, sometimes on cracking a good deal, or add bonuses to the paycheck, and you will know why the salary of an investment banker is so much more enticing than that of a software engineer.

Lifestyle– As glorious as it may sound, the lifestyle of an investment banker is challenging in comparison to that of a software engineer. An investment banker works long hours during the day, often on weekends as well. Be prepared to slog on holidays, often not fulfil your regular quota of sleep, work round the clock and under stressful situations. However, the golden lining here is that the paycheck you are rewarded with makes up for all of this. Within a couple of years, you could be living a life dream-worthy, with expensive luncheons, Swiss holidays, luxury cruises and fancy art house exhibitions. For a software engineer to get to this lifestyle in just a couple of years after he starts working is close to impossible, unless he establishes a start-up of his own or works on a patented technology.

Status-

An investment banker’s job and designation are always held in high regard. In this profession, you will be considered a successful person and your opinions on finance would always be considered. In fact, be prepared to have all your acquaintances come to you to discuss their financial investments, loans or mortgages.

Overall happiness quotient– Each job has its own ups and downs, and comes with its own set of deliverables or responsibilities. While investment banking pays a higher salary as compared to a software engineer, the life of an investment banker is so much more stressful. Deadlines, fluctuating capital markets, massive work pressure, sudden phone calls in the dead of the night, and no leniency for mistakes add all the more to the already increasing stress factor. While software engineering doesn’t come easy as well, with sinking jobs, too much competition and a moderate paycheck, it is you who has to make the call regarding which of the two would be a good career path for you, and whether you should opt for an investment banking course or go for engineering.

How to break into Investment Banking as an Engineer?

Most engineers point to one of the following reasons to explain their desire to work in finance:

They want to make more money; they’ve hit a “ceiling” in their current role

They want better advancement opportunities

They want more interesting, client-facing work

They want to make a bigger impact on the world at large

Also Read: 

What is The Starting Salary Of An Investment Banker In India

How Do I Move to Investment Banking

What is investment Banking

How does an investment bank work

What are the Top 10 Tips to Become a Pro Investment Banker?

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

What are the Top 10 Tips to Become a Pro Investment Banker?

With the opportunity to work with some of the biggest names in the world, a lucrative salary and top-class industry exposure; investment banking has its perks and how! Quite a stark contrast to run-of-the-mill banking jobs, an investment banker transacts at the highest financial level, which governs the overall economy to a huge extent. Starting from processing how to go about when the government is issuing stocks to ensure maximizing revenue to the highest possible extent, a career in investment banking seamlessly blends intricate professionalism into industry experience, something that an investment banking course will teach you some of. At the end of the long, and often a hard path, there lies a solid paycheck and of course rapid ascents up the promotion ladder. How do you make it that far? Read on for tips on becoming a pro investment banker:

● Necessary education– While this does not put a bar on your educational qualifications, it definitely means you need to have a strong foundation in mathematics, accounting or any other subject related to finance, to pursue a career in investment banking. Most bankers start out with a degree in accounting, economics or finance; however, a relevant post-graduate degree is like an added feather to your cap. A Masters’s in Finance or an MBA degree from IIM A/B/C coupled with a certification CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) course will add to your advantage, as well as to the recruiter’s preference for your resume over others.

● Build your skills early– Never stop learning. Keep yourself versed with all developments in the industry of finance, be it in the national or global economy. Gain an understanding of market movements, how the fluctuation of stocks has an impact on financial technology, along with the impact of data collection and analysis on a company’s business. Along with your regular investment banking course, it is advisable to take up additional management courses, gain knowledge about the basics of the law, practically work with financial models, and learn a global language if you wish to expand your career horizon to another country.

● Networking– Start your networking young, have a social presence on Twitter and LinkedIn, and follow influencers in your field who you feel can help with insights into the world of investment banking. Start a blog, gain followers on your social media accounts, and attend seminars and events in and on behalf of your college! In short, do not miss out on any opportunity that may lead you to meet new contacts, build connections and networking.

● Seek work experience- Bagging an internship or a work placement programme with a good investment bank, right at the start of your academic schedule is advisable. You can try and test between different departments at larger firms to see which aspect of the field you enjoy working in, the most. Start out with one internship every alternate semester in financial regulation, investment or trading.

● Financial reporting knowledge– Studying and interpreting financial reports will involve a major role in your job profile even while decision-making on behalf of the company. You need to be able to interpret and decipher financial reports and their hidden values.

● Budgeting– As a finance professional, you have to know the basics of budgeting, which include analysis of forecast budgets and spending budgets. You have to also understand, and be able to relate the company’s expenses with the aims and objectives of the organisation. An investment banker also needs to be adept at budgeting- for the organisation, different departments or for projects as required.

● Forecasting– Prediction of upcoming risks, forecasting the best decisions for the company along with insights into your vision for the near future can help you steer your department or the entire organisation as a whole, in the right direction.

● Data analytics skills– Multiple organisations today expect young professionals to have data analytical skills in the contextual application of big data analytics. For the sake of future proofing professionals, data analytics has forayed its way into investment banking, equity research or financial planning as well.

● Knack for innovation– While investment banking is pretty straightforward as a profession, there is also room and appreciation for bringing about innovation in day-to-day processes. A fresh presentation, a new approach to preparing a report or an added perspective to a situation goes a long way to strengthen your role in the organisation.

● Confidence– The most underrated yet important of all tips, is confidence. Your resume is top-notch, you have industry knowledge, expertise and required qualifications; the only thing you need to sign off is an ample amount of confidence while presenting yourself for an interview or a test, and you are good to go.

Also Read: How to Become Investment Banker

 

What are the Best Investment Bank to Work for

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

What are the Best Investment Bank to Work for

The first thing that comes to your mind when you think of a bank is, probably a place to deposit money, maintain your savings, and offer loans as needed; all of which is of course true. However, for finance graduates, MBAs or students pursuing an investment banking course, there is an entirely different scenario when it comes to the idea of bank or bank jobs. Focusing on bonds, investment products and most importantly on stocks, these are large financial firms that influence and move money around the economy. Sometimes, these firms or investment banks are part of larger institutions that also offers commercial bank services to the public.

Here is a meltdown of the top investment banks to work for, in India and globally as well:

  • Bank of America- One of the leading investment banks around the globe, Bank of America has been functioning in India since 1964. With its commitment to diversity and inclusion, this bank provides a range of financial solutions and investment products to some of the top multinational companies, financial institutions and top corporates alike. In liaise with work culture, the firm has earlier ranked as the top in Diversity, both Overall, Female and LGBTQ along with bagging the second spot in Minority Diversity.
  • J.P. Morgan- It was 1930 when this renowned foreign bank set up operations in India. One of the largest in the world, J.P Morgan specializes in wholesale investment banking as well as investment advisory services. With $2.5 trillion worth of assets, the company majorly focuses on mergers and acquisitions along with offering services in risk management as well as capital raising.
  •  Morgan and Stanley- One of the best investment banks around the world and headquartered in the US, Morgan and Stanley started operations in India in the year 1993. Like most other financial institutions, the bank offers services in investment banking, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, private equity businesses, IPOs, advising, lending, sales and trading services. Morgan and Stanley has offices in more than 43 countries around the world with a varied clientele base that includes governments, corporates, multinationals and individuals
  •  Barclays- Headquartered in Europe, Barclays has made its mark among the biggest investment banks in the world and holds assets of around $1.5 trillion. In India, Barclays is focused on catering to the needs of corporates in the country, especially in the small and medium enterprise sectors as well as companies looking out for international expansion. This investment bank offers a number of financial products and cash management services as well. The India headquarters are located in Mumbai.
  • Deutsche Bank- Amongst the leaders of investment banking in the world, Deutsche Bank is among the four biggest banks in Europe and a full service institution who have one of the most influential services in investment banking. Their services in India cater both to the international and national domain, with a very strong clientele segment in the private sector. Their investment banking services also include sales and trading, risk management, advising, securities, research and analysis along with commercial banking.
  • Goldman Sachs- A brand name of its own, this is perhaps the most prestigious investment bank worldwide, to work for. A 150 year old public company, this is an extremely influential name in Wall Street. Goldman Sachs started its operations in India in 2004 with its office located in Bengaluru. Their major divisions as well as services include investment management, private equity, lending portfolios, financial advisories, underwriting and investor services for institutions. This reputed financial institution has consistently been the benchmark in the industry of investment banking with offering quality of life.

While firms vary in rankings in terms of hours worked, compensation offered to employees,work culture, training opportunities and quality of life that includes work-life balance, investment banking has been a popular career choice among students with attractive salaries, extensive exposure to multiple work environments and challenging atmospheres. An integrated investment banking course along with a finance degree or even better, an MBA from a top business school actually offers a rewarding and brilliant career opportunity. An added exposure to some top-class industry training, scope for travel and the fat salary/ bonus balance is the cherry on the top.

Also Read: What is Investment Bank

What are the Prerequisites for Becoming an Investment Banker?

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

What are the Prerequisites for Becoming an Investment Banker?

Investment banking has long been considered a lucrative, high-paying field. A fresher investment banker can earn 6 figure sums easily, while senior-level pros bring in money in the millions. However, becoming an investment banker isn’t just a whistlestop journey– it’s an amalgamation of academic prowess, perseverance, good networks and some luck to boot.

Here are the Prerequisites Required to Become a Professional Investment Banker

College Degree

And not just any degree– it should preferably be in the finance or economics field. Accounting and business degrees also do well. That’s not to say that other majors can’t become Wall Street titans– it just so happens that an individual with a degree from any of the abovementioned fields may find it much easier to transition into the professional sphere.
An MBA or an advanced degree will give you a competitive edge over other candidates who have just one degree to their name. But if you cannot undertake a rigorous advanced degree course, then you can still sign up for an investment banking course that will grill you in the basics and nuances of the field.

Affinity for Numbers

Investment banking is all about the numbers. Basic mathematics can only take you so far into the field– what will truly set you apart is a strong affinity for numbers, statistics, analytics and visual identification of trends. If you can sufficiently use these to make predictions, then you’re golden! Research and analytical skills are just as crucial, because investment bankers are expected to extensively research the market before suggesting or forecasting potential investments.
If your math skills are a little rusty, consider enrolling in an investment banking course for a refresher from the perspective of the industry. This way you’ll brush up on your skills while understanding at the same time how they can be put to use in your future job.

Few Internships

Internships are an aspiring investment banker’s best friend. The more renowned the company you interned at, the higher your chances of being picked out of a crowd. That said, all is not lost if you don’t score a brief stint at a big name company– an excellent performance in a boutique firm or startup can be just as representative of your skills and experience.
Consider doing more than one internship, and try each time for a big firm, such as JP Morgan or Deutsche Bank. The more laurels you collect at internships, the more impressive your CV looks and the more confident you’ll be while walking into your first job or your first megadeal.

Excellent Network

In the investment banking field, who you know is just as important as what you know. Good connections and a strong network of leads and contacts are the gateways to kickstarting your career or propelling it towards the higher rungs of the ladder.
Networking for investment bankers is key, not least because it’s the first opportunity they get to practice their selling. It is crucial to make an excellent first impression on people who have the capacity to hire you or can whisper in the ears of someone in the field. Those without solid networks needn’t fret– instead, joining a course that gives you access to an exclusive network of leads and references may just be your ‘get out of jail free’ card.

Additional Certifications

Do ensure that you’ve obtained or are working towards all the necessary certifications, depending on which country you want to work in. In India, a certification from the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India University or the Certified Investment Banking Professional Certification can take you a long way towards the job of your dreams. In the US, Chartered Financial Analyst credentials look extra-good on resumes.
You may be able to land a job without these certifications, depending on other factors like internships, academic prowess and experience. However, once in a cosy new job, consider upskilling or working towards these certifications so your CV is not stale when you decide to move to a better job.
Investment banking is a challenging field, often pulling long odd hours of work and involving a dynamic and fluctuating market. To rise to the challenge, all of the above prerequisites are crucial– they’re also a springboard towards getting the investment banking job of your dreams.