Are you looking forward to making a career in finance? Well, investment banking is an excellent career opportunity for you. Investment bankers assist businesses, governments, and shareholders with significant and intricate financial transactions.
It is a demanding job calling for a top-notch finance education with a proper understanding of risk management and analytics. Investment bankers must have critical-thinking and quantitative abilities. This writing will discuss how you can build a successful career in investment banking.
Who is an investment banker?
A highly skilled specialist, an investment banker offers various financial services to businesses, governments, and investors. They help multiple businesses obtain loans for working capital, pass stocks and bonds, decide the value of securities, get stock capital, allocate various resources, negotiate mergers, and manage investments.
They provide financial guidance and consultation regarding what kind of securities, such as stocks and bonds, when to issue them, how to issue them, and what price to establish for each instrument.
A variety of duties connected to financial procedures for various financial transactions and investment initiatives fall under the responsibilities of an investment banker. Some of the duties of an investment banker are as follows:
- Review and analyse market reports and databases to acquire crucial data for financial decisions.
- Keep an eye on the current investing environment, perform proper risk management, and advise customers on moving forward.
- Perform everyday financial computations, financial modelling, and firm valuations to predict business performance.
- Create presentations and proposals with a proper timeline, complications, and rewards list.
- Respond to calls and emails, schedule meetings, and plan travel.
- Help investment firms to comply with the anti-money laundering requirements.
- Research papers, PPT presentations, and transaction paperwork must be written, revised, edited, and presented.
- To raise private or public cash, underwrite municipal bonds and take care of debt and equity sales.
- Guide businesses on initiating stock prices, managing initial public offerings, and issuing securities.
How can you become an investment banker?
If you want to pursue a career in investment banking, there are a few steps that you must follow:
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Complete 10+2 examination
Candidates who want to work in investment banking must complete their 10+2 level education with a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 50% or an equivalent from a recognised board.
Studying economics, business, accounting, mathematics, and computer science at the 10+2 level will be beneficial.
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A relevant bachelor's degree
You need a three or four-year bachelor's degree for an entry-level position with an investment bank. A job as an investment banker can be pursued with a bachelor of commerce (B.Com), a bachelor of arts (B.A.) in finance, an economics degree, or a business administration (BBA) in finance.
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Obtain a master's degree
A two-year Master of Business Administration (MBA) in financial management is a highly desired postgraduate degree for prospective investment bankers. Candidates who want to work as investment bankers can also obtain a Master of Science (MS) in finance.
You can avail of several banking courses after graduation in business analytics, management accounting, banks and financial planning, investment banking, and capital markets.
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Get certified
The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) is one of the investment banking certification courses which will help you get a headstart in the field. The CFA programme offers thorough and applicable financial and investment education. Candidates can apply for this programme after earning their bachelor's degree.
The course could last anywhere from one to four years. CFA is just one of them, and there are other courses that you can also explore. Investment banking courses are one of the best ways to strengthen your candidature.
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Do an internship
Investment bank internships could run anything from two months to two years. Candidates may learn to improve their marketing, presentation, and communication skills in addition to financial training. They can be offered a permanent position to work as an investment banker depending on how well they perform throughout their internship.
Skills to have to become a successful investment banker
As an investment banker, there are specific skills that you must have. Some of these skills are:
Analytical skills
Along with other skills, your analytical abilities need to be improved. In the investment banking sector, analytical skills are crucial.
Working on research and financial modelling takes a strong analytical mind to adapt and pick things up quickly.
Mathematical skills
One of the essential talents for breaking into or staying in the investment banking industry is this. Investment banking is ideal for you if you understand fundamental mathematics well.
Some have succeeded in this field thanks to their strong math skills. Making equations and solving them is only a small part of investment banking math.
Basic financial knowledge
Basic financial skills, such as understanding the three primary financial statements (Profit & Loss Account, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement) or having proper knowledge about anti-money laundering, are critical. This will help you make a mark in the industry.
An investment banker must work on all facets of finance. Thus candidates must have a proper understanding of them.
PowerPoint and Excel skills
Working on PowerPoint and Excel presentations makes up about 80% of the work in investment banking. You must be knowledgeable about both tools' fundamental and sophisticated operations.
You can enrol in a video class or session to learn how to use Excel and PowerPoint, which will prepare you for employment without interfering with your regular work.
Communication skills
As an investment banker, you must adequately explain patterns, trends and forecasts to your team members. When you are leading a team, it is essential that you can coherently summarise your technical analysis.
Conclusion
Investment banking is a very demanding yet very rewarding field. If you are interested in finance, this might be your ideal career opportunity. They must be highly knowledgeable in banking technology, economics, accounting, statistics, finance, mathematics, and these other fields.
They also need to be confident and have excellent communication skills to communicate with and forge relationships with influential and highly affluent individuals. You can check Imarticus’s certified investment banking course to build a career as an investment banker.
