Most finance students dream of becoming investment bankers. It is a prestigious designation that commands respect and admiration. Qualified investment advisors are an exclusive community within the finance industry. They are responsible for generating funds, expanding businesses, acquiring companies and expertly working the stock market.
There are opportunities for earning a high income, and the possibilities for growth are endless. Investment bankers are crucial for the fiscal health of the economy. They help to increase the earning capacities of companies and individuals. Little wonder that it is also one of the hottest professions in India today.
So, what exactly is the investment banking job description? Investment bankers are qualified finance professionals who offer calculated advice to clients to help them reach specific financial goals. They work in various fields like portfolio management, equity research and mergers and acquisitions. For more details, keep scrolling down.
The investment banking job description
Companies require capital. It is a given. They need it to increase their profits, expand their offices and buy recourses. Investment bankers step in to assist for these very purposes. They can analyze the company, crunch the numbers and create strategies to improve the financial status. The market is full of so many investment opportunities. It can get tricky for organizations to make the right call. When a vast sum of money is at stake, you don’t want to take any chances. Companies need investment bankers to weed through the options and create the appropriate plans that work in their interests. The investment banker looks through the data and suggests a suitable solution, whether this plan includes buying and selling stocks, bonds or debt. It is a complex, challenging profession with plenty of risks but equally high rewards.
How to get a job in investment banking
Every investment banker needs specific talents to succeed in this field. Here are the top five skills that can impact your career.
- Technical skills
How well do you know your business? It is not enough to understand abstract finance concepts written in a textbook. You must possess a 3-D, multi-faceted understanding of how this industry operates. There are so many variables to consider. When presented with a vast amount of data, your mind should lock into the critical facts immediately.
This skill comes with professional training. Some take years to learn others manage to figure it out sooner with academic help.
Here are some of the technical aspects of investment banking you should know:
- Detailed knowledge about investment products available in the market
- Financial analysis
- Analyzing and decoding data
- Financial Modeling
- Legal and professional standards and practices
- Managing risk factors
- Clear communication abilities
You will spend a large part of your day interacting with team members, persuading clients, drafting reports and making presentations. Your communication skills can help you convey your points more eloquently. Investment banking isn’t just a numbers game but also a verbal art. If you want people to trust your vision, you need to share your ideas skilfully.
- Strong sense of discipline
In the fast-paced, high-pressure environment of investment banking, you need a solid work ethic to push ahead of the pack. A calm and collected mind also helps when you are facing stressful deadlines. Discipline is important, as it will help you tackle multiple projects at a time. It will pay off when you eventually take on the mantle of VP or CEO.
- Analytical aptitude
Investment bankers don’t take facts and figures at face value. They always delve deeper below the surface to truly understand why and how a certain investment can prove fruitful. Many times, they investigate past trends and future predictions before taking a call. This is imperative as fluctuations and discrepancies are very common in this industry. You need a sharp eye and a critical mind to make it big in this profession.
- Confidence
If you have the knowledge, expertise and skills to back up your professional choices, you get the confidence to efficiently present your work. Clients want to work with investment advisors who know the inside out of the industry well. They want to be assured that you are the best person for the job. Your confidence is a currency with which you can gain new clients and build reliable relationships with them.
The profile of an investment banker
It is a long journey from fresher to top management. So how does it all work? Let’s take a closer look at the investment banking job descriptions.
1 Entry-Level — Analyst
The lower rung of the investment corporate ladder is that of the analyst. The role requires the freshers to assist with making presentations and financial analyses. It also helps if you know financial modeling. Since this is a starter job, you will spend the majority of your work hours in administrative functions. You are not ready yet to work with clients or create valuations independently. This is the learning phase of the job. You watch, help, and slowly start to pick up some of the many tricks of the trade. With time and experience, your supervisors will slowly trust you and allow you to carry out some more exciting responsibilities.
Expected salaries: Rs 2.3 to Rs 3 lakhs a year
2 Mid-management level — Associate
Once you have notable working experience, you move a few rungs up the ladder. As an investment banking associate, you get more responsibilities coming your way. You get to take on more leadership roles to an extent when managing projects. You meet clients face to face and are part of the team that offers investment advice. You even supervise new hires and trainees.
Once you have proven yourself in this profile, you can move to senior management positions.
Expected salaries: Rs 8 to Rs 10 lakhs a year
3 Senior positions — Vice President/Senior VP/ Managing director
Once you have established yourself as a successful investment banker, you are ready to take on higher positions of power. As upper management, you are in charge of company operations. The VP or MD has a hand in generating new business and maintaining clientele. You use your expertise to meet prospective clients and close deals. Networking becomes a big part of your profile, and you often represent your firm at industry invents.
Expected salaries: Rs 70 lakhs to over Rs 1 crore a year
(Infographics)
Investment banking firms
International companies
- Goldman Sachs
- Morgan Stanley
- Deutsche Bank
- JP Morgan
- Barclays
- Merrill Lynch
- Nomura
- Bank of America
- UBS
- Standard Chartered
- Citi
- Credit Suisse
- HSBC
Indian companies
- ICICI Securities
- Kotak Mahindra
- Edelweiss
- SBI Capital
- Yes Bank
- HDFC
How a PGCM IBCM certification can help your career
Every second in an investment banking firm is a blur of activity. The management has no time to train recruits. Investment companies want capable, well-educated candidates to work in their firms. If you are academically qualified, such as an MBA in finance or A PGCM IBCM certification, your chances of getting hired are higher.
There has been a lot of buzz around the PCGM credential lately. Many students are applying for a post-graduate certificate in management (investment banking and capital markets). Here’s why:
- It is a fully loaded, one-year program that helps aspiring students become investment experts.
- The course teaches technical skills such as advanced Excel, Tableau, statistical applications, etc.
- The syllabus contains the following subjects :
- Data analysis in Excel
- Business communications
- Business Statistics
- Introduction to IT systems
- Financial management
- Project finance and equity modeling
- Financial markets
- Business economics and industry analysis
- You get AICTE-approved PGCM and NSDC certifications at the end of the course
PGCM IBCM with IMS Proschool
If you are looking for a coaching institute that offers unique methods of teaching financial courses, IMS Proschool is your best bet. As one of India’s premier academic establishments, Proschool uses creative and inspired techniques to help students master the syllabus. They have a strong team of finance experts who have considerable experience working in the industry. These professional teachers offer first-hand accounts of what to expect in this profession. They also use active learning methodologies to enable students to learn from real-life case studies. You can attend any of their classroom sessions available in all of the major cities in India. If you have time constraints, you can learn through their virtual classes and even receive recorded sessions. Proschool is well known for helping students overcome challenges and enter the industry as confident, well-rounded professionals.
In conclusion
The world of investment banking is as exciting as it is demanding. It takes a lot of hard work, mental strength and intensive training to enter this arena and make a name for yourself. So how to get a job in investment banking? You need the knowledge, expert skills and the right academic qualifications. A PGCM IBCM is a pathway to achieving your dreams faster. So nothing is stopping you from carving a niche for yourself in this industry.
