What are Careers and Job Domains in Investment Banking?

Corporate Finance

The segment of a firm that deals with financial and investment choices is known as corporate finance. The primary goal of corporate finance is to maximise shareholder value through long- and short-term financial planning and the implementation of diverse methods. Corporate finance encompasses a wide range of operations from capital investment decisions to investment banking. In a corporate finance position, you would assist a customer in raising funds to fund new initiatives or expand existing businesses. The team should have a solid understanding of applied finance and its ideas, since it entails calculating the proper balance between equity, debt, and securities to achieve higher levels of profitability. This is the most common profile in investment banking, and it is often regarded as the core of the industry.

Acquisitions and mergers (M&A)

The team is in charge of providing strategic client service and acting as an advisor in the acquisition’s valuation, structure, and negotiation. This area is one of the most lucrative for investment bankers worldwide. Starting a job in investment banking with this profile can be tough. Before being considered for this position, a candidate must have at least 4-5 years of hands-on experience in financial services, as the work entails a lot of strategy development, which necessitates sufficient exposure to many aspects of financial management.

Capital Market: It encompasses both stock and debt markets, with the team advising the client on the best time, valuation, and issuance form. Investment banks frequently assist their clients in raising capital in the market. This necessitates a thorough knowledge of the capital market and its volatility. For most investment bankers around the world, this is their first profile. An aspirant can start as an analyst in this profile and progress through several investment banking streams. A candidate for this position should have a good background in financial, securities, and derivatives analysis.

Trading and Sales: The team is in charge of executing transactions in shares, currencies, bonds, and other financial instruments with other institutional investors and traders on behalf of the customers. It is one of the most sought-after positions in investment banks, and it necessitates a thorough knowledge of financial instruments, capital markets, options futures, and derivatives. Interpersonal and communication skills are essential since they entail spoken and organised, written interactions at all levels. This profile has one of the quickest rates of growth among investment banking profiles. For an investment banker to rise up the hierarchy in this profile, consistency in performance is critical.