How to Become an Investment Banker?

26-Nov-2022

Investment banking focuses on assisting businesses, governments, and investors with significant and intricate financial transactions. It's a difficult job that calls for a top-notch education in finance as well as a lot of analytical, critical-thinking, and quantitative abilities. Your decision to pursue this job can be influenced by learning more about it. We go over how to become an investment banker in this post along with what these professionals perform on a daily basis and the key ideas required to tread the path of an Investment Banker.

Navigating Ways to Become an Investment Banker

Understanding who is an Investment Banker

An Investment banker is a highly qualified and skilled specialist who offers a varied range of financial services to businesses, investors as well as governments. They aid businesses in obtaining loans for working capital, issuing stocks and bonds, determining the value of securities,  raising stock capital, allocating resources, negotiating mergers, and managing investments. They serve as the intermediary between investors and private or public corporations concerning the kinds of securities, stocks, and bonds, the time and methods of issuing them, and establishing the price for each instrument. They provide financial guidance and consultation.

Become an Investment Banker?

Many of them also provide services and guidance to investors so they can purchase those securities. Some of them might even help their clients with mergers and acquisitions and undertake municipal bond underwriting.

Roles and Responsibilities of an Investment Banker 

The roles and responsibilities of an Investment Banker focus on the financial procedures of a varied range of monetary transactions and investment initiatives. Each team covers a particular industry or market sector, and teams often consist of managing directors, directors, vice presidents, associates, and analysts. They frequently have to change their work schedules to accommodate clients who are in other time zones, and they put in a lot of overtime. The job can sometimes be stressful as they may encounter demanding conditions while working. 

They typically carry out the following tasks:

  • Undertake research, review, and analyze numerous market reports and databases to obtain pertinent information that helps in making financial decisions. 

  • Keep tabs on the current investing environment, spot dangers related to particular projects, and offer advice to customers advice on moving forward.

  • Perform daily financial metric computations, financial modeling, and firm valuations to forecast business performance.

  • Create presentations and proposals that include a timeline, risks, and rewards list.

  • Respond to phone calls and emails, schedule meetings, and plan travel among other administrative chores.

  • Research papers, pitchbooks, PPT presentations, and transaction paperwork should be written, revised, edited, and presented.

  • For raising private or public cash, they are responsible for issuing securities, underwriting corporate bonds, and conducting debt and equity sales.

  • Provide guidance to businesses on stock price initiation, managing initial public offerings, and securities issuance.

  • Analyze, assist, and plan mergers and acquisitions to benefit their clients as much as possible.

  • Ensure adherence to the laws and rules that financial regulatory organizations have established.

Qualifications Required to Become an Investment Banker

To gain an entry-level job with an investment bank, you typically require at least a bachelor's degree in economics, finance, business, or accounting. A Ph.D. or master's degree can help your career possibilities. Working to enhance your interpersonal and communication abilities could also be beneficial.

Time Required to become an Investment Banker 

To become an investment banker, you may need to put in seven or more years. Your bachelor's degree can be earned in three or four years after you pass the 10+2 test. After that, you can enroll in a two-year master's program or PGP in Investment Banking. It will take you an additional three to six years if you opt to pursue a doctoral degree. Additionally, certificates might take anything from six months to four years to get. Numerous Investment Banking courses have emerged as a consequence of the growing demand and popularity of a career in Investment Banking. These courses often ideally require lesser time commitment in comparison to the traditional university programs. Investment banking courses from a reputed institution could be an ideal option. 

Steps to Become An Investment Banker

Complete 10 + 2

You must successfully complete your 10+2 higher secondary education with more than 50% of the required marks from an approved board. In your 10+2 exam, you can choose between the science, commerce, or arts path. However, you can gain more if you enroll in a commerce program and take courses in arithmetic, accounting, economics, business, and computer science.

Get a Bachelor's Degree

An investment bank requires a three- or four-year bachelor's degree for entry-level positions. You can get a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in finance, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in finance, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in economics, or a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com). You might study topics including arithmetic, accounting, economics, financial management, corporate finance, investing, taxation, data analytics, and business administration, though the actual syllabus varies according to the program.

Get a Master's Degree

For investment bankers, a two-year Master of Business Administration (MBA) in financial management is a highly desired postgraduate degree. 

A Master of Science (MS) in finance is another option. Another option is to pursue a PGP in Investment Banking. The National Stock Exchange (NSE) Academy also provides Investment Banking courses that last six to nine months. The courses are in varied specializations including Banks and Financial Planning, Investment Banking and Capital markets, Management Accounting, and Business Analytics. 

Obtain  A Doctorate Degree

Pursuing a Ph.D. degree in finance and banking is a highly rewarding career step. To enroll in a doctorate degree in banking and financial domain, you will be required to fulfill certain educational criteria like a minimum of 55%  in postgraduate, and meet the cut-off percentage in the UGC NET and CSIR UGC NET exams. A minimum of three years is required for completing a Ph.D. degree. Typically, the syllabus for a Ph.D. may include the following:

  • Asset pricing theory

  • Corporate finance theory

  • Research Methods in Finance

  • Foundations of Business Research

  • Microstructure of Markets

Obtain Certificates

A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) professional credential can improve your employment opportunities. The CFA program provides comprehensive and hands-on training in finance and investing. You can learn about quantitative approaches, financial reporting and analysis, corporate finance, derivatives, equity investments, and alternative investment strategies. Once you have earned your bachelor's degree, you are eligible to enroll in this program. The length of the program might range from one to four years. There are several other certifications in banking and Finance and corresponding investment banking courses that can assist you in getting those certifications. The major certifications that could take your Investment banking career to the top level are:

  • Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Certification

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Certification 

  • Financial Risk Manager (FRM) Certification

  • Financial Modeling Certification

Undertake Internships

Internships in investment banking are available through campus placements, networking, HR consultants, bank websites, and online job boards like Indeed, and online job boards. Investment bank internships often last between two months and two years. You can learn to strengthen your communication, presentation, and negotiation abilities in addition to financial training. Depending on how well you do during your internship, you might be given the opportunity to work as an investment banker permanently.

Get A Job

Following your internship, you will be exposed to a sea of opportunities and chances to fetch a job through a University placement interview, or directly at an Investment bank and Financial Advising Firm, etc. You only need to grasp the opportunity and be ready for the interview by polishing your knowledge of basic financial principles, financial modeling, and private equity, etc. The other great tip is to compile and practice responses to some frequently asked questions and answers at an investment banking job interview

Boost Your Career

You can maintain your competitive edge and further your education in investment banking by taking part in employer-sponsored training programs, Advanced Investment banking courses other certification programs. In Corporate finance and Investment, you can build new skills, learn about market trends, make connections with business luminaries, and accumulate more job experience. You might rise to more senior management positions as a result.

Is It Challenging To Work in Investment Banking?

Because of the rigorous and stressful nature of the job, becoming an investment banker can be fairly difficult. Investment bankers frequently work more than 80 hours per week while still having to adhere to rigorous rules and handle stressful situations. They must be extremely knowledgeable in banking technology, accounting, economics, finance, mathematics, statistics, and these other fields. They also need to be outgoing, and confident and have great communication skills in order to communicate with and forge relationships with powerful and extremely affluent individuals.

What Salary Do Investment Bankers Receive Annually?

Investment bankers make an average annual remuneration of INR 5,97,078 in India. The average yearly income for an investment banker in India is 4.3 Lakhs, with salaries ranging from 2.0 Lakhs to 47.6 Lakhs. Depending on your location, experience, and other criteria, the remuneration may vary. Investment bankers who work for large banks or have degrees from famous institutions typically earn higher base salaries and generous incentives. Some of the top hiring firms for Invest Bankers in India include:

  • Jp Morgan Chase

  • ICICI Bank

  • HDFC Bank

  • Mphasis

  • Accenture

  • BNY Mellon

  • ICICI Prudential Life Insurance 

  • State Street HCL Services

  • Ernst & Young

  • Cognizant

  • Moody's Analytics

  • Citibank

Highest Paying Cities for Investment Bankers in India 

  • Mumbai, Maharashtra - INR 90,345 per month

  • Gurgaon, Haryana- INR 73,983 per month

  • Ernakulam, Kerala- INR 68,276 per month

  • Pune, Maharashtra- INR 58,907 per month

  • Bengaluru, Karnataka- INR 49,030 per month

  • Noida, Uttar Pradesh- INR 42,419 per month

  • Hyderabad, Telangana- INR 29,983 per month

  • Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu- INR 25,311 per month

  • Chennai, Tamil Nadu- INR 23,487 per month

Your interest and passion for finance can be easily translated into a rewarding job so long as you have the right set of skills and knowledge. begin by onboarding the best investment banking courses and become a top player and a leader in the banking and finance industry.

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