What Do Investment Bankers Do? Definition and Career Guide

Investment banking is a rewarding field if you have the right training and skills. Good analytical and mathematical skills are necessary for this high-profile career.

Among the most prestigious professions on Wall Street, investment banking holds a place of honor. The investment banking industry is known for being characterized by a high level of stress and long working hours, despite featuring some of the most valuable and lucrative positions in the industry.

In investment banking, analysts or associates are not uncommon work 80 to 100 hours per week.

Is there any actual information about investment banking? Despite the lack of actual knowledge, there is much confusion. People are most likely familiar with the phrase "investment banking", and have heard it at least once, but don't really understand what it entails, aside from a vague notion that it somehow involves investing and banking.

This article aims to demystify investment banking by explaining what investment bankers do as plainly and simply as possible.

What Do Investment Bankers Do? Definition and Career Guide

What Is an Investment Banker?

A financial adviser provides financial services to companies and governments to raise funds. Investment banks or their investment banking divisions, such as commercial banks, have several positions in this term, including financial associate, financial analyst, managing director, and vice president.

These firms are also able to provide investors with advice and services for buying securities. Their services may include underwriting municipal bonds and mergers and acquisitions for their clients.



What Does An Investment Banker Do?

Investing ventures undertaken by companies require investment bankers to manage a multitude of financial processes. Depending on how much your clients pay you, you make money. Investing in banking is an international career, so you may work with clients all over the world. Work schedules may vary based on different time zones. There is often a high level of pressure and long hours for investment bankers. Stress can be part of the job, but the high earnings potential often outweighs the trouble. They usually perform the following duties:
  • Building financial models to analyze and support mergers and acquisitions
  • The stock price must be fixed so that investors can invest and the company can raise funds to grow
  • Ensuring compliance with financial regulatory agencies, including SEBI.
  • Implementing IPOs (Initial Public Offerings) and preparing supporting documents
  • Providing assistance to clients with pricing their financial instruments
  • Providing advice on the issuance of securities to investors to companies
  • Assisting companies, firms, or other entities in raising funds by issuing securities, underwriting municipal bonds, or offering equity and debt.
  • Gather relevant market information and market reports in order to make financial decisions.
  • Determine risks associated with specific projects and advise clients on moving forward with them.
  • Predict company performance by performing daily company valuations, financial modeling, and financial metric calculations.
  • Ensure that presentations and proposals outline the benefits, risks, and timelines of the project.
  • Organized meetings, answer emails, and handle administrative tasks.
  • Edit, revise, and present research reports, pitchbooks, and PPT presentations.



Investment Banks Types

Choosing investment banking as a career means considering two types:

1. Industry coverage.

Investment banks that do industry insurance work usually assign their staff to a specific market or industry segment. The industry coverage crew is headed through the coping with the director, and their responsibility is to stay up to date with modern information, trends, and competitors in their region. These corporations generally shape smaller teams to deal with extraordinary initiatives for precise clients. In their specific market segment, these companies are primarily concerned with acquiring new customers and maintaining existing ones. Among their responsibilities are preparing presentations for clients, preparing enterprise reviews, and executing transactions.

2. Corporate finance.

Investors in this type of bank arrange to finance their clients' new or ongoing projects. Corporate finance funding bankers are continuously looking for innovative ways to raise capital for their clients. For an instance, they will assist companies to reap capital thru securities underwriting. They're additionally liable for issuing securities among businesses, dealing with post and executing mergers and acquisitions.

There are also other types of investment banks that you need to know.

3. Bulge Bracket Investment Bank.

In financial terms, bulk-bracket investment banks are multinational financial institutions with a dominant market share around the world. Several of these banks operate around the world and manage transactions worth at least a billion dollars with large corporations, multi-billion dollar individuals, and governments. Retail banking, mortgage lending, and other services are also available.

4. Banks that invest in middle markets.

Generally, these banks deal with transactions between 50 million and 500 million dollars and under a billion dollars in value. The firms operate regionally and do not have an international presence like bulge bracket investment banks. These investment banks are used by medium-sized businesses.

5. Banks that specialize in boutique investments.

An investment bank of this type is akin to a bulge bracket investment bank. As a result, it offers limited services and sticks to one industry.

6. Regional Boutique Investment Banks.

Investment banks in this category are the smallest. The company specializes in regional deals and handles transactions up to 50 billion dollars in size. Governments and large corporations cannot also use such banks.



How to Become an Investment Banker

For a career in investment banking, you need to follow these steps:

1. Study finance at the bachelor's level.

The minimum educational requirement for entering this field is a bachelor's degree in finance. An accredited college or university can admit you via different entrance exams if you are interested in earning a bachelor's degree in finance. You can earn a bachelor's degree in accounting, corporate finance, economics, business administration, mathematics, or data analytics.

Whatever your field of study, you should have strong mathematical skills and a firm understanding of economics and how it is applied in corporate finance.


2. Certify yourself.

Your career can be enhanced by pursuing certifications in your field. You can find out what certification you should do by checking job portals, blogs, or consulting with an investment banker who has experience with certification. If you are interested in becoming a chartered accountant, you can enroll in the Chartered Accountants of India (CA) course offered by the ICAI.

3. An intern.

You may want to consider a summer internship in the financial world while you are still in college before you begin your investment banking career. Gaining experience in the investment banking industry, networking for future opportunities, and learning about the industry through internships are all advantages of interning. Paying internships is often offered by investment banks to encourage future hiring.

4. Get a career boost.

To be successful in your field, you should always work to advance your career. You may choose to earn a master's degree or additional certifications after earning a bachelor's degree in investment banking. It is common for firms to offer their employees the opportunity to go to college or earn on-the-job certifications in order to develop and enhance their skills.

The more experience you gain in investment banking, the more likely you are to move into management roles, where you will manage analysts and associates.

The investment banker is in charge of most of the finance management functions within an organization. The company's primary goal is to raise money for operations, growth, investments, and financial security, and to improve its overall financial portfolio. Nevertheless, investment bankers are in no way responsible for any decisions - they are merely advisors to senior management.

To succeed, investment bankers need to possess a mix of educational qualifications, skill sets, foresight, networks, and just a touch of luck.

To be an investment banker, you need certain hard skills-

  • Mathematical skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Communication
  • Project Management
  • Problem- Solving
  • Negotiation
  • Persuasion

Feature:

In general, entry-level positions at investment banks require a bachelor's degree in finance, economics, accounting, or business. An advanced degree or a doctorate will enhance your chances of success. Additionally, you might be able to improve your communication and interpersonal skills if you work on them.

Due to the stressful and demanding nature of the profession, becoming an investment banker can be challenging. Investment bankers typically work over 80 hours a week, adhere to strict regulations, and handle high-pressure situations. A good understanding of accounting, economics, finance, mathematics, statistics, data analytics, and banking technology is required. To build relationships with influential and extremely wealthy people, they need strong communication skills and an outgoing, confident personality.


Duration:

To become an investment banker, you may need to put in seven or more years of study. A bachelor's degree takes around three or four years after passing your 10+2 exam. There is then the option of doing a two-year master's degree program. It takes three to six years to obtain your doctorate if you choose to do so. Moreover, earning certifications can take 6 months to 4 years.



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