Investment banker - corporate finance: job description

Investment bank corporate financiers provide financial services and advice to commercial and government clients about various financial matters including fund and debt management, mergers, flotations, acquisitions and privatisation.

In corporate finance, investment bankers raise money and capital to develop businesses.

What does an investment bank corporate financier do?Typical employers|Qualifications and training|Key skills

Corporate financiers are responsible for identifying and securing privatisation, merger and acquisition deals; managing and investing large monetary funds; and buying and selling financial products for their clients.

If you're unsure what investment banking is, have a look at ourbeginner's guide to investment banking.

Typical duties of a corporate financier include:

working closely with clients at senior levels
advising about how to meet targets and create investment capital
generating finance from shares and loans
gathering, analysing and interpreting complicated numerical information
assessing and predicting financial risks and returns
using financial modelling to predict outcomes
negotiating and structuring financial details
running transactions
providing investment advice, tactics and recommendations
preparing legal documents and prospectuses
liaising with accountants, lawyers, financial experts and regulatory bodies.

Investment banking provides high levels of responsibility, good promotional opportunities and impressive financial rewards for the most successful employees. However, working hours are usually very long.

Typical employers of corporate financiers

Global investment, corporate, retail and commercial banks
Corporate finance sections of accountancy firms
Private equity fund institutions

Investment banking graduate jobsare advertised by careers services, online, in newspapers includingThe Financial Timesand in publications such asBusiness Week,Investors Chronicle,The Economistand银行家. Sector and company research is essential. There are several graduate schemes available with investment banks. Applications should be made as early in the academic year as possible.

Qualifications and training required

While a2.1 in any subject is acceptable, a business studies, management, finance, mathematics or economics qualification can be helpful. So too can anMBA or similar professional qualification. Relevantwork experienceis particularly beneficial and interns are often hired for full-time graduate roles.