Corporate Finance is all about helping corporations raise funding and take actions to increase the shareholder value. It’s a hugely important area of expertise and generates significant revenue in the City so it should be on every graduate’s list for investigation.
We’ve put together the five things you need to know about this area of the financial sector to help get you started.
1. What is it?
In its broadest sense, corporate finance exists to increase shareholder value, often through advice on transactions to raise capital via debt or equity.
2. Why is it used?
It's a two prong strategy: shareholders need to be paid dividends through the excess cash created by corporate finance. That same finance is then also trying to balance investing and funding with long term profitability.
3. Why is it a good career?
This segment of the industry is the most complicated and diverse, and it places you at the heart of the financial conversation. The actions that you would take affect the real world on a global scale as you advise the biggest corporations on how they should structure themselves to secure their long term viability - so the sky's the limit.
4. Who would enjoy it?
This is an area which will suit a graduate who loves pressure, who's at their best when deadlines and setbacks loom, and who won't baulk at responsibility. It will also suit a graduate who wants a client facing role in finance.
5. How to impress in an application?
While analytical skills are a standard finance requisite, corporate finance needs exceptional communication skills. It's a client focused sector and you'll need to be able to advise and broker deals with confidence.
Learn 7 key attributes you need to excel in banking and finance.
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