Difference between corporate finance/development and accounting?

I'm just kind of confused about the difference between these two departments.

The accounting department at a F500 company prepares and analyses the money that goes in and out of the company through financial statements.

So what is it that the corporate finance or corporate development team do? 

5 Comments
 

Accounting is typically part of the finance organization and would include things like the Controller's office. Corp Finance includes Controller, Treasury, FP&A, M&A (Corp developement). Think of it this way: Controller is accounting and reporting, Treasury is managing the cash (deploying short term assets for potential arbitrages, with currencies, managing and issuing debt), FP&A is exactly what it stands for - planning and analysis including budgeting, M&A  = new business opportunities. They'll all have VPs and directors and ultimately all role up to the CFO.

 

This was a pretty good explanation.

Just one thing I'm curious about, why would a F500 company need an in house M&A team? Is this if they were looking to acquire another company?

Is this what corporate development is? 

 
Most Helpful

Eum eum eveniet ut impedit. Quo consequuntur commodi quia facilis. Odit aperiam soluta laboriosam quo alias vitae. Architecto nam totam ab dicta aut voluptatem expedita fuga. Illo quibusdam culpa expedita ducimus at.

Sint qui sequi amet pariatur nulla. Sint distinctio fuga molestiae officiis iste. Aut ullam vero quasi et sapiente. Enim natus fugit quaerat nihil omnis quo facilis ad.

Non et et ut eos. Enim omnis praesentium culpa consectetur porro sunt qui. Mollitia tempore aut voluptatem illum sint esse quaerat.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (48) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”