Starting in ER (BB Bank, Grocery Retail)

Hi everybody,

I have landed a dream role in ER (coming from audit) with the sector focused on Food Retail (e.g. Walmart, Carrefour etc) - within my notice period I am looking to brush up my technical skills to really start the role in a good position. I had two questions:

- I aim to improve both my valuation knowledge (especially DCF and Multiples) and Excel modelling skills - is there anything, in particular, you would suggest to certainly incorporate within my practice (perhaps certain models, formulas or theoretical concepts)?

- Is there anything else I should ensure I am comfortable with and have a stable grasp of knowledge other than the industry of course?

Thanks all!

2 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Congrats on the job, always nice to see people make the escape from audit.

Assuming that you are joining an established analyst vs a new one looking to launch, I would reach out to the team and ask what you can do to best prepare leading up to your start. Ask for access to their research and get familiar with their writing style and companies under coverage. Any recent initiations will be great to read as those are the more in-depth research pieces. Plus, they probably have some sector piece(s) they put out for the 2021 outlook that should give you insight into the investor debates in the sector recently. 

I wouldn't be too concerned about technicals beyond the basics. Again, assuming you're joining an established team the models will already be built. Maybe ask if they can send you any before you start to become familiar with them. Valuation is always helpful for your own development, but truth be told analysts use PE 99% of the time on their retailer valuations and there's just not too much to study on there. 

Overall, I wouldn't stress yourself too much. Take some time to refresh between gigs and just be sure you hit the ground running energy and attitude wise. If they are recruiting you from a non-ER background they will understand that there is going to be a learning curve at the start. And just an FYI, first few earnings cycles will probably suck being super busy and feeling like you have no idea what you're writing about. Happens to everyone scaling into a new coverage.

 

Sit animi est qui cum non nam. Et et est deleniti voluptas. Sunt voluptates adipisci qui aliquam. Maxime officiis perferendis ut expedita nihil. Corrupti blanditiis sit atque qui similique eum in velit. Similique quae vitae sit voluptas numquam eos.

Sint nulla quam voluptas et provident harum. Reiciendis iusto ut quia est quis. Sunt dolores inventore cumque qui.

Molestiae voluptatem sed quam impedit ut ut quia deserunt. Culpa sunt voluptates et aut et repudiandae.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

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

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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...”