Better to have transaction experience or modelling experience?
Obviously, it's preferred to have both, but to get into banking, is it preferable to have (1) transaction execution experience or (2) financial modelling and pricing experience?
i would ultimately be looking to get into a coverage group like real estate or power, but would want (and need) to get solid modelling experience and am open to getting this through a group like lev fin or m&a.
In terms of background, let's say the company i'm in now is a developer in the real estate or infrastructure space.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, both transaction execution and financial modeling experience are valuable, but the preference depends on your ultimate goals. For banking, particularly if you're targeting coverage groups like real estate or power, having strong financial modeling experience is often more critical. This is because modeling is a foundational skill that demonstrates your ability to analyze deals, assess valuations, and understand the financial mechanics of transactions.
However, transaction execution experience is also highly regarded, especially for roles that require deal diligence and process management. If you're aiming to transition into a group like LevFin or M&A to build modeling expertise, that would be a smart move, as these groups are known for their modeling intensity.
For your background in real estate or infrastructure development, leveraging your industry knowledge while building up your modeling skills would position you well for banking roles. Coverage groups value sector expertise, but without solid modeling skills, it might be harder to stand out in technical interviews or handle the demands of the role.
Sources: Family office Private Equity - help, Transition from RE Development to REPE, Q&A: West Coast Tech IB Analyst, Q&A: Former MBB Consultant, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/breaking-into-private-equity-from-banking?customgpt=1
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