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Career Resources
Are you asking about joining at the analyst level? Then I'd say the ability to work really hard (endure long hours), learn quickly, work well in groups, etc. You'll learn the finance/valuation stuff in training and on the job. For more senior roles, having a large networking and being a great salesman are more important.
Thanks very much, Asiamoney! A boutique I-bank/M&A advisory wanted to have a meeting with me after attending a conference where I spoke about the sector they specialising in, and I suppose they would need some help in Greater China, I believe they are intersted in seeing how i can help but I'd try to pitch a job for myself anyway. (currently i'm sales that related to derivative solution, good expense policy but i'm really bored and the money won't be enough next year)
It's easy for me to highlight my network and sales record, but is there anything I can do to make myself look ideal for this role?. (other than personality) Your feedback is appreaciated!
high - very high - tolerance for bullshit. from associates, MDs, and nagging clients who demand for something irrelevant at 5 pm on a saturday, due the next day at 9 am. only it's not really due the next day. only it is.
well.. i will find a way to demostrate i have that capability to endure the bullshit then...
Can you add, subtract, multiply and divide? Can you sit in front of a computer for 17 hours a day? Can you take obscene amounts of bullshit from seniors and peers? Can you handle not having a social life for 2 years? Can you see a double space or incorrect full stop in a 200 page pitch book?
Thanks for the posts.. I think it will also give me some ideas on the questions I can ask about that organisation.
I am 34 and have seen friends leaving banking one by one from few years ago for lower-paied (or much lower paid) jobs, started up their own firms, or even non-profit posts. I am the only person I know who is trying to get into this non-sense (as a lot of you here woud put it) when others are looking to exit.
At this point, I guess I will just try to get more options first and will think later. I would think M&A can add more opportunities in the future than keep doing what I am doing now. (Selling byproduct of derivatives brokers)
So if anyone can add anything, I will appreciate that.
What hard skills are necessary for an M&A analyst to possess? (Originally Posted: 06/04/2012)
Thanks
knowing how to search and stuff
eat c***meat sandwiches everyday. this is a hard skill.
endurance. most people would get really sick after so few hours of sleep for such an extended period of time
M&A technicals (Originally Posted: 11/24/2010)
Hey guys- I'm an analyst at a BB just curious if anyone recommends materials on advanced law, accounting, tax issues for M&A? I'm looking for something that goes beyond Macaubacus and the common investment banking books most people have.
Thanks in advance
APPLIED MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS - WILEY FINANCE
MA deal sucks, IPO rules
Skills/role in m&a (Originally Posted: 05/28/2007)
I'm going to be working in the m&a group for an IBank this summer. Will my role vary greatly from those in other teams? Do the m&a bankers do more/less modelling, comps, due dilligence, pitching, research? Or do they do "everything" when and where need be. The bank is not a BB and not extremely well known for IBanking in the region.
bump
Or is this a stupid question?
What level of difficulty should I expect moving into an M&A Advisory Firm? (Originally Posted: 05/28/2017)
Hey all,
Heading to a known M&A advisory firm soon and I wanted to get some intel on what they expect of me and what should I expect of them, Basically, I know how to construct basic DCF's and Exit multiple models, and I know VBA, Goal-Seek, sensitivity analysis, solver, and all the other good stuff of Excel.
Is there any skill I should brush up on before entering? Any advice would really help from you guys since you have experience in the field and I want to make sure i'm at par with the rest of the guys there.
Thanks.
Well, I'm pretty sure powerpoint is pretty important - taking up approx 40% of your time or thereabout. Another good skill to have is definitely attention to detail. I can't emphasise this enough, if you have no M&A related experience and you think you have attention to detail, think again, literally! Check your work at least three times before giving it to your supervisor
M&A Advisor (Originally Posted: 09/06/2016)
Hello.
I am going to be interviewing for a big 4 position for their M&A analyst scheme. I met someone from the group who said unlike a traditional investment bank the work is advising on the company. Could someone please tell me how the role would be different. I'd appreciate a much more granular answer.
What exactly would you do when advising the company who is undergoing a M&A transaction. Does the bank handle it and I just make sure everything seems right? He said I'd get exposure to stuff like DCF and trading comps but not much.
Thanks.
My understanding is that the scope of work you do isn't that much different from the bigger players - pitching > IM > modelling > mgmt pres > closing and the lot (you know 'em).
From what I know over here in Asia, the main differences would be the size of the deals? I've scarcely heard of deals in big 4 getting bigger than US$200? Think their usual deal size is M&A has pretty solid branding and the training is often good - many end up at bigger places after a couple of year (senior associate maybe?).
Hope this helps, cheers!
m&a advisory (Originally Posted: 07/16/2008)
whats the difference between the type of work @ Big4 M&A Advisory and boutique ibanking M&A work?
same
at the bottom are the accountants (big 4), a step higher but on the same level are the lawyers, then the banks, and then the client (PE shop, corporate client, etc)
so basically you are responding to the banks/lawyers/client and further down on the food chain
if its the same work, why is a transition to M&A @BB from ER easier than a transition from big M&A TAS
M&A at Big4 does not involve M&A execution. As I understand it, you would be mostly involved in due diligence
shutup joefish if you don't know anything at all of course big 4 does execution
Your post amuses me
from what I understand, you do smaller deals at big 4 advisory and they don't raise debt/equity for the company...
Let me explain it... The Big4 do due dili on big deals ($1B+), and will do deals in the mid-market themselves...
You get boutiques like Gleacher / Perella, etc, who do large deals, then many smaller shops doing mid-market deals...
Big 4 M&A advisory does do straight execution, but mostly in the lower end of the MM. If it's there or a boutique like Gleacher, you take Gleacher no matter what. People seem to think 'boutique' means 'small deals'. Boutique usually just means that the company is small in size (relative to the BBs) and focuses on specific things (M&A for Lazard, restructuring for Rothschild, etc). If you are picking between Big 4 M&A and some no-name boutique, take Big 4. Or if it's Big 4 TAS vs Big 4 M&A, take the latter.
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