Month: April 2021

M&A Jobs – Questions to Expect in the M&A Interview

In the hyper-competitive market for M&A jobs, interviews are known to be tough. You will not only be asked to demonstrate your IQ and emotional intelligence but also expect to crunch some numbers in a display of your mental gymnastic skills. In M&A, where small idiosyncrasies and discrepancies can make or break a deal, your new employers want to make sure you are sharp and can think fast on your feet. Here is what to expect in an interview.

Intelligence Quotient (IQ)

Grades actually tell us very little about intellectual capacity. Did you hold down two jobs and chair the school venture capital club while achieving A grades? Here are a few questions you may come across:

What is driving the activity in the mergers and acquisitions market today?

What sectors do you expect to show the most growth?

What experience do you have in corporate finance?

How important are risk management skills in an M&A environment and how would you apply them?

Additionally, expect to be grilled on corporate finance as if you are in an exam, such as questions on depreciation and bond finance. They want to know that you can value a company and a security.

Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

A good interviewer will use psychology to gauge your emotional intelligence. Do not expect questions such as, ‘How do you deal with your emotions at work?’ Instead, expect your emotional depths to be explored through the following questions:

Do you prefer to work in a team or on your own?

In your view, what team dynamics interfere with productivity?

List three things that your team members would say about you?

If your boss said something about you that you felt was unfair, how would you respond?

How do you define failure?

What motivates you?

Proving your ability to work in teams is paramount in a fast-moving, multidisciplinary and highly coordinated M&A environment.

Quantitative Intelligence (Mental Gymnastics)

This is the most dreaded part of an investment banking interview wherein you are asked to display your knowledge of bond finance and options theory. If you have done your schoolwork, you should sail through. This book may get too technical, unless you have a PhD in quantitative finance, but I think it is worth mentioning again: Heard on the Street: Quantitative Questions from Wall Street Job Interviews. In a corporate finance interview, they are more interested in questions such as: How do you value a technology versus an industrial company?

Additionally, expect to be asked how you feel about working long work weeks, about 70 – 120 hours per week. Warning, do not hesitate, pause for a breath, hmm or ha before enthusiastically embracing your love of working in corporate finance and long hours.…

The Benefits of Online Banking

One of the greatest gifts that the internet has provided people with is online banking. Can you remember the days when people had to go to a financial institution such as a bank to make deposits? Every time you needed money, you had to go when it was convenient for the bank to get money. You had to fill out deposit and withdrawal slips and could only access your money during banking hours.

Today, online banking can do so much for those who take advantage of all the benefits it provides. Not only can you see how much money you have any time you want to, but also you can transfer money from one account to another. In the past, you would have to wait until the next day if you had to move your money from one account to another. Now you have so many options available to use.

What if you want to check to see if a certain transaction has gone through your account, such as a check? You can go online to see what has happened with your account. You can even transfer money from your account to someone else’s account depending on the features your account may have. Some people are concerned about the safety of their online banking account. All you have to protect your account is a username and password. If somehow those fell into someone’s hands, they might be able to move all of your money before you know it.

With the loss of personal service from many physical locations, you could also lose your money if your account number fell into the wrong hands. Many banks do not take the time to make sure you are whom you say as long as you have the right information. Compare the advantages against the disadvantages and you will see that online banking can provide you with what you need.…

Finance Manager Jobs the Necessity of Every Business Firm

When you think of Finance, you wonder who runs this complex industry. In the broadest sense of the term, accounting or a financial manager can be anyone within a firm that has the responsibility for major investments or decisions concerning financial matters of the firm. The duties of financial managers vary with their specific titles because the range in this field seems endless.

The financial manager’s job is to look for ways to create value from the financial activities of the firm. If the financial manager is not able to do this, or acts unethically in their position, this can result in quite possibly loss of business over time. Financial Managers are faced with decisions regarding long-term investment strategies, the raising of cash for necessary investments and the amount of short-term cash flow requirements to meet day-to-day operations.

A finance manager has the responsibility of managing the creation and maintenance of financial reports and finance related strategies. Finance managers work to accomplish the objectives of the company by serving as a member of the finance team. The roles of a finance manager include:

Category level research work and prepare analysis of subjects such as sales, gross margin, depreciation, working capital, investment and financial and expense performance comparisons.

Communicate with key stakeholders throughout the company to gain input, validation and buy-in on key business directives. Strategic approach to directing data extraction from systems and accurate interpretation of broad range of data sets.Identify key business drivers and metrics in order to develop standardized reports.Gather data from disparate sources, including market data, historical performance and company financial. Develop presentations that synthesize the business issues and help drive to decisions.

The finance manager is the primary driver of Business analytics. This individual is expected to develop a meaningful dashboard; these dashboards will serve as a monthly gauge of business health for a large division and act as a guiding rod for making well founded go forward business decisions at a category level. A finance manager jobs is expected to do proper financial planning for the future course of the business. Financial planning is the task of determining how a business will afford to achieve its strategic goals and objectives. Usually a company creates a financial plan immediately after the vision and objectives have been set. The financial plan describes each of the activities,resources, equipment and materials that are needed to achieve these objectives as well as the time frames involved.

In today’s ever changing environment finance mangers play a very critical role in the overall look and field for the business.…

Mortgage and Banking – Booming Trend That Can Help You During These Difficult Times

Interest rates might be low right now, and the Feds make special adjustments from time to time out of desperation to keep the mortgage and banking industry on its feet. But at the end of the day, we know that these factors are just temporary solutions. It’s like a band aid. It only covers the sore that still exists. We know that for the mortgage industry to make a legitimate comeback, the real estate market has to make a legitimate comeback first. That’s how it works and has always worked. Anything different just means that it’s a stack of cards without a solid foundation, or like the foolish man that built his house upon the sand.

This drop in rates might be giving us some temporary business right now with refi’s, but it is really only giving us a false sense of hope because the real estate market might still be years away before it comes back.

The trends do not lie. Let’s look back over the last 30 years. I’m just pointing out the evidence that economic and banking trends go through cycles. We are currently in a downward trend without hope of any immediate change.

Our current trend might last another 5 years or so. We obviously don’t know exactly how long it will last. But I suggest you find some other way to make money in the meantime or you might as well try and squeeze blood out of a turnip. You just cannot make consistent money in the mortgage industry as easily as you can on the INTERNET with the same amount of effort.

Internet business is the booming trend right now. Get in on this booming trend at least until the real estate and mortgage industry come back.

Other people have done the same thing and it is working for them. I’m not suggesting you jump of a cliff just because everyone else is doing it. I’m just suggesting that if something is NOT working, why force it. Do something that works. Right now the Internet is where it’s at. Give it a shot.…

5 Tips For Keeping Your Bank on Your Side and Supportive of Your Retail Business

Banks are vitally important for any retail business from day to day trading through to long term funding. A healthy banking relationship will be vitally important to keeping the retail business healthy.

Maintaining a good banking relationship can be a challenge for retailers. It takes attention to detail and hard work. Retailers can be often sidetracked in their business days and not remember to take of the banking relationship.

Here are five tips which can lead to a better banking relationship and thereby provide the business with protection against damage to the relationship.

Be on time. With trading figures, annual accounts and any other regular reports that you bank requires you to provide. Being on time will win a tick from them and ensure that you are not on their businesses to watch and be concerned about radar.

Send them your newsletter. If you have a customer newsletter, put your bank manager on the list. Treat them like a customer and through this help drive a better connection between their business and yours. Newsletters go on your file and give local branch employees something to show off if they are talking to more senior people in the bank about businesses they like.

Ask for regular meetings. You set the agenda for briefing sessions where you let the bank know how business is going and how you are leveraging your relationship with them. Even informal meetings are reflected in internal banking reports and these can strengthen your position with the bank.

Recommend the bank. If the bank is serving you well and you are happy, recommend them to others. Be honest in your recommendation, let your friends know why you like this bank and what they have done for you. Let the bank know when you do this as it helps them see you and your business in a broader light.

Invite bank employees in. If you are holding a sales or some other event, invite bank employees to participate. They could be good customers. They will also appreciate seeing the business first hand.

Treat the banking relationship as personal and one which needs to be nurtured each week. The better your communication the better the relationship. Be sure to set time aside for this in your work schedule and to include the bank wherever possible and practical.

The business outcome is flexibility when you need it and access for free advice at times of important business decisions.

Good banks appreciate good relationships with their retailer customers. You will find that they invest more time in businesses which invest time in them.…

Top 5 Ways Banks Take Your Money

If you haven’t noticed, bank fees are going up every year. Just like any other service, you need to compare prices between your current bank and others out there.

Here are 5 ways that your bank may have its hand in your wallet today.

1. Overdraft Fees: The national average for an overdraft is now $28.35. Consider the fact that your bank may present that check several times before you realize that has bounced and this can quickly add up to a lot of money.

2. Credit cards:. Late fees and over-limit charges are already steep but could go higher. Legislation is being proposed that could limit these charges, but the feeling is that the banks will find another way around that. The point here is to pay your bill on time and not go over your limit.

3. Annual Fees: Many years ago it was quite common to pay an annual fee to use a credit card. During the credit boom, competition drove most of those away, but indications are that they may be coming back. Banks are allowed to start charging you an annual fee on a card that you already own as long as they notify you in writing, so make sure you read anything from your bank carefully.

4. ATM Fees: Fees to use an ATM continue to rise and if you use an ATM that is not owned by your bank, you may get charged by both your bank and by the other bank. If you have to use an ATM, take out enough cash to last awhile. Taking out $500 and getting charged $3 is not as painful as taking out $20 and getting charged $3.

5. Free Checking: Your Free Checking account may not be all that free anymore. If your bank doesn’t have zero monthly fees, no minimum balance, and no limit on the number of transactions you can have, it may be time to shop for a new bank.

While none of these fees seem to be all that significant on their own, they can add up to some real money over the course of a month or a year. Make sure you are always tracking these expenses and always remember that you always have options in finding a new bank if you don’t like the way you are being treated at your current bank.…

Banks and the Competition For Your Money

Banks have become desperate for cash over the past year. One of the largest contributing factors is the roiling economy. Traditional banking institutions make a large majority of their revenue by loaning people money and then selling those loans to investors. They then use the cash from the loan sales to make new loans.

The system works perfectly as long as borrowers make their payments on time. Unfortunately, the current economic climate has decimated the ability of consumers and businesses to pay back their loans. That has placed banking institutions in a precarious position. Rising defaults have starved them of cash. The good news is that the competition for your dollars is heating up.

Why Your Dollars Are Popular

If you’ve been following annualized rates lately, you’ll have noticed that traditional, large banks have reduced the yields on their accounts to all-time lows. Meanwhile, smaller establishments have begun to increase their yields. One of the reasons for this dynamic is due to the recent federal bailouts. Large institutions have received infusions of cash while most smaller banks have not.

Because the small banking establishments have a great need for new money in order to compensate for the rise in loan defaults, they’re willing to offer higher yields in order to attract customers. In some cases, they’ve offered rates that exceed 4% on savings and checking accounts.

Possible Drags On High Yields

Before you open an account at the first bank that gives you a higher-than-average rate, you’ll need to do some research. There are several factors which can drag a high rate down – or at least make it less attractive. For example, some of the banking establishments that are offering high yields are financially unstable. If you’re depositing less than $250,000, your money will be guaranteed by the FDIC. If you intend to deposit more, you’ll need to consider its safety.

Also, be aware of fees. A lot of banks charge extra fees for transferring funds, allowing your balance to drop below a minimum, or even using your debit card. These charges add up and can make an otherwise attractive yield irrelevant. Finally, avoid putting your money into long-term vehicles for higher yields. In the current economic climate, a 5-year CD won’t provide a big enough jump in the rate to justify locking your cash in. You’re better off placing your funds in a 1-year CD or money market account.

As you would when buying a car, television, or computer, shop around and do some investigative work. With a little effort, you can enjoy much higher rates on savings and checking accounts than what large banking institutions offer.…

Want To Make Your Career With Banks?

With the ever increasing personal wealth of an individual, people are seeking the help of banks for keeping their money safe which leads to making a career in banking sector. If you are thinking that there is nothing you can do now because you do not have time then I think you need to think over it again as the technological advancement has lead to an increase in Online Banking Courses. With the help of this course you have good amount of time to study at home. These days there are number of colleges coming up with online courses in banking. Following are the list of few of the renowned colleges:

* American Bankers Association

* Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University

* Penn Foster Schools

* Post University – Online

* Columbia Southern University

* Harrison College – Online

* Bank Administration Institute

* Derivatives Institute Learning Center

* Digital University

* The Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

So you can see here that when so many universities are providing these Online Banking Courses then there must be a scope for it. As Online Education is gaining popularity and as there are so many students all around the world enrolling for the course so this shows the increasing trend of this new type of education. Become a part of it and enjoy the benefit of the same. Banks really pay you a handsome amount of salary once you have sufficient experience in the sector so be ready and increase your job opportunity with this banking course.

Here are the career opportunities with Banking Courses, you can make your career in varied fields where you can get the good as well as reputed job:

Careers in Investment Banking

Careers in Taxation

Careers in Forensic Accounting

Careers in Financial Analysis

Careers in Banking

Mutual Fund Careers

Careers in Insurance

Career in Chartered Accountancy

Career in Cost and Work Accountancy

Company Secretary Career

Career in Capital Market

So up until now you might have gained sufficient knowledge related to Banking Courses, so what are you waiting for just go ahead and make a career in banking.…

Radical Transformation of Businesses Through Banking Services

Economical conditions of the countries are shifting dramatically, posing new threats to the prevailing fiscal policies. Banks need to perform in a more balanced way without overburdening promising business sectors. Today, regional banks are operating in a more intricate environment to attract customers, innovate & develop new banking instruments to provide them with smooth mobile banking services. But mobile banking services are not only the best option to provide instead banks need more refined & calibrated approach for complete business infrastructure & operational support. Fortunately, banks are thinking globally and transforming & aligning their processes from manual to automate. This has empowered banking and financial institutions at much broader level, allowing them to develop new instruments that can bring change in the economical landscapes.

In fact, to radically transform prevailing trends of treasury management, wealth & private banking, retirement services, brokerage, loan, capital markets, institutional asset management, insurance and wealth & retirement administration, banks are changing their policies and providing elasticity to that. They are broadly focusing & dwelling on the major areas for comprehensive reforms such as:

1. Keeping abreast of the advanced innovations, creative nuances in payments technology

2. Assessing opportunities for the banking and financial services industry

3. Musing on mobile-social technology and media gyrations

4. Overcoming implementation challenges

5. Developing strategies for delivering fiscal innovations to market

Many banks however remain over-burdened by the mounting pressure of innovation and technology adoption. All they need is an integrated approach and sound software applications, which enhance their true capabilities and allow them to work more in a synergistic way. Moreover, these rising challenges and customer demands are collectively forcing banking and financial institutions to balance the need for better advanced technologies, which result in cost reduction. This will anticipate improvements in business efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Banks also extend their help for businesses to lease technology-based equipment, and expand their business horizon with additional resources and other commercial equipment in a tax-effective way. Moreover, banks want businesses to become responsive to change and embrace newly emerging opportunities offered by them, this is why they are busy in developing exact solutions to meet business objectives. Some of the adroit (banking technology based) solutions are listed below:

1. Improved cash position through a reduction of manual transactions

2. Improved planning with integrated & consolidated reporting solutions

3. Enhanced business predictability

Banks are also grabbing award-winning integrated applications (banking and finance) to empower themselves and provide superior business-friendly, mission-centric and object-oriented solutions to businesses, which can result in full flexibility and visibility. In this way they can help businesses to grow profitably by optimizing their core resources. Whether your business is growing or not, you can reduce the time you spend on your financial administration, management and transactions with the help of banking and financial institutions.…

How to Offshore Business and Safeguard Assets

Did you know that you can offshore a company to places like Dominica which specialize in offshore banking as well as IBC’s which is International Business Company. An IBC is a company that is exempt from paying the taxes of the country in which it resides. This means reduced operating costs for the company in question. This also means you can conceal your identity if you are the owner of the said company. Hence there are a variety of benefits to off-shoring to remote locations. Dominica is an enchanting island off the Caribbean and is home to one of the largest industries which hosts the off-shored companies. The only condition that you need to follow while off-shoring a company is that business is not allowed to be carried on with the host nation. Other than the yearly payment of registration fees, usually the companies can be run with little to no overhead or tax. However, countries like Seychelles and a few others have put a stop to this under the international pressure that has been exerted on them and they now

The primary reason people sometimes prefer to bank overseas is to increase the security of their assets and insulate them from economic collapse and unfortunate events which may otherwise harm the money which is kept for safeguarding in the home country. For example, in the event of a war or civil unrest, investors may lose money since banks in their country are under the control of governments and accounts could be seized thus leading too problems.

To start a International Business company or an off-shored company, one needs a company director and the shareholder to sign the registration documents. However, the shareholder is allowed to be the director and vice versa. Hence the company can essentially be run by a single person who is in charge of it. Also you will be eligible for an offshore bank account which can be accessed from the internet once the IBC has been opened. To run the IBC in Dominica it is enough if the company has a registered office with agent who is also registered. Moderate maintenance fees will also be required but this is a negligible amount.

You should not wonder how you will be able to operate an account that is located all the way in remote Dominica. For this reason, it is extremely easy to access the account even through the internet through a secure server. Another good reason to bank offshore is the privacy you get. Under certain laws, your financial information is under the safe hands of a private entity who will release them under no condition. None of the information is available to public eyes anywhere as it is against the law to release information regarding the bank’s clients who are usually the owners of the IBC.

Once you have started the IBC and have a bank account in the company’s name you can rest easy knowing that you money will be safe. Even corporate entities can make use of this arrangement for asset security purposes. In addition to this, since Dominica is an English speaking nation, you will face no hassles while operating in various offshore business facilities and you can also trade in any currency for your convenience with transfers being cleared in short duration While off-shoring banking to Dominica you will experience efficiency due to the expertise Dominican banks have in handling international accounts.…