Careers For MBA (Fin)
Mergers and Acquisitions / Venture
Groups
• Some corporations that grow through acquisitions have
a group dedicated to that function. These positions are
few and require significant experience in finance.
• Positions: M&A Analyst, Corporate Venture Analyst
• Getting In: Solid prior finance experience. Recruiting
typically happens at various times throughout the year.
Except for the largest firms, most hire when they have a
need.
• Eg : PK Chopra & Co. in Delhi, Grant Thompson- various
cities in India, Deloitte in Hyderabad
Consulting
• Consulting can either be “management consulting” or functional consulting
Finance is one of those functions where consultants can focus. Consulting firms
tend to be organized by practices aligned along functions, which determines the
office in which a consultant is based. Virtual (and sometimes actual) practices are
often aligned along industry expertise. These two dimensions (function and
industry) form matrix organizations. Consultants tend to work at specific
intersections, known sometimes as “nodes.” Whether your goal is management
consulting or financial consulting, you need to first identify the practice in which
you want to be based.
• Positions: Senior Consultant, Consultant (for lesser experienced MBAs)
• Getting In: Many consulting firms rely heavily on case interviews, as well as
technical interviews for functional practices.
• MCKC Gurgaon , E&Y ( Preference for CAs)
KPO’s / Equity Research
• Investment Management/ Fundamental Research Sup
port
• Quantitative Analytics and Risk Management Services
• Performance Analytics
• Eg : Evalueserve, Gurgaon, DE Shaw –Hyderabad,
Capmetrics- Pune, CCRT –Pune, Aranca Research-
Mumbai, Adventity – Thane, Eclerx , Mumbai, Pune
Banking / Insurance / Mutual Funds
• Positions: Management Rotation Programs, Commercial Credit,
Wholesale Banking, Risk
• Getting In: Typical interview process. Full-time recruiting typically is
during fall semester.
• Leading Recruiters- HDFC Bank, Axis bank, ICICI bank, RBS – freshers
• HSBC – Freshers from Top Colleges (Snob value)
•
• Insurance companies / Mutual Funds also have management rotation
programs leading up to senior management positions.
• Positions: Management Rotation Program
• Getting In: Typical interview process, GDs
Subject Matter Experts
Domains- Banking, Insurance, Investments
• IT Cos – TCS, Accenture, Capgemini , WNS
Investments
•A commonly desired entry point is as an equity or fixed income
(debt) analyst or associate looking for investment opportunities in
their industry of expertise. Associates pitch their stock picks to the
Portfolio Manager, who decides what stocks are in and which are
out. When the decision to invest or sell is made, the trade is
ordered from the trading desk. On the “distribution” side MBAs
work with possible institutional investors who may want to buy
into the various portfolios available.
•Positions: Equity Analyst/Associate, Fixed Income
Analyst/Associate, Trading Desk, Distribution, Portfolio Manager
(for very experienced MBAs), Hedge Fund Manager (for very
senior, experienced MBAs).
Investment Banking
• JP Morgan (Mumbai & Bangalore)
UBS(Hyd & Mumbai)
Goldman Sach (Blr)
Nomura (Mumbai)
Morgan Stanley (Mumbai)
Deutsche Bank (delhi, Bangalore , bom)
HSBC (Blr)
Enam (Mumbai)
Kotak Mahindra (Mumbai)
SBI Capital Markets (Mumbai)
ICICI Securities (Mumbai))
Management trainees
• Manufacturing Cos
• Business Analysts – Found in multiple
industries
• Stock Broking Firms
• Financial Planner ( CFP- Gaurav Marushala)
Research Associates
• Data Mining
• Good Quantitative Skills
• Patience
• Interest in Reading
• Top Recruiters – ISB , Hyderabad, SP Jain –
Mumbai, NM- Mumbai
•
•Finance careers require the same soft skills as any other career. However,
quantitative skills need to be superior.
•Critical, detail-oriented thinking, with strong quantitative skills.
•An understanding of managerial accounting, and operations background can
help in project analysis. MIS coursework may help with both internal systems
and general analysis tools.
•Knowledge of financial markets, capital structure and other fiscal policies and
risk management.
•An understanding of financial statements, an ability to analyze those statements
and an ability to translate financial and other information into opinions about
credit quality and relative pricing of equity securities.
•Candidates should be able to forecast scenarios, analyze them and recommend
a course of action.
•The ability to create and use financial models is essential.
•All employers seek leadership skills and the ability to work in teams.
•Strong oral and written communication skills.
•Personal computer proficiency and information technology skill.
• Contact alumni. Working with alumni is key for MBAs trying to get in.
Alumni can provide advice, help you learn more about the career path, and
perhaps provide contacts for you. Alumni also will help you have in-depth
insight into the types of projects done in the company or during
internships, so you can make your cover letter, pitch, and other interview
answers more relevant
• Apply 0n-line to any company where you want to work. But chances of
you being selected through campus placements are much higher than
individual approaching.
• Be passionate about finance! Know why you want to work in finance and
what you want to do. All to often students focus on their desire for the
particular company or qualifications (which are important, too), and fail to
sell that they want to work in finance.
• Research, Research, Research! Too many candidates have lost out because
they didn’t understand how the company is structured or what the finance
career path is.
•
•
• Investment Books
• The Intelligent Investor – Benjamin Graham
• Alchemy of Finance – George Soros
• Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management - Frank K. Reilly, Keith C. Brown
• Introduction to Quantitative Methods for Investment Managers - Frank J. Fabozzi
• Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets: A Comprehensive Guide to Trading Methods and Applications - John J.
Murphy
• Reminiscences of a Stock Operator - Edwin Lefèvre
• Advanced Corporate Finance - Joseph Ogden
• Markets, Mobs, and Mayhem - Robert Menschel
• Extraordinarily Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds – Charles Mackay
• The Money Game – Adam Smith
• Money Ball - Michael Lewis
• The Innovator’s Dilemma - Clayton M. Christensen
• Gorilla Game - Geoffrey A. Moore
• Risk Budgeting - Neil D. Pearson OR Capital Market Risk Advisors (not sure which)
• Liar's Poker: Rising Through the Wreckage on Wall Street – Michael Lewis
• Handbook of Alternative Assets - Mark Anson
• Career Books
• The Fast Track - Mariam Naficy
• What Should I Do With My Life? - Po Bronson
• Confessions of a Street Addict – James J. Cramer
• Money Madness - David G. Benner OR Robert T. Lewis (not sure
which)
•
• Networking
• Brag! : The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn without Blowing It - by
Peggy Klaus
• Career Warfare: 10 Rules for Building a Successful Personal Brand and
Fighting to Keep It - by David F. D'Alessandro
• The Intelligent Investor – Benjamin Graham
• When Genius Failed: The Rise and Fall of Long
Term Capital Management – Roger Lowenstein
• Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of
Chance in Markets and Life – Nassim Nicholas
Taleb
• Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist –
Roger Lowenstein
•
