We are all familiar with the old saying, “money makes the world go round.” It’s a cliché to be sure, but it’s also true. Economies are in a constant state of flux, and the system of finance is what allows us to navigate these changes and still thrive. Without money, we would not be able to purchase goods and services from one another—let alone invest in new ideas that will help us grow as individuals, businesses, and a world.
Corporate Finance is all about using that money to maximize value and profits. It is the one-stop-shop for all things cash, coins, and capital. If a company needs a few million dollars to start up a new business, enter corporate finance. And if that business gets going so well that it needs to issue stocks, again, enter Corporate Finance! Corporate Finance deals with everything from planning and controlling the firm’s financial resources.
If you've ever bought some goods or availed services, chances are that corporate finance had something to do with making that purchase possible. From the factories where products are manufactured to the stores that sell them, corporate finance is what helps build, run and grow companies to provide goods and services to consumers.
Corporate Finance is a crucial element of the economy.
When you think about the economy — what do you picture? Big corporations, small business owners or entrepreneurs, investors, consumers and maybe even a few banks have been thrown in the mix, right? Well, according to the World Bank, you actually have corporate finance to thank for all of the above because it states that corporate finance directly contributes to at least 20-30 percent of the total growth in the global economic output on a year-to-year basis.
Corporate finance is the backbone of the economy. It's the fuel that powers the growth of companies!
Without corporate finance, companies would struggle to meet their capital needs. They wouldn't have enough money to operate—or maybe even enough money just to pay their employees' salaries! And without the capital, they would have a hard time keeping up with the demand for their products and services, which could lead to layoffs, which could lead to angry customers, which could lead to revenue losses, which could lead… Well, you get the idea. Without corporate finance, the economy would tank.
Hence, Corporate Finance professionals are always in-demand and much sought after.
But what do corporate finance professionals really do? Well, they're the ones who figure out how companies can raise funds and make sure their money doesn't go up in smoke. They help determine if a company's investments will actually pay off in the long run or if they will just be a drain on resources, and they negotiate with banks and other lenders to secure things like financing or loans that keep companies running.
The exact role of the Corporate Finance professional can vary widely depending on the size and industry of their employer. For example, in a large multinational corporation with a dedicated accounting department, a Corporate Finance professional may focus more on making long-term investment decisions while having someone else handle day-to-day budgeting and tracking. Conversely, in a small business where there are limited employees, smaller teams will be looking after the entire Corporate Finance function, working closely and directly with the CXOs.
It’s most certainly a glamorous job owing to the high-impact work that one has to do. In fact, professionals who start their career in Corporate Finance, have often found themselves in corner offices of big Investment Banks and Consulting firms.
Corporate finance skills are useful both to corporate types and to entrepreneurs, who can learn a lot from them about how businesses work and how they can be operated more effectively.
To succeed in Corporate Finance, you should acquire knowledge on:
- Assessing the cost of debt, equity & capital.
- Understanding and evaluating financial statements & cash flows.
- Creating value for shareholders with investments.
- Incorporate risk & uncertainty in investment decisions.
- Using accounting statements to assess the financial health of a company.
Corporate Finance is not the easiest, but it can be a rewarding experience. It is not just job security and pay that make this career path worthwhile: it's the work itself. In corporate finance, you'll be on the cutting edge of business innovation; you'll be able to foresee the growth or decline of a company & understand the drivers behind it. And you can take pride in knowing that your efforts are making a difference—in both your company and the global economy as a whole.
One of the main reasons to consider pursuing a Certificate Program in Corporate Finance is the rise in demand for finance roles.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a growth of 8% by 2030, introducing 7 lakh+ new jobs to the marketplace.
The bar chart illustrates the Annual Salary Range in INR for each role mentioned, along with the average base salary of the same. The average pay for a Corporate Finance professional is INR 8 lakhs per annum. It is interesting to note that this can even go up to INR 20 lakhs per annum on the basis of role, profile of the candidate, etc. (Data from Payscale)
So, how do you get a Corporate Finance job? What are the skills that you need? Here's where we come in!
AltUni's Certificate Program in Corporate Finance gets you
guaranteed interviews with boutique investment banks, consulting & asset management companies who work with us as recruitment partners!
Why would they hire you? That’s because we make sure you gain the right skills & ace interviews! How?
-You will learn about cutting-edge Corporate Finance concepts & skills from SDA Bocconi Milan’s global faculty with live lectures, case studies, discussions, assignments and assessments
-You will get unmatched industry exposure by working on a real-life, actual Finance deal with one of our partners
After completing the program, you will also get certified in Corporate Finance by SDA Bocconi, the world’s leading global b-school
-To top this all off, we will make sure you ace your interviews by providing you with soft skills training and 1-on-1 interview prep sessions on profile building & mock interviews.