As a result of the COVID pandemic, the size of the workforce in the investment banking sector has reduced by 5%, compared to last year. But, we can expect light at the end of the tunnel, as some day or the other, the economy will revive itself, and the things will fall back to the normal. Sooner or later, the pandemic will come to an end, and the financial markets will reopen to recruiting, once again.

And that’s why, you need to be prepared for grabbing those rare opportunities that will emerge, soon after the pandemic ends. Enroling in an investment banking certification program, can prove to be a great choice, preparing for an entry-level job role in investment banking. Firstly, it’s cost-efficient, and secondly, you don’t need much time to acquire professional credentials in the said sector. Examinations too, are held online, to acquire such valuable skill-based banking credentials.

Size of the workforce in the investment banking sector, globally, amid Q1 2015 to Q1 2020 (in 1,000s)

Source: Statista

As per the renowned German market-research firm Statista, in the wake of the recent lay-offs, powered by the pandemic, there is a significant decrease observed this year, in the number of active investment bankers, globally. Only 49,000 professionals across the world were reported to be working in the first quarter of 2020, which is a big drop in number, compared to the Q1 of 2019. 

What Do We Mean by Investment Banking?

It is a division of a bank or financial institution that provides financial advisory services to corporations, wealthy institutions, and the government. Investment bankers offer financial advisory regarding capital-raising, and M& A deals. 

Investment banks provide for a variety of financial services to high net worth individuals and institutional investors, such as underwriting, commercial banking support, asset management, equity research, and Mergers & Acquisitions advisory.

Is It Worth It to Become an Investment Banker?

If you like money, a luxurious lifestyle, and love traveling, investment banking career is custom-made for you. Investment bankers enjoy a variety of perks, being associated with the said sector. You earn handsome pays, yearly bonuses, and a respectable position in the financial services industry.

You work long hours, may be 16-17 hours a day, at the start of your career, but then, you feel an adrenaline rush each day, being working in a job role that deal in millions and billion dollar deals.  It’s an interesting job to be into, and you feel important, each day at work.

In the best way possible, we can describe the life of an investment banking professional as what’s shown in the movie – ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’. It’s fast-moving, sucks all your energy in a few hours in the day, and there are big ups and downs in the financial markets that happen in a matter of a few hours in the day. It’s basically, a roller coaster ride, that you ride each day.

The risks are big, and the tensions grow even bigger each second you spend in the financial markets. It’s not for the chicken-hearted, that’s for sure.

How One Can Become an Investment Banker?

Investment banking is an elitist job, and you need to be preparing for it, well in advance, starting from your education. Having a suitable educational ground plays a critical role, in you being taken seriously for the entry-level jobs in investment banking.

 Steps to becoming an investment banker: 

• Secure a college degree in finance, or a related subject discipline.
• Try taking admission into an ivy league business school.
• Acquire an advanced degree in finance, may be an MBA in finance, from a top-tier business school, or university.
• Networking is key, to get interviews for entry-level roles. 

Securing an Investment Banking Internship

A majority of big investment banks offer summer internships to college graduates in finance, across the world. A few of these comprise – the RBS Group, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, among many others. If your application gets accepted at any of these big banks, don’t even think of missing it. 

Investment Bankers’ Day-to-Day Activities

On an average, an investment banker works 80-100 hours a week. It amounts to an excess work, equivalent to more than 50% of what an average professional in some other industry would work in a week. As per, what renowned investment banker, Andrew Gutmann, wrote in his book, an investment banker starts his day at 10 in the morning, and has to extend it to 2 in the morning, the next day, most of the time.

Critical Skills, Required to Succeed as a Potential Banker

• Financial modeling
• LBO models
• DCF (discounted cash flow) models
• Statement models
• Creating Financial Reports and Pitch Books
• Performing transaction documentation
• Performing business valuation tasks
• Sales and business development capabilities
• Networking & negotiation skills
• Soft skills, to build robust professional relationships

How, an Investment Banking Professional, Spends His Working Day?

However, it depends on, what position you work at, in the hierarchy. The workday, usually starts quite late, as the financial markets in New York don’t open in the early hours of the day. One more reason for investment bankers starting their day late, is that they end their workday at around 2 in the night (or one could say, morning), and hence, simply cannot start their next day at 7 in the morning.

Bankers work much slower during the mornings, as compared to the remaining hours in the day, which is a fact. Analysts and associates in the early hours of the working day, take onto the tasks assigned by the senior team members. 

Important Note: As a junior member in an investment banking team, try answering as much emails and messages during the morning hours, as you can. It would help you throughout the workday, as the professionals working as analysts and associates are not allowed more than 15 minutes to respond to mails from senior management. You can succeed in lessening your workload to a certain extent by taking onto the mails, at the start of the day. 

Lunch is limited to a duration of 45 minutes. Hierarchical structure is quite rigid at an investment bank, and you must not try playing around with the seniors, across divisions, and in your team. 

Blockchain in the trending topic in the industry right now as more organizations is using the technology to improve their business operations and process payments between various clients. Modern organizations are preparing to use blockchain technology amid the global pandemic. Many countries are exploring the option of blockchain in navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the supply chain, food, healthcare, and employment network.

To explore blockchain for business benefits, business decision-makers must get familiar with the basic principles and practices so as to leverage the technology in the enterprise. As the demand for blockchain professionals keeps rising, educational sectors and credentialing organizations are tweaking their syllabus and course materials enabling professionals and young students to get acquainted with the technology.

Many universities, tertiary institutions, and certifying bodies are trying to cater to the sudden need of blockchain professionals. They are introducing certifications and educational courses to introduce students to this technology.

Studies show that 42 percent of top universities introduced blockchain programs at different levels in 2019. British Columbia in Canada has a separate dedicated research unit on the blockchain. Ivy League universities like Cornell, York University School of Continuing Studies have introduced blockchain courses for students. Many more institutions are starting educational courses on blockchain across the globe. Likewise, there are certifying bodies like Blockchain Council, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Central Blockchain Council of America, Simplilearn, Udacity, and many more.

The blockchain certifications provided by these bodies are ideal for C-suite level professionals, decision-makers, young professionals, and students working for industries like finance, law, government, or the law.

Let’s get introduced to the main certifications provided by these certifying bodies.

Central Blockchain Council of America (CBCA) offers the most advanced certification programs. CBCA credentials for blockchain professionals cover all the clusters of blockchain-like blockchain and its functions, i.e., investment advisory, business, and blockchain application development. CBCA offers 3 main blockchain certifications like Business Blockchain Professional (BBP™), Certified Blockchain Engineer (CBE™), and Global Blockchain Leader (GBL^TM) programs.

These programs enable the blockchain professionals get acquainted with the concepts of business blockchain, its impact on the companies, advanced concepts to engineer the technology for business benefits, and address the knowledge and essentials in the blockchain space including strategy, implementation, and governance.

Likewise, MIT Professional Education has introduced blockchain course – Blockchain: Disruptive Technology, for CIOs, CTOs, CEOs, technical professionals, entrepreneurs, and functional managers. The participants can understand the technological and commercial forces that led to the technology emergence; analyze blockchain’s impact across industries; master the fundamentals; learn blockchain Ethereum network, and get familiar with blockchain applications in industries.

Similarly, Blockchain Council offers blockchain certifications that are specific to the industries. The certifications provide in-depth knowledge of blockchain core concepts. The certifications focus on specializations like Smart contracts, Quorum, Hyperledger, Corda, and others. They are specific to industries like supply chain, healthcare, digital marketing, etc.

Most of the certifications are available online facilitating you to work simultaneously. As they are self-paced too, it enables you to work on your free time and get acquainted with the knowledge easily.

To conclude…

These credentials validate your skills and knowledge that are specific to the technology and industries as applicable and improves your candidature for a career at reputed organizations. While all these ways are available, it is left to you to choose the best platforms which give online training that is self-paced, provide experts’ advice, along with globally recognized credentials. This would help you to stand distinct from the competitors and ace the interview successfully.

Learn blockchain, the trending technology today, and the future is promising as more organizations are adopting the technology for business benefits. Get acquainted with blockchain knowledge and build a futuristic career.

Central KYC or CKYC is an initiative by the government to implement the KYC process of all financial sector companies under a single window. CKYC is managed by Central Registry for Securitization Asset Reconstruction and Security Interest of India (CERSAI).

All individual investors of mutual funds are now required to fulfill KYC requirements as per KYC norms.

The central KYC or CKYC has replaced the old KYC process. It is a centralized process that prevents you from submitting multiple KYCs from opening savings bank accounts, buying life insurance, or investing in mutual fund goods once in a centralized process. Where and how to check central KYC status online in India?

A modern Central KYC or CKYC has replaced the old KYC process. This reduced several KYC submissions at various financial transaction stages.

It is a single, integrated KYC process for all financial transactions carried out by you. In the old KYC format, PAN was the sole identifier of an investor. However, the list transcends Aadhaar and PAN in the new central KYC registry system. It removes your financial transactions for KYC at various levels or in different financial institutions.

It is also a form of creating new KYC or modifying existing KYC. Three types of accounts are specified.

1. One is the general account
2. The other is for simplified or low-risk account
3. And the third is for small account investors

You have to make a selection that applies to you.

If the aggregation of all credits in a financial year does not exceed one lakh rupees, the aggregate of all withdrawals and transfers in a month does not exceed ten thousand rupees, or the balance in any period exceeds fifty thousand rupees. If it does not occur, then you will be treated as an investor in a SMALL account.

Customers who are simple or low risk, customers who are unable to submit any of the six specified documents. They are passport, driving license, PAN card, and Voter ID, NREGA, or Aadhaar card.

The FATCA declaration also includes the CKYC or Central KYC. Therefore, it prevents you from declaring the same at different rates of your investment.

How to check central KYC status online in India?              

Until now, online checking for CKYC or Central KYC status was not linked. As a result, many found it difficult to check the status online. Recently, Karvy launched an online testing facility for CKYC or Central KYC status.

I think it is a great relief. I know that even if you have submitted the CKYC or Central KYC application, in some cases, the status may not show this. I think they are still on data compilation mode. But still, I think it is a significant relief for many.

Note: Currently, CKYC applies only to individual investors (resident and NRI).

Existing investors who have already completed KYC under the process do not have to go through any additional KYC requirements under CKYC