Build your Dream Investment Banking Operations Career in 2022

The world of investment banking deals with multiple types of business entities and financial services. Many companies depend on investment banking companies to help them make effective investments and generate the maximum amount of profit. Investment banking operations help in scenarios such as settling large transactions, trading securities and restructuring the companies of their clients.

Investment banking is an extremely lucrative sector in the world right now. Professionals already working in finance or other relevant fields are also advised to learn investment banking skills as this industry will keep growing in the years to come. This is especially the case with hundreds of new startups looking for investments and existing companies always needing to raise capital anyway. Also, with ventures such as mergers, acquisitions and initial public offerings (IPOs) always being required, the investment banking industry is more exciting than ever.

The number of recognised startups in India grew by around 20 times more between 2021 and 2022 than the total number of startups in India that appeared between 2016 and 2017. This is one of the many reasons why investment bankers are in high demand. Investment bankers are also advisors, consultants and sometimes tasked with asset management for large companies or valuable clients.

How are Investment Banking Operations Careers?

Investment banking operations consist of various important processes that allow large investment banks and firms to provide their clients with a holistic set of financial and advisory services. While the front office deals with mediation, consultation and communications, the back office processes, clears and settles the concurrent financial transactions that are initiated by the front office.

Operational investment bankers are tasked with ensuring that businesses are administered effectively and any form of transactions (financial or otherwise) are carried out in a risk-free manner. The operations department of an investment bank or firm also works towards improving the profitability and efficiency of the bank itself and not just the bank’s clients. For carrying out these tasks effectively, you must also ensure that settlements, clearances and reconciliations are carried out in accordance with regulations.

Here are some of the major operational tasks in investment banking:

• Corporate finance front office operations such as raising funds
• Advising deals such as mergers and acquisitions
• Completion of financial transactions and asset transfers
• Sales and trading
• Increasing liquidity in markets
• Collaborating with bank strategists
• Fund management and transfer
• Risk management
• Research
• Compliance with internal and government regulations

Here are the job roles you can apply for after grasping operational investment banking:

• Financial analyst
• Money market analyst
• Regulatory reporting analyst
• Investment banking associate
• Investment banking operations lead
• Risk management consultant
• Capital market operations consultant
• Financial market advisor
• Global finance researcher
• Anti-money laundering specialist
• Executive director in clearing services
• Corporate banking treasurer

Responsibilities in an Investment Banking Operations Career

In order to join this prestigious domain, you must first be a certified or qualified investment banking professional.

Here are some responsibilities of an operational investment banker:

• Settling transactions and liaising with clients
• Reconciliations
• Monitoring and reporting daily transactions
• Investigating transfers
• Managing operations
• Mediating between divisions within banks
• Organising meetings
• Protecting clients
• Improving ongoing projects with operations control

In order to carry out the above job roles effectively, you will need additional skills such as excellent business communication and interpersonal skills, IT skills, analytical skills and problem-solving skills. You must also be passionate about the domain and have excellent management skills. 

Conclusion

This is a sector with incredible prospects. Investment banking courses such as the Certified Investment Banking Operations Professional programme by Imarticus can definitely help you progress in your investment banking career with placement assistance.