Investment Banking Course Syllabus

Receive the hands-on investment banking education you need to advance your career in finance. Our investment banking courses are offered in a convenient, fast-track schedule with personalized instruction by senior investment bankers. Contact us for an investment banking seminar or for more information on our investment banking courses.

Live Training

Our leading-edge course features live training in classrooms with instructors who have world-class experience in investment banking.

Fast-track schedule

Our course is designed to teach you the skills you need in a concentrated, convenient way:

3 Weeks in duration held on Saturdays and Sundays
6 Days of live instruction by senior investment bankers
30 Hours of total classroom instruction
5 Hours each day with comprehensive up-to-date case studies

Class Design

The classes at IFI are designed to provide expert, personalized instruction.

Your instructor will guide you through the learning process with the aid of financial models that are projected on a large screen in the Boardroom/Training Room at the location you select.

Value beyond the classroom at no additional charge

We’re dedicated to the professional success of every student. To achieve our goal, we offer supplemental services that go beyond your classroom training. The services are designed to enhance your classroom learning and to provide expert assistance in your search for your first job.

The following services are provided at no additional charge:

Pre-class materials

These materials, which have been developed by our experienced instructors, are delivered to each student electronically before your class sessions. As a result, you can prepare for your live training sessions and get more out of them. The materials include overviews of corporate finance and financial accounting, along with Excel basics and shortcuts.

Individualized help with your resume and with interview skills

An industry professional will work with you one-on-one to help you optimize your resume and prepare for job interviews. Interview preparation includes participation in mock interviews, as well as prepping with common interview questions.

See our syllabus below

You’ll quickly realize that IFI teaches the skills you need for a rewarding career in investment banking.

IFI Syllabus

WEEK 1

DAY 1 - SESSION 1

ORIENTATION AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT ANALYSIS

Course Overview and Banker Introduction
Discussion of Student Background and Expectations
Investment Banking and Corporate Finance Introduction

Definition and Roles in Finance and Investment Banking
Overview of Private Equity, Hedge Funds and Venture Capital Firms
Definition of an Investment Bank
Investment Banking Industry Overview
Career Paths at an Investment Bank
The Pitch Process
Buy Side vs. Sell Side of a Transaction
Initial Public Offerings
Expectations of an Investment Banking Employee

Overview of Financial Accounting (Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, Income Statement)
Understanding the SEC 10-K and 10-Q reports (Including additional local reporting requirements outside the USA)
Financial Statement Analysis

Ratios and Growth Rate Analysis
Normalizing Adjustments

DAY 1 - SESSION 2

COMPLETE VALUATION ANALYSIS: MARKET APPROACH

Introduction to Corporate Valuation
Understanding Enterprise Value and Equity Value
Comparable Company Analysis (Valuation Method 1)

How to Select Comparable Companies
Spreading Comparables
Analyzing Valuation Multiples
Determining Corporate Value

Historical Transaction Analysis (Valuation Method 2)

How to Select Comparable Companies
Spreading Comparables
Determining Corporate Value

DAY 2 - SESSON 3

COMPLETE VALUATION ANALYSIS - INCOME APPROACH

Discounted Cash Flow Analysis (DCF) (Valuation Method 3)
The Forecast Period & Forecasting Revenue Growth
Forecasting Free Cash Flows
Calculating The Discount Rate
Determining Fair Value
Pros & Cons Of DCF
Determining Corporate Value

DAY 2 - SESSION 4

CONSTRUCTION OF AN INTEGRATED CASH FLOW MODEL

Introduction to Cash Flow Modeling

Financial Modeling Best Practices
Setting up a Financial Model
Selecting Assumptions and Drivers
Linking the 3 Financial Statements

Setting up the Model for Historic and 5-Year Projections
Projecting the Financial Statements (Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, Income Statement)

Modeling Debt and Revolvers
Debt and Interest Schedule
Industry Accepted Assumptions (COGS, EBITDA, Working Capital and Capital Expenditures)
Measurement of Sensitivity

Analyzing, Concluding and Testing the Model

WEEK 2

DAY 3 – SESSION 5&6

LEVERAGED BUY-OUT (LBO) MODELING

Understanding Leveraged Buyouts (LBO)
Discussion of Returns Analysis

Internal Rate of Return (IRR)
Cash Return

How Leverage is Used to Generate Returns
Primary Sources of LBO Financing
Construction of an LBO Model

Historical and Projected Income Statement through EBIT
Input Opening Balance Sheet and Project Balance Sheet
Debt and Interest Schedules

DAY 4 – SESSION 7&8

LEVERAGED BUY-OUT (LBO) MODELING (Cont.)

Complete Pro Forma Income Statement Balance Sheet and Cash flow Statements
How to Calculate Goodwill
Modeling LBO Financial Structure
Perform Returns Analysis
How to Determine Valuation
Analyzing and Testing the LBO Model

Strategies for Exit and Monetization
Determining Initial Public Offering (IPO)Valuation

WEEK 3

DAY 5 – SESSION 9&10

MERGER AND ACQUISITION (M&A) MODELING

Introduction to Mergers and Acquisitions

M&A Market Overview
Various M&A Approaches
The Sale Process in Detail

Construction of an M&A Model

Preparation of Key Acquisition Data
Valuation of Target Company
Building Funding Structure
Modeling Acquisition Adjustments
Calculating Accretion / Dilution Effects
Significance of Relative P/Es

DAY 6 – SESSION 11&12

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS (M&A) MODELING (Cont.)

Determining Contribution Analysis
Calculating Leverage Ratios
Pro Forma Balance Sheet
Measurement of Sensitivity
Post-Merger Adjustment and Liabilities
Accounting Implications and Issues

Analyzing, Concluding and Testing the M&A Model

COURSE CONCLUSIUON

Reflections on IFI Training Course
Q&A with IFI Instructor
Discussion of what IB Firms Look for in Potential Candidates
Mock Interview Session with Seasoned Investment Banker
Incorporation of New Skills into CV/Resume
Distribution of Course Take-Home Materials
Completion of Course Evaluation Form