How to become A Corporate Banker

• Corporate Banking Specialist
• Corporate Banking Officer
• Commercial Banking Specialist

What do Corporate Bankers do?

A Corporate Banker would typically need to:

• Provide advice on various financial matters and promote appropriate financial services/products to help personal and corporate clients run their business operations
• Meet and get to know clients; discuss their financial needs, and dispense appropriate financial advice 
• Advise corporate clients on mergers, acquisitions, and capital markets; handle banking details for the company account
• Offer loans and credit products to corporate clients; prepare lending agreements with clients and promote the bank’s financial services
• Draw up loans and leases to allow client companies to purchase required equipment
• Develop and implement plans to solve a client company’s finance-related problems
• Write regular reports on the client company’s financial activities; ensure the company’s corporate records are organised and up-to-date
• Manage corporate projects and working capital by utilising the company’s treasury resources 
• Handle healthcare and retirement plans for client companies
• Train and supervise junior banking colleagues

Corporate bankers work in office environments. They may need to travel overnight to attend conferences and seminars to make new contacts and drum up business. Transfer to and working in different countries is a viable option when employed by global banks or firms.

Corporate Bankers frequently have to work more than forty hours per week, including evenings and weekends, to suit the needs of their clients.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Corporate Bankers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Corporate Bankers are generally employed by: 

• Clearing & Commercial Banks
• National Banks
• Financial Service Companies
• Investment Banks & Funds
• Private Equity Firms
• Banking Sector Firms

Professional associations and organisations, such as the American Bankers Association, are crucial for Corporate Bankers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation.

Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Technological innovation may make traditional manual processes obsolete
• The use of antiquated business applications may make it difficult for banking organisations to keep up with the level of innovation needed for success
• Changing regulations may cause strain on banking resources and increase risks and accountability for security breaches
• It may be challenging to manage the increase in customers knowledge and expectations of banking systems, making it challenging to attain customer loyalty
• Stress due to long work hours and regular travel requirements may lead you to be away from home for extended periods

Employers lean towards candidates with banking experience, preferably a minimum of three years of expertise working as a personal banker.

Individuals with experience in customer service can also expect to get entry-level roles with eventual promotion to the position of Corporate Banker.

Read about the profession and interview/job shadow experts working in the banking industry to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.

Make note that prospective Corporate Bankers need to match very high academic standards.

Employers often seek toppers of bachelor degree programs in business studies, economics, mathematics, finance, or management. Some banks may accept an honours degree in the subjects mentioned above from applicants to their graduate schemes.

Certification demonstrates a Corporate Banker’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination.

Voluntary certification from an objective and reputed organisation in financial analysis/planning/risk management and alternative investment analysis can help you stand out in a competitive job market and increase your chances of advancement.

Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive the career progression of Corporate Bankers. Corporate Bankers can aim to become Professional Bankers and assume increasingly managerial roles.

Employees with consistently high-performance levels may be eligible for promotion into positions such as Assistant Vice President, Vice President, and Senior Vice President.

Candidates with an honours degree in business-related fields have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Corporate Banker build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. It allows you to upskill continually, regardless of your age, job, or level of knowledge.

Promotions to higher posts would entail broadening your knowledge of banking, customer experience management and credit risk management. You will gain industry-specific knowledge, accumulate ethical and professional values related to banking and sharpen related job skills such as decision-making, problem-solving, communication and analytical ability. 

A Credit To Their Employer And The Client

Corporate Bankers add significantly to their employer’s profit margin when they can persuade clients to accept credit products and loans that are on offer.

Money - A Language All Nations Understand

Multinational companies that must use multiple currencies to handle their daily business turn towards Corporate Bankers to provide the treasury services that will manage their working capital.

Heavy Capital Expenditure (CapEx)

Leading operators in the transportation and information technology industries need heavy capital to spend on innovation and infrastructure while retaining the ability to fund their operations and keep the shareholders happy with dividends. Corporate Bankers make it happen.

Health Is Wealth

When required, Corporate Bankers step in to handle the healthcare and retirement plans of a client company and their payroll activities.

Essential Analyses

Accurate analyses of the client’s assets, portfolio and leverage are just one of the ways Corporate Bankers demonstrate the essential nature of their job.

The oldest surviving bank in the world, Banca Monte Dei Paschi di Siena, was founded in 1472 in the Tuscan city of Siena, which was a republic at that point.

With all the hits that the banking industry has been subject to over the last decade, Corporate Bankers have an increasingly crucial role in regaining public confidence; now is the time for them to prove their ability to blend commercial savvy with integrity work for the greater good.

Never miss an opportunity to learn. If senior professionals delegate a particular task outside of your comfort zone, don’t be afraid to give it your best shot.