A Corporate Finance Analyst

Good with figures or maths? Have a nose for following the money? Enjoy sorting out tricky logical puzzles? You might thrive as a corporate finance analyst… Patrick Jabbour shares more about his day-to-day job wrangling numbers.

PATRICK JABBOUR: CORPORATE FINANCE ANALYST

Can you describe a typical day on the job?

• 7.45AM: Catch the Ferry
• 8.30AM: Arrive at office
• 8.30AM – 9.30AM: Read industry news plan day ahead
• 9.30AM – 10.30AM: work on reports/excel spreadsheets/other individual work – usually like to do the more numeric/analytical work before lunch
• 10.30AM – 12.30PM: Usually like to have my meetings in this time otherwise I continue on individual work
• 12.30PM-1.30PM: Usually head out to lunch
• 1.30PM-4PM: Team work/project work speak to a client over the phone/webex
• 3.30PM-5PM: Usually like to do a bit of report writing towards the end of the day
• 5.00PM onwards: Excel/report writing prepare for the next day

Why did you choose Corporate Finance as your career? What or who inspired you to do so?

I enjoyed working with number and dollars and found that I performed well in these types of subjects at university. I am also very analytical. That being said I still enjoy the social aspects of work. This particular role allows me to work directly with clients so I am not always in the office but it is still heavily analytical.

What would you say are three key personality aspects or skills that make for a successful Corporate Finance Analyst?

• Strong work ethic
• Customer focused
• Resilient

What have you learned about yourself through the work that you do?

I have learned that I am a good problem solver and to remain humble. You can learn something from everyone.

What’s been your best moment while doing your work?

After a few weeks of continuous late nights that feeling when you finally deliver the end product to the client and they are pleased with the result.

And a difficult moment?

When you put in a lot of time and effort to get a deal or transaction ready and it gets knocked back in an hour. 

How do you keep going when things get really challenging?

I work with a great team; we support each other both with workload and also mentally. If you don’t have the right people and support network in the workplace you will always struggle.

ARE THERE ANY SURPRISING OR ODD THINGS THAT PEOPLE WOULDN’T EXPECT IF THEY PICKED THIS CAREER?

Most people may assume that as an analyst you are always behind a desk working on reports/excel spreadsheets. Whilst there is quite a bit of that people don’t expect it to be as customer-focused and social as it actually is.

CAN YOU SHARE A FUNNY OR WEIRD STORY ABOUT SOMETHING YOU EXPERIENCED WHILE WORKING ON A PROJECT?

Due to COVID-19 we have shifted a lot of our client meetings onto video calls. After we had finished the project on a Friday night we decided to celebrate with a few drinks. I went downstairs to get a beer out of my fridge and it must have shaken on the way up when I opened the can it went all over my computer and keyboard and everyone saw – luckily the computer worked but I had to buy a new keyboard.

What advice would you give to young people thinking of pursuing a career in this industry?

Work hard keep focused and always network!