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M&A 101: What investment bankers do in mergers and acquisitions
finance pillar
Giovanna Burns, a VP with Meridian Capital, plays an essential role in transaction execution and supports the Seattle-based firm’s business development initiatives. She has provided advisory services to middle-market companies across various industries on transactions including buy-side and sell-side engagements, IPOs, debt issuances and growth equity raises. We caught up with Burns to learn more about the basics of investment banking for the second installment of PitchBook’s M&A 101 series. (Check out the first part here) The interview below has been edited for length and clarity.

PitchBook

The Digital CFO Skill Shift – Evolution of the CFO Suite
finance pillar
If you could start by sketching your team on a blank piece of paper, would it resemble in any way the structure you have today? Would the design you come up with still be relevant considering the rapid changes brought about by the ongoing pandemic? Digitization has become a realistic goal for CFOs and their teams to remain highly relevant, especially when there is an ever more pressing need to react quickly.

Christopher Argent

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Governance & Controls – structure and controls.

Transaction Recording – systems, transaction processing and closing the books.

Reporting - efficient, timely and accurate information for decision making and meeting compliance requirements.

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Accounting

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Business Planning - provide the financial roadmap for the company with supporting analytics.

Financial Forecasting - integrate the company’s current performance relative to budget with the real-time business environment.

Investment Analysis - the framework to analyze new opportunities as they present themselves.

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Finance

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Cash Management - the discipline to ensure cash is available to operate the business normally.

Funding - Planning for and raising funds to meet the needs of the business.

Risk Management – Identification and mitigation of key business risks.

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Treasury

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Self-Awareness - Internal.

Team Building - External.

Strategy & Culture – Motivate people to follow you.

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Leadership

Four Pillars of Executive Expertise

CFO.University is built around the Four Pillars of CFO Success. These Pillars are supported with Core Competencies. Our framework allows you to master your role as a senior financial officer. The Four Pillars are made up of:


Accounting – Governance & Controls, Transaction Recording and Reporting

Finance – Business Planning, Financial Forecasting and Investment Analysis

Treasury – Cash Management, Funding (Capital Raising) and Risk Management

Leadership – Self Awareness, Team Building and Strategy & Culture

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