- M&A 101: What investment bankers do in mergers and acquisitions
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- 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.
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Take Assessment Watch Video- The Digital CFO Skill Shift – Evolution of the CFO Suite
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- 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.
- Persist or Pivot? 8 Questions to Determine How to Move Your Plan Forward
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- Planning is a cornerstone of leadership and a foundational competency required for success in today’s complex and uncertain business environment. Love it or hate it (and plenty of managers and supervisors do hate it), planning is a non-negotiable priority for anyone responsible for driving results.
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.
Accounting
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.
Finance
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.
Treasury
Self-Awareness - Internal.
Team Building - External.
Strategy & Culture – Motivate people to follow you.
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
