The only course you need to break into Investment Banking
Recruiting | Behaviorals | Accounting | Enterprise Value / Comparables | DCF | M&A | LBO | Market Questions | Brain Teasers
Crack the Investment Banking
Recruitment Process
I’m Josh Jia of Finance Interview Coach. Over the past 8 years I’ve helped over 350 students and career switchers break into bulge brackets, elite boutiques, and top middle market IB Positions though one-on-one personalized training.
350+ Finance Placements in the last 8 Years.
93% of coaching clients landed a job in their chosen field (e.g. IB, PE, ER, VC, HF)
About Your Instructor
Josh Jia brings real-world investment banking and private equity experience to the classroom.
During his time in investment banking (BMO) and private equity (Imperial Capital), Josh has accumulated significant transaction experience, including the C$300M IPO of Sleep Country, the US$156M acquisition of Atlas Paper by Resolute Forest Products, and an extensive private equity roll-up of food testing labs in the U.S.
Josh currently lectures on investment banking at the Darden School of Business (University of Virginia) and has also taught lectures at Princeton, Wharton, UCLA, Queen’s University, Ivey, Rotman, Schulich, Waterloo, and Laurier. Josh has coached clients in 40+ countries in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and Latin America. Through his efforts, he has placed 350+ candidates in finance roles.
Over the past eight years, he has personally coached students from 40+ countries, helping more than 350+ candidates land roles in investment banking and other competitive finance fields, with 93% of clients landing a job in their chosen field (e.g. IB, PE, ER, VC, HF). His teaching combines firsthand deal experience, insider insights, and a proven ability to help students succeed
Finance Experience:
Private Equity Analyst at Imperial Capital
Investment Banking Analyst at BMO, Diversified Group
Industry experience in IB, PE, VC, HF
Founded Limestone Capital
Placed 350+ candidates into IB, PE, and other Finance roles
Course Outline
8 Progressive Modules that build up Investment Banking Step-by-Step
Module 1: IB Recruiting
- Investment Banking 101
- What you need to Know to break into Investment Banking
- Recruiting Timelines
- Bulge Bracket, International, and mid-market Banks
- Industry Groups and Product Groups
Explore Module 1: Recruiting
Module 2: Behavioural Interview Questions
- Telling Your Story
- Pros and Cons of Investment Banking
- Why Investment Banking
- Why this Firm/Group (Coming Soon)
- Strengths and Weaknesses (Coming Soon)
- Situational Questions (Coming Soon)
Module 2: Behaviorals
Module 3: Accounting for IB
- Income Statement
- Cash Flow Statement
- Net Working Capital #1
Balance Sheet – Assets, Liabilities, and Shareholders Equity - Net Working Capital #2 – Deferred Revenue, Prepaid Expenses, Accrued Expenses
- Shareholders Equity (Coming Soon)
Module 3: Accounting
Module 4: Enterprise Value / Comparables
- Enterprise Value
- Formula and Equity Value
- EV / EBITDA vs. P / E and other key multiples
- Comparables Analysis
- Precedent Transactions
- Key drivers of multiples – why some companies are more expensive than others
- Treasury stock method
- Different valuation methods and how to rank them
- Key debt metrics
Sum of Parts Analysis
Module 4: Enterprise Value / Comparables
Module 5: DCF
- Walkthrough of a DCF model
- Unlevered free cash flow versus levered free cash flow
- WACC
- Cost of equity
- Terminal value
- Beta and beta comps
- Cost of debt
- How does increasing debt impact WACC
Module 5: DCF
Module 6: M&A
- Strategic rationale for M&A deals
- Why do most M&A deals fail
- Financing an M&A deal
- Revenue vs. cost synergies
- Types of M&A deals
- Cash vs. stock deals
- Accretion / dilution – earnings yield method
- Accretion / dilution – merger model method
Module 6: M&A
Module 7: LBO
- Purpose of debt in an LBO
- Characteristics of an ideal
- LBO target
- Senior vs. Junior Debt
- Walkthrough of LBO model
- Paper LBO – simplified
- Paper LBO – complete
Covenants
Module 7: LBO
Module 8: Market Questions and Brain Teasers
- Where do you see the market going in the next year
- Stock pitch
- How to allocate a portfolio
- Industry trends
- M&A process
- IPO process
- Brain teasers
- Networking
Module 8: Market Questions and Brain Teasers
“I landed a job at a top investment bank after my first Superday, despite having zero related experience. I first met Josh through group training at a target MBA program, where his expertise and excitement for coaching immediately stood out, and I decided to work with him one-on-one. His ability to simplify complex concepts was crucial to my success. During our multiple one-on-one sessions, Josh went above and beyond—dedicating time at odd hours and using a teaching style that helped me not only master the technical steps but also understand the intuition behind each answer. This personalized approach gave me the confidence to excel in my interviews. I couldn’t have done it without his commitment and patient guidance. If you’re serious about breaking into investment banking, working with Josh is a game changer.”
Start your IB prep today.
Don’t wait to get ahead—start your IB prep today.
