Analysing the finance industry

Shona Ngava

Agapitus Ipinge is an Investment Banking Analyst from Standard Bank, as a prerequisite is to make sure that he talks to company executives and investors and try to build cases for or against investments in specific firms or industries. He only just started working as an as a banking analyst and is excited about what he is going to learn. “I just started recently, so my typical work day consist of a lot of learning about the various transaction types, clients as well as keeping up to date on developments in the financial markets,” he says.

The Investment Banking Analyst maintains that he is a family man and has a global outlook on things that revolve around him and that is important to excelling in the banking industry. He says one should be passionate about working with numbers and that they should know a lot about the financial sector to venture into Investment Banking Analytics as a career. “You need to be comfortable with numbers and calculations. The ability to understand complex problems and also have soft skills to work in your team and with clients will be an added advantage and could make you very successful. It requires a lot analytical skills, project management and also ultimately the ability to ensure we maintain client focus, so that our solutions meet their needs,” he shares.

Ipinge used to be an architect and says he wanted to do something else with his life and decided to venture into the banking industry to grow and challenge himself. “I had been an engineer for over 10 years and I felt that it was time for a change, so that I continue to grow, and especially continue to learn,” he says.

Although his job can be stressful he says it is manageable and the most rewarding thing about being an Investment Banking Analyst is the ability to solve problems and building his knowledge around the banking industry. “Solving difficult problems and learning something complex is always rewarding despite the initial stress,” he says. His biggest challenge is learning about the technical language used in the banking industry and hopes it will be something he overcomes as he continues working. “Currently my issues are dealing with a lot of the banking acronyms both internally and externally as it’s a language of its own. I know I will eventually get everything once I get comfortable at the bank,” he says.

Analysing the finance industry

Agapitus Ipinge is an Investment Banking Analyst from Standard Bank, as a prerequisite is to make sure that he talks to company executives and investors and try to build cases for or against investments in specific firms or industries. He only just started working as an as a banking analyst and is excited about what he is going to learn. “I just started recently, so my typical work day consist of a lot of learning about the various transaction types, clients as well as keeping up to date on developments in the financial markets,” he says.

The Investment Banking Analyst maintains that he is a family man and has a global outlook on things that revolve around him and that is important to excelling in the banking industry. He says one should be passionate about working with numbers and that they should know a lot about the financial sector to venture into Investment Banking Analytics as a career. “You need to be comfortable with numbers and calculations. The ability to understand complex problems and also have soft skills to work in your team and with clients will be an added advantage and could make you very successful. It requires a lot analytical skills, project management and also ultimately the ability to ensure we maintain client focus, so that our solutions meet their needs,” he shares.

Ipinge used to be an architect and says he wanted to do something else with his life and decided to venture into the banking industry to grow and challenge himself. “I had been an engineer for over 10 years and I felt that it was time for a change, so that I continue to grow, and especially continue to learn,” he says.

Although his job can be stressful he says it is manageable and the most rewarding thing about being an Investment Banking Analyst is the ability to solve problems and building his knowledge around the banking industry. “Solving difficult problems and learning something complex is always rewarding despite the initial stress,” he says. His biggest challenge is learning about the technical language used in the banking industry and hopes it will be something he overcomes as he continues working. “Currently my issues are dealing with a lot of the banking acronyms both internally and externally as it’s a language of its own. I know I will eventually get everything once I get comfortable at the bank,” he says.