Welcome to our latest podcast, where we share the success stories of our students who have successfully transitioned into core finance roles after completing our Investment Banking Program. In this blog, we feature Mr. Oman Razi, a recent MBA graduate who has successfully secured a position as a Financial Analyst with Gallagher Mohan. Oman shares his journey from completing his MBA to undergoing our Investment Banking Program and eventually landing his dream job. Through this podcast, Oman talks about his experiences, challenges, and the valuable skills he acquired that helped him succeed in the competitive finance world. Let’s dive into the conversation!

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Podcast Conversation:

Podcaster:
Good afternoon everyone. We are back with another successful podcast in our Investment Banking Program. We have with us Mr. Oman Razi. Mr. Razi, how are you?

Oman:
I'm good, sir. How are you?

Podcaster:
I'm fine as well. So, Oman, please tell the audience about yourself.

Oman:
Sure. I am from Jharkhand. I did my BCOM honors from the University of Delhi and this year I completed my MBA in finance from Symbiosis Pune. During my MBA, I interned at Steel Authority of India Limited as a financial analyst intern and recently completed an investment banking internship at ProCapitas. This is a bit about my background.

Podcaster:
Okay. So you’ve mentioned that you did your BCOM and after that, you did an MBA in finance from Symbiosis School, and later got the opportunity to work as a financial analyst at Steel Authority of India, one of the largest steel makers in India. What was that role like? What did you do as a financial analyst there?

Oman:
So, my role as a financial analyst intern primarily involved analyzing the past five years of financial statements. I focused on liquidity and working capital analysis, calculating key ratios such as current ratios, quick ratios, and inventory turnover. I provided recommendations for improvement based on my analysis of these ratios.

Podcaster:
But there was no financial modeling or stock price prediction, right? No market research?

Oman:
Correct, it was more about financial statement analysis. My main task was submitting a report to the management with my recommendations for improving liquidity.

Podcaster:
That’s very interesting. But now, Oman, let’s talk about how you transitioned into your current journey. You did your MBA, got an internship at Steel, but then you chose to come to us at Jobaaj. Why was that?

Oman:
During my college placements, most of the roles were in sales, not core finance. I wasn’t shortlisted for any core finance positions, which led me to connect with Jobaaj. I enrolled in their investment banking and financial modeling courses, which really helped me land a core finance role.

Podcaster:
That’s a great decision, Oman. So, let’s break it down. You joined us and completed all the learning, gave your exams, and worked on the projects. What were the projects like?

Oman:
There were four projects in total. I worked on building financial models using DCF (Discounted Cash Flow) and comparable company analysis. I also prepared equity research reports for the companies I built models for. Along the way, I learned a lot about how to write equity research reports, and these projects helped me understand the models in depth.

Podcaster:
That’s impressive. But you didn't even complete all four projects before landing your job. You only finished three. How did that happen?

Oman:
Yes, I completed three projects before I got the job offer. I had completed my third project when I got a call from Vishaka ma'am about an opening for a financial analyst at Gallagher Mohan. I applied and went through the interview process even before completing all the projects.

Podcaster:
That’s amazing. And during the interview, I’m sure you had to showcase your financial modeling skills, and the concepts you learned during your projects came in handy, right?

Oman:
Definitely, sir. I had to redo projects multiple times, but each redo helped me understand the models better. When I was asked questions in interviews about cash flows or valuation, I could recall my past mistakes and answer confidently.

Podcaster:
Exactly. Sometimes the path we take isn't the most comfortable, but it always pays off. So, tell us about the placement process. How did it go for you?

Oman:
After completing my third project, I received a call from Vishaka ma'am regarding the financial analyst role. The process included an MCQ test on basic finance, followed by an HR interview. I then had to solve a financial model in Excel as part of a case study, which I completed in two days. The next round was a technical interview covering finance topics like DCF, IRR, and NPV. The final round involved discussing the financial model I created, followed by an Excel test where I had to use formulas like SUMIF, COUNTIF, and PRODUCTIF to solve questions.

Podcaster:
That sounds intense. How long did this entire process take from application to offer?

Oman:
It took about 15 days, including some holidays. Without the holidays, it would have taken around 10 days.

Podcaster:
10 days for multiple rounds and a model? That’s impressive! So, now that you’ve secured your role as a financial analyst, what does your job entail?

Oman:
I will be working with real estate clients, analyzing their investments in properties. My role involves creating financial models to assess whether their property investments are profitable and worth pursuing.

Podcaster:
That’s certainly a step up from the typical roles some MBA graduates end up in. What advice would you give to other students who are struggling to land core finance roles after their MBA?

Oman:
My advice would be to ensure your basics are clear. For example, if you’re asked about ratios, understand why you’re using that formula. Understand the logic behind it. For instance, when calculating the inventory turnover ratio, we use COGS (Cost of Goods Sold) and average inventory to get an accurate figure because it reflects the cost of inventory, not just its value.

Podcaster:
That's excellent advice. You also mentioned that during the interview, you had to solve Excel problems live. Can you tell us more about that?

Oman:
Yes, they shared a Google Sheet with me and asked me to solve problems in real-time using formulas like SUMIF and COUNTIF. It was a live test, and I had 10 minutes to complete it.

Podcaster:
Excel is indeed one of the most important tools in finance. It’s not just about formatting; it’s about applying the right formulas to get the right results. Now that the journey’s over, tell us about your overall experience with Jobaaj and the placement process.

Oman:
It was a fantastic experience. The investment banking overview course gave me a strong foundation in finance. The Excel course was detailed, and the financial modeling course helped me build real-world models. The guidance from you and Vishaka ma’am throughout the process was invaluable. Thanks to the training at Jobaaj, I landed my dream job as a financial analyst.

..............

Don’t miss the full conversation—watch the podcast now and get inspired by Oman's journey!

 

General interview questions answered by Oman during his selection process

Tell us about your previous experience as a Financial Analyst at Steel Authority of India. How did it prepare you for this role?
Sample Answer: In my role at Steel Authority of India, I worked on analyzing past financial statements and assessing liquidity and working capital. I calculated key financial ratios like current ratios, quick ratios, and inventory turnover, which gave me a strong foundation in financial analysis. This experience has helped me understand how to assess a company's financial health and perform valuation analysis, which will be crucial in evaluating investments at Gallagher & Mohan.

How would you analyze an investment opportunity in real estate for one of our clients?
Sample Answer: To analyze an investment opportunity in real estate, I would begin by assessing the financials of the property, including cash flow projections, expected returns, and the potential risks involved. I would use valuation models like the DCF (Discounted Cash Flow) method, comparable company analysis, and market research to determine whether the investment aligns with the client's financial goals. Additionally, I’d assess the property’s location, development potential, and long-term trends in the real estate market.

Can you explain the difference between NPV and IRR, and when to use each in an investment analysis?
Sample Answer: NPV (Net Present Value) and IRR (Internal Rate of Return) are both used to assess the profitability of an investment. NPV is the difference between the present value of cash inflows and outflows, while IRR is the rate at which the NPV equals zero. NPV is used to determine the absolute value of an investment’s profitability, while IRR provides the rate of return. If IRR is higher than the cost of capital, the investment is generally considered good. NPV is more reliable when comparing multiple projects because it takes into account the value of money over time.

How do you approach financial modeling for real estate investment?
Sample Answer: In real estate investment modeling, I start by building a detailed cash flow forecast, including rental income, operating expenses, and financing costs. I then project future cash flows and apply a discount rate to determine the net present value of the property. I also incorporate key metrics like capitalization rate (Cap Rate) and internal rate of return (IRR) to assess the financial viability of the investment. Additionally, sensitivity analysis is performed to evaluate the impact of changes in assumptions on the investment outcome.

What are the key financial ratios you look at when analyzing a company's liquidity?
Sample Answer: When analyzing liquidity, I focus on ratios such as the current ratio, quick ratio, cash conversion cycle, and inventory turnover. The current ratio gives me an overall sense of the company's ability to cover short-term liabilities with current assets. The quick ratio excludes inventory and focuses on more liquid assets, which is critical for companies with less liquid assets. The cash conversion cycle helps me understand how quickly the company can turn its investments into cash.

 

Can you walk us through how you would use a DCF model to evaluate a property investment?
Sample Answer: To evaluate a property investment using a DCF model, I would first project the property’s future cash flows, including rental income and expenses over a forecast period. Next, I would determine the appropriate discount rate, which reflects the risk of the investment and the cost of capital. Then, I’d discount those future cash flows to their present value. After calculating the present value of cash flows, I would subtract the initial investment to arrive at the net present value (NPV) to determine the attractiveness of the investment.