The CAFM:

The Certificate of Advanced Financial Modeling CAFM program offers finance professionals with sophisticated tools in Excel for better decision making. Also, the certificate enables the candidates to use programming languages and create financial modeling using Excel and VBA . A much-needed skill in the financial industry is to know how to use VBA^® (Visual Basic Applications) in Ms Excel to create a fully revolving financial model embedded with dozens of constraints. For detailed information about the course syllabus and exam dates click: (https://ifamena.com/special-programs/?v=c951270e425b#1447413404450-61fc430e-bef9.)

Whether it is manufacturing industry or the service industry, all businesses are automating critical processes and tasks to improve efficiency and output.

As a finance aspirant, one will see this trend in finance companies as well. Calculators are replaced by laptops, ledgers by spreadsheets and hard bound documented financial models are by dashboards. If you want to pursue a career in finance, it is of utmost importance to know the latest trends in your domain. Attaining the CAFM is one way to stay in the race and learn an extremely valuable skill.

Where is Financial Modeling Used?

Financial modeling is used in every sphere of the financial world. In fact, it is one of the most important aspects of any corporate set up.

Following is the list of entities that use financial modeling, a skill gained through CAFM, either for themselves or their clients:

Investment Banks:

There are many branches within investment banking where financial modeling is used.

Mergers and acquisitions: investment bankers use financial models to understand and comprehend the feasibility of any deal.

Corporate finance: it is used to identify the financial health of a company in the long run.

Project finance: it is used to estimate and forecast the capital outflow and so on.

Last but not least, financial modeling is the life line of any investment bank. So, if you are aspiring to be an investment banker, you better get a grip on financial modeling for Excel.

Private Equity/Venture Capital firms:

Since these firms deal in large amounts of money , it becomes imperative for them to use financial modeling for VBA & Excel. It is typically used to determine the return on investment for an amount, and for a certain period of time. (Scenario analysis is one of the most popular functions used in financial modeling)

Equity Research Firms:

It doesn’t matter if you are on the buy side or the sell side of the horizon, financial modeling is present on both sides with equal importance.

Equity research firms use multiple financial models to predict and anticipate stock movements and financial performance of a company.

Equity research analysts have to be conversant with financial modeling and should also be comfortable with using advanced excel functions.

Corporations:

All companies, either big or small, have finance departments. As companies usually use financial modeling for their internal growth projections and forecasts. Moreover, it is also an important tool used for making long term financial decisions like determining the capital structure, cost of capital, raising funds and issuance of shares and debentures.

In a nutshell, automation is reaching all industries and is failing to leave one untouched. To stay competitive and secure top level jobs, attaining the CAFM Certificate could be an effective way to stay connected with the changes and ensure YOU do not miss the TRAIN.