How Financial Modeling Helped Adhiraj Start His Finance Career at SitusAMC

When Adhiraj first thought about joining a Financial Modeling course, he wasn’t sure if it was the right decision. He was already preparing for CFA Level II and had a busy schedule. Adding another course felt uncertain. “Can I manage both? Will it actually help me?” he recalls thinking.

At the same time, he knew that studying finance only through theory had its limits. He wanted to see how things work in real companies, how analysts prepare models, forecast numbers and value businesses. That thought stayed with him and he decided to go ahead with the course.

Over the next few months, Adhiraj started applying what he had learned in a practical way. He built models, understood financial statements more deeply and developed a clearer view of company analysis. Looking back, the decision turned out to be important for his career growth. 

Today, Adhiraj is placed at SitusAMC as an Analyst, and his journey is a good example of a financial modelling placement story that shows how building real-world skills can open new opportunities in finance.

Here’s what Adhiraj shared about his journey-

1. Can you start by telling us a bit about your background? Since you’re already a CFA Level 2 candidate, what made you decide to learn Financial Modeling?

So, I come from a finance background and I was preparing for CFA Level II at that time. The CFA course helped me a lot in understanding concepts like valuation and investment analysis, but honestly, most of it was theory. I wanted to actually see how those concepts work in real life like how companies are valued, how projections are made and how everything ties together in Excel. That’s what made me go for Financial Modeling. It just felt like the right next step to put my CFA learning into action.

2. What motivated you to join the Financial Modeling course? Was there a point where you felt stuck or wanted to strengthen your skills further?

Yes, absolutely. There was a point where I felt that even though I understood finance, I couldn’t really do much with it. I could explain ratios and concepts, but if someone asked me to build a financial model or value a company from scratch, I didn’t know where to start. That’s when I realized I needed to get hands-on with Excel and learn the technical side properly. The course helped me connect the dots between what I studied in CFA and how it’s actually used by analysts and finance professionals in real jobs.

3. How did it feel when you started the course? Did you find it challenging to handle the concepts alongside CFA preparation?

In the beginning, it did take a bit of effort to manage both. But soon I realized the Financial Modeling course was actually helping me with CFA. When I started building models, forecasting numbers and working on valuations, the CFA concepts suddenly made a lot more sense. It wasn’t just reading anymore, I was actually applying everything. So instead of being an extra burden, it became a practical way to learn what I was already studying.

4. Did you ever feel unsure or uncomfortable picking up something new after already being deep into finance with CFA?

To be honest, yes. At first, I thought, do I really need to learn more after CFA? But once I got into it, I realized Financial Modeling is a different kind of learning. In CFA, you study the “why,” but in modeling, you learn the “how.” For example, linking financial statements or projecting revenues gives a very different understanding. It felt like everything I’d studied before was finally coming together in one place.

5. Do you feel learning Financial Modeling has changed the way you approach work or financial analysis now?

Yes, a lot. Now I don’t just look at a company’s ratios and stop there. I try to understand what’s driving those numbers. I focus more on the story behind the data, how the business is performing and what that means for future results. Building models also made me more confident in my analysis because I can back up my thoughts with proper numbers. Even small tasks like creating reports or explaining valuations have become easier because I know how the numbers flow together.

6. Finally, what advice would you give to other finance professionals who feel stuck and aren’t sure what to do next?

I’d say, if you feel stuck, focus on learning something that’s practical. Theoretical knowledge is good, but you need to know how to use it. Financial Modeling is great for that because it gives you the skills to actually apply finance in real life. Once you start working on real data and building your own models, your confidence goes up. You start thinking like an analyst, not just a student. And that’s what really helps you move forward in your finance career.

For anyone wondering if it’s worth putting theory into practice, Adhiraj’s journey says it all. Real progress begins when you start working with real data.

You can connect with her on LinkedIn here – http://linkedin.com/in/adhiraj-rao-56177b1b9