Transitioning from academic instruction to high-level investment banking requires a powerful shift from explaining financial principles to executing complex market valuations. While teaching builds a deep theoretical mastery of accounting and economics, core analytical roles demand hands-on technical fluency—building integrated financial models, forecasting multi-year cash flows and evaluating corporate transactions.
Today, we highlight Vikas – a Master of Commerce (M.Com) graduate with an 8.41 SGPA, a former Commerce Educator with 4 years of teaching experience and an advanced CFA Level III candidate — who successfully converted his extensive academic background into market-ready investment banking skills.
To pivot into corporate finance and advisory, Vikas enrolled in the Investment Banking Certification Program at The WallStreet School (TWSS) in New Delhi. Through rigorous training in 3-statement financial modeling, intrinsic DCF valuations, and sector benchmarking, he bridged the gap between academic instruction and institutional finance—ultimately securing his placement at Asur Advisors.
Here is an inside look at Vikas’s journey, his experience at TWSS and his approach to mastering valuation:
1. Could you share a brief overview of your background and what motivated your transition into core finance?
I completed my B.Com and M.Com at MDU Rohtak, earning an 8.41 SGPA, followed by a B.Ed. For four years, I worked as a Commerce Faculty member at Modern Institute, teaching Accountancy, Business Studies and Economics to undergraduate and postgraduate students. While I loved mentoring students, my passion for capital markets drove me to clear CFA Levels I and II. I wanted to move beyond the textbook and apply these financial frameworks directly to corporate valuations.
2. Having a strong academic background and passing CFA Level II, why did you choose TWSS for practical training?
Teaching theory and passing exams give you a solid foundation, but investment banks and corporate advisory firms expect you to execute immediately in MS Excel.
“My experience at The Wall Street School was essential for my career transition. While my M.Com and CFA studies gave me strong conceptual depth, TWSS provided the practical, hands-on modeling environment I needed to apply those principles to real-world corporate data.”
Understanding financial reporting conceptually is one thing; constructing a dynamic 3-statement model with built-in scenario testing from scratch is what gives you true analytical capability.
3. How did the mentors at TWSS support your transition from an academic role to an analyst mindset?
The mentorship went far beyond standard classroom lectures. The instructors focused on the practical logic behind every financial assumption. They guided us through real market scenarios, taught us how to evaluate private and public entities and helped me rethink financial statements through the lens of an investment analyst.
4. Which technical skills and valuation methodologies did you master during the program?
At TWSS, I gained hands-on experience constructing fully integrated financial statement projection models with dynamic sensitivity analysis. On the valuation side, I mastered both the Income Approach (Discounted Cash Flow) and the Market Approach (Trading Comps and Deal Comps). I also focused heavily on drafting comprehensive company profiles, industry research and competitive benchmarking.
5. How do your academic background and modeling expertise work together in practice?
Having taught advanced accounting and economics for four years gives me a deep instinct for how financial statements interact. Combining that background with the practical modeling techniques, Python data modules and valuation workflows I acquired at TWSS allows me to analyze complex company data with both conceptual rigor and technical precision.
6. What is your top advice for educators or finance candidates looking to enter corporate finance?
Never underestimate the power of practical application. Academic degrees and certifications demonstrate strong discipline, but employers look for candidates who can build clean, reliable financial models on day one. Invest time in mastering dynamic Excel modeling, valuation methodologies and industry research frameworks.
Transform Your Finance Career with TWSS
Vikas’s journey shows how educators and finance professionals can leverage practical skill-building to transition into corporate advisory and valuation roles.
Whether you come from an academic, accounting, or business background, The WallStreet School’s Investment Banking Certification gives you the hands-on expertise required to stand out in competitive markets.
