From B.Com to Financial Analyst: Shiv Bhasin’s Journey to Clearwater Analytics

Employers don't hire degrees, they hire problem-solvers who know their way around an Excel sheet. Armed with hands-on training from The WallStreet School, Shiv Bhasin proved he was desk-ready landing his new position at Clearwater Analytics. 

For Shiv Bhasin, a B.Com (Hons) graduate from Delhi University, bridging the gap between textbook commerce and the corporate world meant getting his hands dirty with real-world skills. Through the investment banking program at The WallStreet School, Shiv mastered company valuations, dynamic scenario modeling, and advanced Excel frameworks. Combined with an independent three-statement financial model he built for a food business case study, Shiv proved he was ready for the desk—landing his new role as a financial professional at Clearwater Analytics.

We sat down with Shiv to talk about his journey, his hands-on modeling projects, and what it takes to break into the industry.

Q1: Shiv, as a B.Com graduate from Delhi University, what made you want to dive into financial modeling right after college?

Shiv: College gives you a great theoretical base in commerce and accounting, but it doesn't always show you how companies actually use those numbers day-to-day. I wanted to move beyond just reading textbooks. I realized that if I wanted a real finance role, I needed to know how to build things myself like linking the income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement together. Learning financial modeling gave me that practical edge.

Q2: You worked on an independent three-statement financial model for a food business case study. How did you approach building that?

Shiv: It was a fantastic learning curve, as instead of just looking at historical data, I had to figure out how to project revenues based on actual operating drivers specific to the food industry. I set up dynamic assumption sheets to test different business scenarios, mapped out working capital and capital expenditures and calculated project returns. Seeing all three financial statements balance out and talk to each other smoothly in Excel was a huge confidence booster. 

Q3: Valuation is a massive part of corporate finance. How did your training at The WallStreet School help you wrap your head around complex methods like DCF?

Shiv: The training really demystified how valuations are actually done in the corporate world. Instead of just memorizing formulas, we rolled up our sleeves and ran valuations using market comparables and Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) models. Learning how to handle public versus private company valuations and run sensitivity checks made the corporate world feel a lot less intimidating.

Q4: Beyond technical skills, what else helped prepare you for the professional environment?

Shiv: My B.Com background gave me a clear understanding of core accounting, which makes analyzing financial statements much easier. Outside of academics, playing cricket at the school level taught me teamwork, discipline, and how to keep a cool head under pressure. In high-stakes corporate roles, working well with others and staying consistent matter just as much as your technical chops.

Q5: Looking back at your journey to landing your role at Clearwater Analytics, what advice would you give to other grads trying to break in?

Shiv: Focus on actual execution and don't just read about financial models or valuations in a book—sit down and build them yourself in Excel. When you can point to a tangible project you built from scratch, it completely changes the dynamic of an interview. Stay curious, nail your basics and be ready to back up your work with clear logic.