Investment Banking Academy
Preparing you for investment banking careers The Investment Banking Academy, one of the Stanley C. Golder Academies, prepares students to secure top positions at investment banking firms by providing mentorship, technical skill development, case competition experiences, investment banking coursework, and software tutorials. All of this prepares you for internships and interviews, which can eventually help you land your dream job.
Senior and junior members help guide our newly selected sophomores. Plus, we continuously engage and expand our professional network by connecting with alumni, partnering with companies for case competitions, and conducting office visits to various banks.
Many financial institutions have dedicated diversity and inclusion initiatives. We have a network of alumni and students who have gone through the recruitment process who can offer perspectives based on their experiences. Different programs have varying timelines, and some have early timelines for networking and an expedited interview process. You should start early to create a plan/strategy for applying to the programs that interest you.
Admission Information
Admission to the Illinois Investment Banking Academy is highly competitive and is open each fall to current sophomores.
Admission Process
Applications are accepted in September, followed by an in-person interview process. Students who are selected officially join the Academy at the end of the fall semester.
Students interested in applying are encouraged to connect with the IBA executive team at uiuciba@gmail.com during the fall semester to learn more about investment banking, the Academy, and the recruiting process. The admissions process includes a case competition, a technical written assessment, and two rounds of interviews.
Candidate Expectations
- Possess (or have aptitude for) technical knowledge
- Have the poise, demeanor and comfort level speaking with senior professionals across multiple corporate fields – partners, clients and members of other investment banking institutions
- Demonstrate the drive and the ability to pay attention to details and to learn continuously
- Display a commitment towards the pursuit of deeper understanding of capital markets and the investment banking industry
- Earned a minimum GPA of 3.70 to be considered at the discretion of the director
Additional Opportunities
Office Visits
In January of their sophomore year, students in the Investment Banking Academy will go on three-day office visits to both Chicago and New York to visit a variety of investment banking and private equity firms (typically 6-7 firms per day). During these office visits, students have opportunities to connect with bankers of all levels at each of the firms they visit.
Banks visited in previous office visits:
- Chicago: Barclays, BMO, Brown Gibbons Lang, Citi, Credit Suisse, Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, Greenhill, GTCR, Guggenheim, Houlihan Lokey, JP Morgan, Kroll, Lazard, Lincoln International, Madison Dearborn, Moelis & Company, Morgan Stanley,Perella Weinberg Partners, Robert W. Braid, Rothschild, Stout, Waller Helms, and William Blair.
- New York: Bank of America, FT Partners, Goldman Sachs, Guggenheim, JP Morgan, Moelis & Company, Morgan Stanley, Perella Weinberg Partners, and Point 72.
Deal Workshops
The Golder Academies are pleased to offer a Deal Workshop for students interested in learning more about the Merger & Acquisition ("M&A") environment and the parties involved in it. This workshop is being offered in combination with the Financial Modeling Bootcamp, which is presented by the Margolis Market Information Lab on Mondays and Wednesdays.
The Deal Workshop will explore the following topics:
- Preparing and delivering an investment banking pitch
- The legal and financial aspects of an M&A transaction
- The private equity deal analysis and valuation process
- Leveraged lending process and analytics
- Performing due diligence as an M&A transaction service specialist
- Broad deal advisory services
Many of the classes will be led by professionals in the field of investment banking, private equity, law or leveraged lending. The purpose of the workshop is to provide insights into the various careers in the M&A field along with exposure to individuals working in it. Participation in the Deal Workshop will be capped at 30 participants.
Prime Mergers & Acquisitions
Prime is a student-run organization and program within the College of Business that is partnered with the Investment Banking Academy and Investment Management Academy. Prime's mission is to introduce Freshmen and Sophomores to the fundamental concepts of valuation and strategy that enable students to make informed decisions as it pertains to their campus involvement and career path.
The concepts will be learned through an interactive merger and acquisition simulation, including weekly educational seminars and exclusive information sessions with premiere investment and consulting organizations on campus. Prime will give you the tools to succeed in case competitions, help you network with like-minded individuals, and serve as a launching pad for those interested in careers in Valuation, Investment, and Consulting. Participants of Prime will be given access to exclusive workshops and networking with organizations like IBA, IMA, OTCR, IBC, etc.
About the Director
Jim Bertram is the Director of the Investment Banking Academy and the instructor for FIN 463 – Investment Banking. Jim joined the faculty at the University of Illinois in 2021 after a 34-year career in the investment banking industry. In 2006, he joined William Blair & Company, a leading global investment bank focused on emerging growth companies. In 2009, Jim was made a Partner of the firm and was named the Head of the Consumer & Retail Group.
Prior to joining William Blair, Jim headed the Food & Beverage Investment Banking practice at Banc of America Securities. During his investment banking career, Jim also worked for Deutsche Banc Securities, George K. Baum & Company and Salomon Brothers. Over his career, Jim provided M&A and capital raising advisory services on a global basis to a broad array of public and private companies executing over 200 transactions.
Jim is a 1989 graduate of the University of Illinois with a degree in Finance and received a MBA from the University of Illinois in 2021.