Become an Investment Banker
Investment bankers help companies raise money and complete transactions. In India this work runs through SEBI-registered merchant bankers, whose employees handling these deals need NISM Series IX.
Certifications you need
Series IX is the SEBI certificate for this work. Firms also hire heavily on academics and financial modelling.
How to get there
Build finance skills
Corporate finance, valuation and modelling matter more than any single exam.
Join as an analyst
Start at a merchant banker or an investment bank.
Clear NISM Series IX
It targets people working at merchant banking firms.
Move up the deal team
Analysts become associates, then lead transactions and client coverage.
What you'll do
- check_circleBuild financial models and valuations
- check_circlePrepare offer documents and pitch books
- check_circleRun due diligence
- check_circleCoordinate with regulators and investors
Who hires
- Investment banks and merchant bankers
- Banks' investment banking arms
- Boutique advisories
- Offshore investment banking desks
What it pays
Indicative figures. Actual pay varies by employer, city and experience.
Analyst
₹8–25 LPA
Merchant bankers at the lower end, large banks at the upper end
Associate / mid level
₹20–60 LPA
Managing transactions
VP to MD
₹60 LPA+
Origination and leadership
Frequently asked questions
Do I need NISM Series IX before applying?
Usually not. NISM sets no strict educational bar for it, but it is aimed at people working at merchant banking firms rather than fresh graduates.
Is merchant banking the same as investment banking?
They overlap. Merchant banker is the SEBI registration category that covers capital market deals such as IPOs. Investment banking is the wider industry term.
Ready to start?
Practise for your exam with mock tests and chapter-wise questions.
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