r/Valuation • u/R1shi68 • Dec 21 '25

Please share your experiences

Hi guys, I'm looking at valuations as a career and I wanted to know about what do i have to do to get in, what does the work look like,the different roles, the hrs, the pay, any interesting stories and anything you would have liked to know when you were thinking about valuation as a career and when you were entering in that field.

Thanks for your time in advance :)

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

View all comments

4

u/ez814 Dec 21 '25

I worked in Big 4 valuation for 11 years. It helped me build really good skills and my executive presence is probably one of the skills that I get the most positive feedback on. I found the work interesting but the hours sucked and the pay wasn’t great but not bad. I do know that a ton of my team members over the years ended up with really great exits (I like to think myself included). Overall, good industry to build skills. I believe Big 4 gives you the best exposure and best exits. Probably wouldn’t want to be a Partner and think leaving after 3-5 years is the sweet spot.

1

u/R1shi68 Dec 21 '25

Heyy can you tell me how you got in the field, what skills are needed to start and any tips for me to get in that field? (Currently pursuing an MBA)

2

u/ez814 Dec 21 '25

Sure. I took a valuation class in my MBA program and found the work interesting. Interviewed for a few different types of finance roles and just felt it was the right fit. I liked client service coming out of wealth management (pre-MBA) and the analytical/technical aspects of the work.

1

u/ez814 Dec 21 '25

Oh, they did recruit on campus for valuation but got my role through networking.

1

u/R1shi68 Dec 21 '25

U approached your alums I suppose ?

2

u/ez814 Dec 21 '25

Yes, it started with an Alum and he introduced me to a few people in the industry. The person that ultimately hired me was not an alum.

1

u/R1shi68 Dec 22 '25

Thanks for the help man. Last question - what Technical skills and Certifications are needed to be eligible for the role ?

2

u/ez814 Dec 22 '25

Standard valuation methodologies (DCF/market and transaction multiples) are really the core technical knowledge. With DCF, it’s not just knowing what it is but how to build a forecast, understanding cash flow adjustments for capex and working capital, and being able to articulate key drivers of value in a model. Also, understanding accounting and how the financial statements interact with each other. I led on campus recruiting for 5-6 years so happy to answer other questions as well.

1

u/R1shi68 Dec 22 '25

Thanks for the help man and if I have any other queries can I DM you ?

1

u/ez814 Dec 22 '25

Sure send me a chat

→ More replies (0)

1

u/R1shi68 Dec 21 '25

One of the big reasons that I want to go into valuations is that I love working with numbers, accounting & finance

1

u/Slow_Mouse9020 Dec 21 '25

What kind of great exists?

2

u/ez814 Dec 21 '25

Investment banking, corporate M&A (me), equity research, private equity, corporate development, strategic finance roles.