This article summarizes the day-to-day work and skills learned during a financial internship spring week program at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. As an important opportunity for first-year university students, spring week internships allow students to gain financial industry experience and fast-track summer internship opportunities. Key highlights of the 2-day virtual spring week include investment banking case studies, quantitative trading module overviews, credit risk analysis of an aviation company, and thematic investing research examples. With practical knowledge and preview of real work, this financial internship equips students with essential hard and soft skills in the competitive field. Multiple occurrences of key_word and higher_word are included.
Overview of investment banking including M&A advisory, global markets and global corporate banking
The first module covers three key investment banking teams – M&A advisory, global markets, and global corporate banking. Through an lively M&A case study, seniors demonstrate how to assess deal rationale, leadership fit, value creation timeline and integration specifics when advising two food delivery giants on potential merger. The diligent and structured approach offers great learning experience into day-to-day work. The second module then provides overview of FICC and equities operations within Bank’s global markets arm, focusing on workflow around institutional sales, trading and structuring across asset classes.
Hands-on group case study on aircraft lending risk modelling
This session involves an interactive case on underwriting an airline company’s debt. Participants are tasked to assess fundamentals, forecast cashflows and gauge risk level. Seniors then provide constructive feedback and compare how they approach such credit files. Through discussion, interns also learn important concepts like stress-testing downside scenario and comparing risk profiles over market cycles. The hands-on practice and direct guidance equip essential credit risk modelling skills.
Introduction to global consumer sector thematic investing workflow
The final speaker showcases the thematic investing research process in Bank’s consumer sector team. Examples demonstrate how socioeconomic trends, generational differences and innovations drive long term sector performance. Participants also gain lens into how thematic framework allows fundamental investors to spot secular changes early. Such workflow overview is helpful for interns to decide which area of investments fits own interest and strength down the road.
The 2-day virtual financial internship spring week at Bank of America Merrill Lynch provides first-hand preview of investment banking, trading and fundamental investing workflows. Through case studies, modules and direct interaction with professionals, participants not only learn technical knowledge, but more importantly develop structured thinking process that prepares for future roles. With open Q&A and fast-track to further summer internship opportunities, the experience equips essential hard and soft skills in the competitive field.