Meet our people

Ted M. Analyst, Investment Banking

BBA, Schulich School of Business, York University, 2012

What is your experience in your current role and who do you connect with?

Wholesale banking is largely about making connections between providers of capital and companies that can use it efficiently. As an analyst, my job is to support senior bankers in their interactions with clients and potential clients, providing them with meaningful analysis and advice. This includes getting to know businesses and industries very well, helping to form capital markets, financing, and strategic recommendations, and putting together presentations to help communicate this advice to clients.  In an industry coverage role like mine, we focus on a specific niche and work with all of the bank’s product groups to provide companies in that industry with the most relevant products to suit their needs. One example where I might get to work with a broad group of people is in a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) mandate where we are also providing financing. In this case, we would work with the M&A team on transaction specifics, while also working with the bank’s credit, equity capital markets, and several different debt teams to provide indicative financing terms and advice to the issuer on the best way to fund their acquisition. As a junior banker, this gives you a lot of exposure to different people and products and valuable insight into the way companies think about strategic and capital markets decisions.

What are the main strengths and skills you rely on to be successful in your role?

Working in a low-volume high stakes industry means that every interaction that you have needs to be your best performance. There is no “oh well, we’ll get the next one” in this industry.  The result is a focus on critical thinking, and pointed attention to detail that will instill confidence in our clients. The biggest challenge in my role is trying to balance multiple projects at once, as work can come from several sources and often at one time, requiring ardent management of priorities and expectations.  This is one of the reasons that communication is so important. I look to maintain a level of intensity and commitment appropriate for the industry. It is a demanding work environment that is built for motivated and hard-working individuals, and dedication is important if you want to get the most out of it.  My favourite part about this job is that my analysis often goes straight to business leaders in the Canadian economy.  Investment Banking is by nature an entrepreneurial endeavour. Deal teams are streamlined and as a result, you get to work closely with the client.  It is rewarding to see your work go to C-level management in leading Canadian companies and often hear their feedback or see the direct impact of recommendations you helped form.

What made you choose TDS?

One of the most important distinctions, and the most difficult to define, when applying to jobs is the culture of the organization. When you are in school, you are able to go through a very iterative process when meeting new people, making friends, figuring out who you work well with, etc. You have time to make mistakes and the ability to move on and try again. When you start a career and dedicate yourself to an organization, you often don’t have the same flexibility.  Organizations will tell you they have the best culture on the street, and they truly believe it because it is based on personal preference. From a cultural perspective, it’s not about being better or worse, it’s about finding out what works best for you; what allows you to perform to the best of your abilities and have a good time doing it. I put a lot of thought into culture during recruiting and met a lot of great people. In the end, TD was an easy decision for me. It has a leading platform, and I loved the culture not only among the broader organization, but also with some specific people whom I had a chance to get close with before interviewing.  At TD, the senior bankers are very good at keeping junior staff in the loop and having them included in the larger process.

You work closely with your team on intense projects. How important are your colleagues?

From the perspective of a junior professional, it is important to have a cohesive team because your leadership team will be responsible for teaching you and therefore have an impact in developing your career. There is no textbook that will explain to you exactly how to do things or where to find salient information. This industry is based on human and intellectual capital, so working with people that you get along with and who are willing to guide you is paramount.

What advice would you offer students interested in securing an Analyst role within Investment Banking?

The driver behind being successful early in your career can often be as simple as putting your hand up and wanting to be there. It’s important to build relationships and trust early on, and the way to achieve this is by showing interest in your work and applying yourself to the opportunities you’re given.  I started in the Diversified Industries group where I worked with a variety of companies in the engineering and construction, transportation, fertilizer, retail and restaurant industries, among others. After a year in Diversified, I decided that I wanted to try another industry group and moved into my current role in the Communications, Media and Technology group.  Experienced employees across TD emphasize that early in your career you should try to gain a variety of experiences and work with a diverse group of people.  Not only have the companies I work with changed, but the people I report to have changed as well, which is a new experience in itself.  Personal growth in this industry is exponential, meaning the effort you put into it early on can establish an ability and desire to work hard and contribute in a meaningful way, setting the foundation for a successful long-term career.