My first semester of the MSc Investment Management and Financial Analysis (IMFA) covered important and practical skills relevant to my future career. Importantly, we learned to forecast the future performance of firms in our Financial Modelling and Analysis module. This skill is a fundamental requirement for many career paths, and I really appreciate the effort of Lancaster University in providing us with a wide range of views on this topic.

After completing the curriculum, our class received a special lecture from industry professional Michael Hass, who was also a Lancaster alumnus. He did his MBA at Lancaster and, since then, has worked at IBM and EY and is now managing director of Fig Value Partners.

While our curriculum views financial modelling through the lens of an investment manager, this class focused on how financial modelling can help internal managers improve the businesses. Michael, who has spent his career helping senior management with their financial modelling, walked us through the steps he takes when working with clients. Knowing that my guest lecturer has helped senior management with corporate development and strategic options, I was motivated and excited. As he was a Lancaster alumnus, I can also see how my education can lead to an exciting and interesting career.

The class went in-depth into the specific steps when creating a financial model. We covered best industry practices, workflow, Excel shortcuts, as well as useful tips for practitioners. Within the class, we created a model that can be used for budgeting, capital raising and more. Many important aspects of a business were included in our class, including revenue, cost, tax, as well as debt and equity. The working template, provided by our guest lecturer, can be adapted to fit many more purposes, from valuation to business planning.

The lecture lasted for four hours, yet some of us were motivated to do even more. One of my colleagues reached out to Michael Hass and connected with him on LinkedIn. As for me, I came away with a new tool for financial modelling and a clear vision of the role of a financial professional in helping businesses.

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