The Finance Professionals' Post

Banks’ Financial Reporting and Financial System Stability by Prof. Viral Acharya

The use of accounting measures and disclosures in bank contracts and in regulation suggests that the quality of banks’ financial reporting is central to the efficacy of market discipline and non-market mechanisms in limiting bank debt and risk overhang in good economic times, as well as mitigating the consequences of risk overhang that could compromise the stability of the financial system in downturns. Professors Viral Acharya and Stephen Ryan examine how research on banks’ financial reporting, informed by the financial economics literature on banking, can generate insights about how to enhance the stability of the financial system.

Cover Letter Tips

The cover letter is probably the most underrated component of the job search. If written well, it can pique the curiosity of the employer and motivate him/her to carefully read your resume. If written poorly, the resume may never get read.

Basic Tips

1. Write to a specific individual - never Dear Sir or Madam.
2. Tailor your letters - don't mass produce them.
3. Keep it brief - 3 or 4 SHORT paragraphs will suffice.
4. Make sure to use terminology that is not too technical - this might come off as arrogant and demonstrates insensitivity to the audience.
5. Use paper and print which match your resume. Use the same header.

Struggling to Find Good Stock Calls? 10 Tips to Find More Time

“I have trouble coming up with good stock calls,” is one of the most common concerns I hear when starting a new one-on-one coaching assignment with an analyst.

There are dozens of skills required for great stock picking, but only one that burdens almost all analysts, regardless of experience level or geographic location: time management. To some, the concept of “time management” isn't worthy of being "learned" because they assume it's just a matter of using common sense…and that’s probably why time management is too often overlooked as a source of individual career advancement. If my hypothesis is right, we should coin a new buzzword to make this critically-important skill sound sexier; perhaps one of these:

• “Efficiency Re-engineering”
• “Prioritization Intensification”
• “Accelerated Productivity”

Book Review: Lodewijk Petram's The World’s First Stock Exchange

If you have the common, errant idea of the Dutch as universally meticulous, arrogant and deadly boring people, you will not be disappointed by L. Petram’s book, The World’s First Stock Exchange.  Happily of a “European” size—i.e. less than 300 pages—it might though bore you to death. What might have been the fascinating tale of colorful Conraad von Beuningen, a follower of Spinoza sent on ambassadorial missions to both France and England, and eventually Mayor of Amsterdam who went mad after losing his fortune in short selling, is reduced to the technicalities of how he avoided prohibition against short selling. Yet, it is necessary reading and a valuable reference source for scholars with a serious interest in markets, exchanges and financial history.

Résumé Tips

This page is intended to serve as a reference for corporate related information, stressing the necessary preparations before the job hunt. This page is NOT intended to teach you how to find a job or where to look for a job. This page has been built with two assumptions in mind. Please keep them in mind as you read this page:

1. The audience has a clear idea of the type of job they want
2. The audience is aware of the skills that they possess, but would like tips on how to communicate this across in the job search.

Resume Rule: Never Lie

That's right – never lie on your resume. This cannot be stressed enough. It's the easiest way to lose an interview and is sufficient grounds for dismissal once on the job.