Sera Tai

During my internship, I had the opportunity to work at a Chinese equity-focused Hedge Fund. The company places strong emphasis on the fundamental aspects of the companies it invests in. Initially, my role primarily involved assisting the operations department, allowing me to collaborate closely with my colleagues in that area for the first two months. However, as the company was highly supportive of its employees’ personal interests, I was able to engage in a meaningful conversation with the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of the company. From the third month onwards, my responsibilities shifted to working closely with the investment team. Additionally, I was fortunate to receive training from three experienced analysts, enabling me to prepare myself to become a qualified analyst in the hedge fund industry.

The duration of the internship is approximately 8 months, which will end on 30^th Aug, 2024.

Operation side:

1. I have independently developed an automated financial dashboard template for cost analysis and cash flow projection.
2. I assist the COO in analyzing the ESG performance of companies in the investment portfolio. I continuously search for new theories and tools to better identify portfolio company risks while adhering to the ESG standards.
3. Furthermore, I have established a collaborative workspace for more efficient and effective teamwork.

Investment side:

1. I am responsible for collecting the latest information from the sell side and extracting key details.
2. I gather relevant information on portfolio companies and conduct research on their respective industry’s business models, supply and demand relationships, competitive dynamics, company operations, growth trajectory, and revenue projections.
3. Additionally, I perform financial modeling for a specific company, which includes profit forecasting and valuation assessment.

1. I have gained a basic understanding of how a fund operates, including its investment strategies, risk management practices, and regulatory compliance requirements.
2. I have familiarized myself with the research methodologies employed by analysts specializing in secondary market investments. This includes conducting in-depth research on target companies, analyzing their financial statements, assessing their competitive position, and evaluating industry trends and market dynamics.
3. I am continuously enhancing my ability to retrieve top-notch information from diverse sources, including financial databases, industry reports, and expert opinions. I am also refining my expertise in combing through large volumes of intricate data to extract valuable and critical insights that empower individuals to make well-informed investment decisions.

At the beginning of my MBA program, I had a strong desire to transition into the investment industry. To pursue this goal, I selected a range of finance-related elective courses: Mergers and Acquisitions, Venture Capital & Private Equity, Derivatives and structured finance, and Investment & Asset Allocation. Coming from a background in financial statement audit, I naturally gravitated towards focusing on financial-related information. However, during my coursework, I gradually realized the importance of qualitative research, such as analyzing business models and conducting industry studies.

Although I had gained theoretical knowledge in these areas, I had not yet had the opportunity to put them into practice. It was during my internship that I truly recognized the significance of qualitative analysis and had the chance to apply both qualitative and quantitative methods in investment analysis. This experience further reinforced my understanding of the importance of comprehensive research and the integration of both qualitative and quantitative approaches in making informed investment decisions.