Teresa Torres, Corporate Banking Director at Caixa d'Enginyers came to GBSB Global Business School in Barcelona on March 3, 2017 to present her career experience in investments at both Caixa d'Enginyers and IFEM. In addition, Ms. Torres spoke on the very important topic when it comes to finance, risk and return assessment.
Ms. Torres was an invited guest speaker of Professor Xavier Arola Pérez, an expert CEO, with over 20 years of experience, who is distinguished member of our GBSB faculty. This presentation was part of Mr. Pérez’s Investments class and covered three main points that were intended to give students a rare glimpse into the world of corporate banking and investment.
Ms. Torres, a professional with a wealth of experience not only as a director, but has worked as a board member of Know Media Hub, Director at IFEM, and Chief Financial Officer at the Institut Català de Finances. Her presentation to students included:
- An introduction to Caixa d'Enginyers, a cooperative credit society located here in Barcelona and throughout Spain;
- Corporate banking and differences that make her position unique;
- How Caixa d'Enginyers analyzes risks
Caixa d'Enginyers is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. A company recognized for its constant and reoccurring growth promotes honesty, equality, and social responsibility. With over 145,000 clients and partners, the company has grown apart from the rest of the economic issues that have troubled Spain’s financial markets in recent years. Their specific demographic for investments has set them apart and has controlled certain risks and has also influenced returns.
Currently Caixa d'Enginyers only works with companies that are at least five years old, providing credit for working capital. They are a little institution, relevantly speaking, that specializes in private banking. The major industry Ms. Torres highlighted that the company takes specific interest in is manufacturing, in particular food and textiles. These two areas are historically known in Catalunya. The companies that survived the recent financial crisis are very interesting to Caixa d'Enginyers.
Looking at steps in risk and return assessment, Ms. Torres outlined specific targets to examine and consider.
What Caixa d'Enginyers’ Analyzes
The financial institution is quite conservative when it comes to researching and analyzing companies. It works with and focuses on the prospective business’ financial position and background, determines who the partners are and if they are reputable, examines strategic plans or a detailed business plan, and verifies the company’s market position with the credit bureaus. The prospective company asking for the loan must know exactly what they need the loan for and accept the terms of the agreement. Caixa d'Enginyers will determine the company’s ability to return the loan and monitor the risks, watching the health of the company’s portfolio closely.
After the Ms. Torres’s presentation, the students were offered a question and answer session. Many of whom had very intriguing questions, helping to better understand corporate investments.
Understanding the distinctive challenges, effective strategies and opportunities of the international financial markets requires leading-edge, comprehensive teaching. The Master of Science in Finance program at GBSB Global Business School has been created to offer students the fundamental knowledge, tools, and skills necessary to establish a successful financial management career in Europe and worldwide.
The Master of Science in Finance degree provides a graduate education covering all aspects of finance and investments. One of the most important characteristics of an effective financial manager is the ability to develop business strategies based on key financial issues. Today’s business leaders must have a thorough comprehension of interest rates, investment and financial analysis, and capital markets. Master in Finance students graduating from GBSB Global Business School acquire a top education that paves the way for a prosperous career in finance.
