Employee Spotlight: Calvin Chow, Valuation Analyst, Eqvista
In this edition of our Employee Spotlight, we’re happy to chat with our newest member of the valuation team, Calvin Chow. Calvin is a valuation analyst helping clients with performing numerous valuations for different companies.
Hi Calvin, Thanks for joining us for this interview! Congratulations on your new role. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and what you’ll be doing in your new position.
Hi everyone, I am Calvin, and I want to take this opportunity to say thank you again for offering me the chance to work as a valuation analyst at Eqvista. In this position, I would be analyzing startup companies’ financial and operational data to perform valuation to draw precise and fair company value.
Can you tell us about your background and experience before joining Eqvista?
I have achieved a Master’s in Finance with Banking at the University of Bath and a Bachelor’s in Economics at Durham University. Before joining Eqvista, I worked at another valuation firm that is based in Hong Kong, where I focused on the valuation of pre-IPO firms that operate in China.
Can you give us an idea of what a typical day looks like for you at Eqvista? What are some of your primary responsibilities and tasks?
As a valuation analyst, I would say a typical day in Eqvista involves a lot of working on Excel’s and sourcing different data on various financial databases; and also exchanging ideas/having discussions on multiple cases with my peers.
Some of my primary responsibilities and tasks are conducting a financial analysis of the client’s financial performance and writing a valuation report after.
What are some of the key skills and attributes essential for success as a valuation analyst, in your opinion?
In my opinion, I believe that a successful valuation analyst has to have a strong understanding of financial models and also strong numeracy in accounting.
How do you stay motivated and engaged in your work, especially when dealing with complex financial models and calculations?
I think it is the sense of accomplishment I receive when I complete a difficult task with all sorts of complex equations/formulas in a financial model. I believe this is what keeps me going.
What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out in the field of valuation analysis or considering pursuing a career in this area?
If you are just starting out as a valuation analyst or thinking of pursuing your career in this field, my advice would be to build a habit of questioning everything; do not be spoon-fed the information.
How do you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in the field of valuation, and what resources do you rely on for information and research?
At Eqvista, there are resources and database that helps us to keep up-to-date with the latest trends and development in the field of valuation. Personally, I like reading the news on the CNBC Apps to know the latest headlines in the financial world.
