Skip to main content
Investment Banking Toolkit

Investment Banking Toolkit

$495.00
Availability:
Downloadable Resources, Instant Access
Adding to cart… The item has been added

The Executive Diagnostic and Governance Toolkit

Investment Banking Toolkit

Score your own investment Banking red, amber or green, find out which part is weakest, and walk into the next budget round able to defend what you want to fix.

$199 one-time
30-day money-back guarantee Verified against latest insights, updated access provided within 24h

Each order is checked and updated against the latest insights before delivery. That is why access takes up to 24 hours rather than being instant.

What you walk out with
A scored, ranked picture of your own function, and a defensible answer to what to fix first.
1 You stop guessing where you stand.
You finish with a score, not an opinion: every part of your function rated red, amber or green, with the weakest ranked first. Evidence: a Quick Scan for the shape of it, then seven domain assessments of 30 scored questions each, 210 in all, rolled into one scorecard, plus a maturity radar and a current-versus-target gap analysis.
2 You can defend the decision.
You walk into the budget round with the gap named, the owner named and done defined, instead of a case built on instinct. Evidence: project charter, scope statement, RACI, requirements traceability and work breakdown structure, pre-filled in your domain's language.
3 The work actually moves.
The month after the decision is already built, so nothing stalls waiting for someone to design a form. Evidence: more than 60 project templates across all five PMBOK process groups, plus runbooks, SOPs, a KPI framework, audit checklists and a risk matrix. 55 to 65 files in total.
4 You use it the day it lands.
No blank templates to interpret. Every workbook opens with what it is, who uses it, when, how, a 1 to 5 scoring guide, what good looks like, and a worked example you delete and type over.
The Quick Scan is one sitting. You will know your weakest area before the day is out.
Nothing in it is generic project management: the build rejects any file that could belong to another course. Updated after you enrol, so it reflects where the work stands now. The 144-chapter course is included behind it, for the parts you want to go deeper on.
You’re asked to defend why your function needs resources—before you even know where it stands.

The situation this is built for

As the leader of an investment banking function, you’re caught between rising expectations and shrinking certainty. You need to prove the state of your team, rank what’s broken, and justify your order of fixes when leadership asks why this matters more than that. Without a clear, structured assessment, your arguments sound like opinions. With one, you shift from reacting to leading.

Who this is for

A senior leader who owns the investment banking function, accountable for performance, resourcing, and strategic alignment across financing activities including M&A, capital raising, client advisory, and cross-sell into wealth and private banking.

Who this is not for

Individual contributors, analysts, or junior associates looking for technical modeling skills or deal execution tactics. This is not a course on financial modeling, pitch book design, or client negotiation techniques.

What you walk away with

  • Conduct a comprehensive audit of your investment banking function’s current capabilities
  • Identify high-impact gaps in strategy, process, and stakeholder alignment
  • Prioritize initiatives based on leverage, risk, and strategic fit
  • Build a defensible rationale for investment and change
  • Align cross-functional partners around a shared view of what must improve and why

How this maps to your situation

  • Diagnose current state
  • Identify strategic gaps
  • Prioritize highest-leverage fixes
  • Defend choices with data

Before vs. after

Before
You're reacting to pressure, guessing at priorities, and defending requests without full clarity on where your function stands.
After
You have a clear, evidence-based view of your function's strengths and gaps, a prioritized roadmap for improvement, and a compelling case for investment.

What's included with your purchase

  • 12 modules with 12 chapters each (144 chapters)
  • Downloadable templates and worked examples for every module
  • Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Delivery and format

  • Course and learning environment access provisioned within 24 hours of purchase
  • Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access

Format: Text-based modules and chapters in the Art of Service learning environment, plus downloadable templates and worked examples for every chapter, plus the hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.

Time investment: Approximately 6–8 hours per module, designed to be completed at your pace over 12 weeks with actionable outputs each step of the way.

If nothing changes
Without a structured assessment, you risk misallocating scarce resources, failing to address root causes, and losing credibility when leadership demands proof of impact. The longer you delay, the harder it becomes to shift from firefighter to strategist.

How this compares to the alternatives

Traditional consulting engagements cost significantly more and deliver opaque methodologies. Internal task forces often lack objectivity and structured frameworks. This course provides a proven, repeatable assessment model tailored specifically for investment banking leaders—without requiring external dependencies.

Also included: the full course, for when you want the reasoning behind a finding (12 modules, 144 chapters)

Depth reference. The diagnostic and the templates stand on their own; this is what to read when you want the reasoning behind a finding.

Module 1. Establishing Functional Baselines
Define the foundational elements of your current investment banking operations and identify what success looks like across core dimensions.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Mapping the full scope of your investment banking responsibilities
  2. Defining measurable outcomes for client engagement and execution
  3. Assessing current maturity across advisory and transaction services
  4. Identifying key stakeholders and their expectations of the function
  5. Documenting existing processes for deal origination and flow
  6. Benchmarking performance against internal strategic goals
  7. Evaluating consistency in client communication standards
  8. Reviewing historical deal win rates and loss reasons
  9. Analyzing team structure relative to workload distribution
  10. Determining data sources used for operational insights
  11. Clarifying decision rights in transaction approval workflows
  12. Setting baseline metrics for functional health assessment
Module 2. Diagnosing Strategic Misalignment
Uncover gaps between your function’s activities and the firm’s broader strategic objectives, especially in cross-sell and capital allocation.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Tracing how investment banking activities support enterprise goals
  2. Evaluating alignment with corporate and consumer financing strategies
  3. Identifying disconnects in wealth management integration efforts
  4. Assessing private banking referral mechanisms and outcomes
  5. Reviewing strategic priorities communicated from executive leadership
  6. Measuring actual time spent on priority versus routine work
  7. Analyzing client segmentation against strategic focus areas
  8. Detecting misalignment in resource allocation by practice area
  9. Evaluating consistency in messaging across internal partners
  10. Identifying friction points in joint client engagement models
  11. Assessing whether deal selection reflects long-term positioning
  12. Documenting variances between planned and executed strategy
Module 3. Evaluating Client Engagement Quality
Assess how effectively your team understands and serves client needs across different industry and capital lifecycle stages.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Reviewing client intake processes for completeness and insight
  2. Assessing depth of understanding of client business models
  3. Evaluating market positioning analysis included in proposals
  4. Measuring consistency in financial condition assessments
  5. Analyzing tailoring of engagement approaches by client size
  6. Reviewing frequency and quality of ongoing client check-ins
  7. Identifying gaps in anticipating client capital needs
  8. Assessing responsiveness during live transaction execution
  9. Evaluating post-deal follow-up and relationship nurturing
  10. Measuring client perception through structured feedback loops
  11. Documenting use of client feedback in service improvements
  12. Benchmarking client retention and repeat engagement rates
Module 4. Auditing Transaction Execution Rigor
Examine the precision, speed, and reliability of your deal execution workflow from pitch to close.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Mapping the end-to-end transaction lifecycle stages
  2. Assessing timeliness of internal deal team mobilization
  3. Reviewing quality control steps in financial model reviews
  4. Evaluating accuracy of valuation assumptions and ranges
  5. Analyzing consistency in due diligence documentation
  6. Measuring turnaround time for client deliverables
  7. Identifying bottlenecks in legal and structuring coordination
  8. Assessing communication flow between internal specialists
  9. Reviewing escalation protocols for complex deal issues
  10. Evaluating use of standardized templates and playbooks
  11. Measuring adherence to compliance and regulatory checks
  12. Documenting lessons learned from recently closed deals
Module 5. Assessing Cross-Functional Integration
Determine how well your function collaborates with financing teams across the enterprise to deliver unified solutions.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Mapping interactions with corporate financing counterparts
  2. Evaluating coordination mechanisms with consumer finance teams
  3. Assessing integration depth with wealth management advisors
  4. Reviewing joint client planning session effectiveness
  5. Identifying handoff inefficiencies between departments
  6. Measuring speed and clarity of inter-team communication
  7. Analyzing data sharing practices across functional boundaries
  8. Evaluating shared client visibility and tracking systems
  9. Assessing incentive alignment across partner functions
  10. Documenting conflict resolution processes for disputes
  11. Reviewing co-branded proposal development workflows
  12. Measuring success of integrated client solution delivery
Module 6. Measuring Team Capability and Capacity
Evaluate whether your team has the right skills, bandwidth, and development pathways to meet current and future demands.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Auditing individual roles against required skill sets
  2. Assessing technical proficiency in modeling and valuation
  3. Evaluating advisory and client communication competencies
  4. Measuring workload distribution across senior and junior staff
  5. Identifying burnout indicators and capacity constraints
  6. Reviewing professional development plans for each member
  7. Assessing knowledge transfer between experienced and new hires
  8. Evaluating utilization rates across different engagement types
  9. Mapping career progression opportunities within the function
  10. Reviewing feedback mechanisms for performance improvement
  11. Assessing diversity of experience across industry verticals
  12. Measuring retention rates and exit interview insights
Module 7. Analyzing Data and Insight Utilization
Determine how systematically your function uses data to guide decisions, improve execution, and demonstrate value.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Inventorying data sources used in daily operations
  2. Assessing timeliness and accuracy of performance reporting
  3. Evaluating use of data in client opportunity prioritization
  4. Reviewing deal pipeline analytics and conversion metrics
  5. Measuring adoption of dashboards by team members
  6. Identifying gaps in predictive analytics usage
  7. Assessing integration of market intelligence into pitches
  8. Evaluating benchmarking against peer transaction outcomes
  9. Documenting use of data in resource allocation decisions
  10. Reviewing data governance and access protocols
  11. Assessing ability to generate forward-looking insights
  12. Measuring consistency in data-driven client conversations
Module 8. Prioritizing Improvement Opportunities
Apply a structured framework to rank issues by impact, urgency, and feasibility to build a credible improvement agenda.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Compiling findings from all diagnostic assessments
  2. Categorizing gaps by operational, strategic, and cultural type
  3. Assessing impact of each gap on client outcomes
  4. Evaluating risk exposure from unaddressed weaknesses
  5. Estimating effort required to close each gap
  6. Scoring initiatives using impact versus feasibility matrix
  7. Identifying quick wins with visible client benefits
  8. Mapping dependencies between potential improvements
  9. Assessing change readiness across the organization
  10. Prioritizing initiatives that enable future scalability
  11. Validating rankings with key internal stakeholders
  12. Building consensus on first-move priorities
Module 9. Building the Business Case
Formulate a compelling, evidence-based rationale for investment in function-wide improvements.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Defining the cost of inaction for each high-priority gap
  2. Quantifying potential gains from targeted improvements
  3. Aligning proposed changes to enterprise KPIs
  4. Estimating resource requirements for implementation
  5. Developing timelines for phased benefit realization
  6. Identifying key stakeholders to influence approval
  7. Anticipating objections from budget holders
  8. Framing improvements as strategic enablers, not costs
  9. Using client and deal data to support projections
  10. Incorporating risk mitigation plans into proposals
  11. Tailoring messaging for different executive audiences
  12. Finalizing business case structure and evidence package
Module 10. Designing the Implementation Roadmap
Translate priorities into a clear, sequenced plan with ownership, milestones, and success markers.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Defining clear objectives for each improvement initiative
  2. Breaking initiatives into executable workstreams
  3. Assigning accountable owners for each component
  4. Setting measurable success criteria for each phase
  5. Creating milestone timelines with dependencies
  6. Identifying required tools and systems access
  7. Planning cross-functional alignment meetings
  8. Designing feedback loops for progress tracking
  9. Establishing communication cadence with stakeholders
  10. Preparing templates for status reporting
  11. Integrating change management activities
  12. Finalizing governance structure for execution oversight
Module 11. Communicating for Alignment and Buy-In
Develop a targeted communication strategy to align executives, peers, and team members behind the improvement plan.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Segmenting audiences by influence and interest level
  2. Crafting tailored messages for executive leadership
  3. Preparing peer team leaders for collaborative rollout
  4. Designing team town hall content and timing
  5. Developing FAQs to address anticipated concerns
  6. Creating visual summaries of the improvement journey
  7. Establishing two-way feedback channels
  8. Training managers to cascade key messages
  9. Planning recognition mechanisms for early adopters
  10. Scheduling regular progress updates
  11. Adapting tone for different communication formats
  12. Measuring engagement with communications
Module 12. Sustaining Functional Excellence
Institutionalize routines that maintain momentum, reinforce new standards, and adapt to evolving demands.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Embedding assessment routines into quarterly planning
  2. Designing ongoing health checks for key processes
  3. Establishing a center of excellence for best practices
  4. Creating peer review mechanisms for deal materials
  5. Implementing periodic client advisory board sessions
  6. Building a library of reusable templates and examples
  7. Setting up continuous feedback loops with stakeholders
  8. Incorporating lessons learned into onboarding
  9. Reviewing improvement metrics in leadership reviews
  10. Adapting playbook based on market shifts
  11. Recognizing team members who exemplify new standards
  12. Planning annual refresh of strategic priorities

Frequently asked

Is this course about financial modeling or deal execution techniques?
No. This course focuses on assessing and improving the function you lead, not on technical skills like modeling, valuation, or negotiation.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Will I get practical tools I can use immediately?
Yes. Every module includes downloadable templates, real-world examples, and guidance you can apply directly to your team and stakeholders.
Can I complete this while managing my regular responsibilities?
Yes. The course is designed for busy leaders, with bite-sized chapters and incremental output building toward a comprehensive action plan.
Is there support if I get stuck?
While this is a self-paced course, all materials are designed to be fully self-explanatory, with clear instructions and examples throughout.
What formats do the templates come in?
The implementation playbook downloads as PDF and editable XLSX. The course reads in your learning environment and exports to PDF for offline use. The files are yours to keep.
Can I share this with my team?
The licence is per person. Team pricing opens from three seats: reply to the order confirmation with TEAM and we will set it up.
How quickly can I start?
The diagnostic is one sitting and the templates work straight out of the kit. Account access takes up to 24 hours rather than being instant, because every order is checked and updated against the latest sources before it is delivered.
$199 one-time. Approximately 6–8 hours per module, designed to be completed at your pace over 12 weeks with actionable outputs each step of the way..

Within 24 hours your account in the learning environment is provisioned and the tailored implementation playbook is delivered alongside it.

30-day money-back guarantee·Know your weakest area today·210 scored questions·Course included· Account access within 24 hours
30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked.
Thousands of organisations have bought from The Art of Service since 2000.
!