Corporate Finance

1. Corporate Finance Presentation to Colgate University Saturday, October 1, 2011

2. Agenda Introduction What is Corporate Finance? American Express Next Steps Appendix Appendix I : American Express Appendix II : Interview & Job Tips

3. Introduction

4. Me • Colgate Grad – 2010 • Summers – Scientific Games Corporation • Bank of America Merrill Lynch – Global Industrials Group Investment Banking • American Express – Business Travel Finance, Pricing & Strategy

5. What is Corporate Finance?

6. Careers in Finance – Job Landscape Buy-Side Corporate Finance Pension Funds Real Estate Insurance Finance Investment Banking Sales & Trading Accounting Credit Cards Commercial Banking Financial Planning (Consulting) Wealth / Asset Management

7. Corporate Finance Overview Description Benefits Generally work in teams Tackle business problems that actually matter Opportunities to meet people across the company Potential travel Stable / Job security Competitive compensation • Division within a broader company • Find money to run the business • Grow the business • Make acquisitions • Plan for financial future • Manage cash on hand

8. Skills & Talents Risk management Patience Initiative Comfort with ambiguity Computer / finance literacy Problem solving People skills Engineering Foreign language skills

9. Careers in Corporate Finance Treasurer Financial / Business Analyst Financial planning, raising funds, cash management, acquiring & disposing of assets Analysis (capital projects, acquisitions, competitors), financial planning, budgets, implementing financial plans, determining business needs Credit Manager Cash Manager Manages credit relationships with suppliers and customers Manages relationships with lenders and monitors corporate credit needs Benefits Officer Real Estate Officer Manages pension fund assets and other financial benefits of employees, analyzes cost-effectiveness Find, negotiate, acquire, value, and manage real estate locations of the company Investor Relations Officer Controller Publish financial information, manage relationship with investing public, press releases Financial planning, accounting, financial reporting, cost analysis

10. Careers in Corporate Finance - Continued Accounting Audit Financial records, financial reporting, budgets, cash flows, bill payments Internal, investigate financial records, evaluate procedures, create new procedures Tax Corporate Development Administer taxes, examine tax cost-effectiveness (transactions, acquisitions, day-to-day) Examine acquisitions, investment options, new strategies and innovations, strategic planning

11. American Express

12. American Express • AT AMERICAN EXPRESS, WE: • Are the world’s largest card issuer by purchase volume • Process millions of transactions daily as the premium network for high-spending cardmembers • Help small business owners succeed by delivering purchasing power, flexibility and financial control • Provide commercial payment tools and expertise that help companies control their spending and save billions of dollars • Offer marketing and information management insights that help merchants build their businesses • Are customer loyalty experts with industry-leading rewards programs and platforms • Operate the world’s largest travel network serving consumers and businesses • Are recognized as the most innovative company in our industries • Are dedicated to serving our customers, 24.7, around the world Each day, American Express makes it easier, safer and more rewarding for consumers and businesses to purchase the things they need and for merchants to sell their goods and services. An engine of commerce, American Express provides innovative payment, travel and expense management solutions for individuals and businesses of all sizes. Most of all, we help our customers realize their dreams and aspirations through industry-leading benefits, access to unique experiences, business-building insights, and global customer care. We enable our customers to do more and achieve more.

13. Amex – Business Overview $24.5 billion in annual revenue 87.9 million cards-in-force $124 billion in total assets $620 billion in annual purchase volume on American Express cards 58,300 employees worldwide

14. Amex – Digital Initiatives

15. AXP Interactive AXPrivacy Corporate Affairs & Communications Finance General Counsel’s Office Global Advertising & Brand Management Human Resources Internal Audit Group Office of the Ombudspersons Risk & Information Management Quality Strategic Planning Group Technologies Amex – Business Matrix STAFF GROUPS American Express OPEN Consumer Card Services Group Consumer Travel Network Global Banking Global Commercial Card Global Credit Administration Global Merchant Services Global Network Services Global Payment Options Global Services Global Business Travel International Consumer Card & Small Business Services World Service BUSINESS UNITS ME

16. Next Steps

17. Next Steps Entry Level • Take the time to understand what you want from a job • Research companies you find interesting • Find connections / Grow your network • Take accounting Promotion Next Level Next Level Lateral Continue Senior / Target Level

18. Questions?

19. Appendix

20. Appendix I : American Express

21. Careers @ Amex What Why Culture Training & Development Affinity Groups Global Opportunities Benefits Brand • Finance • Traditional Finance • Risk, Information & Banking • Operations • Student Opportunities • Marketing • Finance / Pricing • Consulting http://careers.americanexpress.com

22. Amex – Payments Landscape Merchant Acquirer Merchant Processor Issuer Processor Payment Issuer Network American Express Business Model

23. Amex – Competitive Advantages Merchant Acquirer Payment Issuer Network American Express Business Model Assets Capabilities Relationships • Brand • Premium Positioning • Channels • Closed Loop Data • Travel Network • Processing Infrastructure • Rewards Bank • Marketing / Sales • Risk Management • Info Management • Servicing • Rewards / Loyalty • Ability to Partner • Reengineering • Affluent Customers • Merchants • Corporate Clients • Business Partners • GNS Partners

24. Amex – Digital Closed Loop Information • Aggregate Customer Data • Cardmembers • Loyalty program collectors • Travel clients • Serve users • Prepaid card users • Merchant Data • Industry • Sub-Industry • Merchant • Geography • Time Insights

25. Appendix II : Interview & Job Tips

26. Interview Skills & Preparation - Overview • Interview is the most important element in the job search process • Opportunity for you to determine if the job and, more specifically, if “XYZ Co” is a good “fit” • General Pointers • Be prepared: Know as much about the Company and position as possible • Know yourself • Be honest • Have a positive attitude • Demonstrate interest • Professionalism • Practice • Ask good and relevant questions

27. Interview Skills & Preparation – General Takeaways • Do your own due diligence • Do you like the type of work required to be successful? • Are you comfortable with the lifestyle? • How do you feel about the locations? (e.g. NYC is expensive, crowded) • Cultural fit of the Company? (group dynamics, diversity, individuality, professionalism) • Opportunities? (training program, responsibilities, work flow, international, growth opportunities) • Be prepared • Talk with friends, family, professors, recruiters, and schedule office visits and externships • Read annual reports, research, recruiting literature, articles and Web site • List differences between Companies and key criteria for making your own decision • Understand what the Company does and your role in the process • Understand yourself, what motivates you, your strengths and weaknesses and be able to articulate those points • Practice interviewing – thinking it and speaking it can be entirely different • Make the decision for yourself, not someone else – and avoid the “herd mentality” • Relax, trust yourself, and have fun!

28. Entry Level Job Success Factors • Rapidly processes and synthesizes information and identifies key issues • Delivers required output on time and at required quality and accuracy levels • Effectively works on several activities without sacrificing quality or service • Clear attention to detail • Collaborates well with others and shares ideas • Exhibits corporate citizenship; participates in mandated training programs, compiles with firm policies • Communicates effectively in formal and informal settings; proactive in managing expectations • Demonstrates good judgment and decision making capabilities • Has a positive attitude and strong commitment to the work • Behaves in a way that leads others to trust them • Is calm and focused under pressure • Works well amidst ambiguity • Results oriented • Tries to step into the shoes of the rank above • Has a positive attitude • Is eager to learn • Is reliable • Is responsible • Is proactive • Is resourceful • Has a sense of humor • Asks insightful questions • Has an inquiring mind and is a thorough thinker • Is efficient, organized, has great attention to detail, and is self-sufficient/independent • Leverages off peers • Is always presentable and well-groomed • Clearly understands the needs and complexity of the business they are serving • Demonstrates strong quantitative ability

29. Things to Implement on the First Day • Attitude • Display a sense of urgency and be enthusiastic about everything you do • Demonstrate a positive attitude and be willing to learn as much as you can • Inspire Confidence • FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE LASTING!!! • Be available (check voicemails and emails; let people know where you are; call in when you are out) • Be accurate (CHECK YOUR WORK) • Be reliable • Have an opinion • Career Development • Be proactive and introduce yourself to the members of the group • Establish a regular dialogue with your superiors • What types of projects would you like to work on? • What do you want to do to develop your career? • Establish a regular dialogue with your mentor • Always think two jobs ahead – is this taking you where you want to go? • But at the same time, be present in your current position and get as much as you can out of it

30. Workplace 101 - Communication • Email • Run spell check (set email to run auto check) • Check the attachment before hitting send • Be careful of “Reply to All” (especially for distribution lists) • Use a professional tone / be conservative (e-mail can be interpreted differently) • If you are concerned about anyone else reading what you sent, say it face-to-face instead (e-mails are saved!) • NO PERSONAL EMAILS • Voicemail • Sending: Organize thoughts beforehand and get to the point • Receiving: Check voicemail often • Meetings • Always consider logistics in advance (building access, dial-in numbers, conference room reservations)

31. Workplace 101 - Organization • Actively Manage Your Time • Map out all of the steps of task at hand • Estimate the time it will take to complete each step • Communicate the schedule / allow teammates to plan accordingly • Budget time to review before distributing to broader team • Manage Conflicts Early • Communicate time conflicts early and often – most conflicts can be managed • Don’t decide yourself what’s more important • Keep Lists • Write everything down (first casualty of fatigue is memory) • Review and prioritize your lists daily • Read your list often during the day • Organize As You Go • Don’t push it off until later • Keep your desk and projects organized and easily accessible • Save copies of all e-mails