Launch your investing career
The Recalc Academy Finance Accelerator program is designed to help you launch your career in private equity and alternative investments. We train and develop candidates historically underrepresented within the industry. This includes women, first generation students, underrepresented minorities, and students from schools without traditional on-campus finance recruiting. We look for incredibly hard-working students and recent graduates ready to dedicate themselves to launching their career in finance.
Applications for next cohort will open in the fall. Watch a video recording of our Spring 2024 Finance Accelerator info session to learn more.
Accelerator Leadership
Katie Fifer
Katie brings over a decade of investing experience at Audax Group and Paxion Capital as well as a passion for teaching as founder at Recalc Academy.
Suzanne Corley
Suzanne brings over a decade of finance and operational experience at J.P. Morgan, General Mills and 3M.
Partners
We are grateful to partner with leading investment firms who are dedicated to
advancing diversity in the industry.
Interested in becoming a partner?
Program Pillars
Technical Training
Mentorship
Community
Recruiting Support
Technical Training
Accelerator training is incredibly hands-on and interactive.
Accounting Fundamentals
- Develop a strong accounting foundation. Learn how the three financial statements tie together.
- Key takeaways from each of the financial statements and analysis of financial trends
Building a Financial Model
- Learn to link up three financial statements.
- Deal structure and returns (LBO model) and back-of-envelope math to sanity check returns.
Analyzing a Business
- Learn to analyze a business, identify thesis and risks for an investment, and arrive at valuation.
- Develop business intuition. Tie financials back to business insights.
Efficient Excel-Based Analysis
- Keyboard-based navigation and shortcuts.
- Join Recalc’s Business Analysis Course to build a customer cohort analysis from scratch.
The program was my first exposure to the buy-side and it provided me with such a strong foundational understanding of accounting and the three financial statements. I was introduced to excel, LBO models, and technical training that has set me up for immediate success. When recruiting for competitive pre-professional organizations on campus and summer internships, I was confident in my ability to answer technical questions.
Candice Sossa
I thoroughly enjoyed the Recalc programs. The Recalc Accelerator provided us with clear insights on the alternative investment industry and Katie was great at explaining concepts around evaluating businesses, excel training, and market trends. I would recommend the Recalc programs to anyone interested in finance.
Tobenna Ikejiani
Recalc’s Finance Accelerator has been an invaluable source for enhancing my financial modeling and business valuation skillsets. The course is well-paced, easy to follow, and engaging. Katie Fifer is an incredible instructor with a wealth of knowledge in private equity and her passion to help you understand these concepts is truly evident in her teachings. Connecting with other students over shared interests and professional goals was also a great value to the course.
Sabrina Beraja
Mentorship
Participants are mentored by successful industry professionals and Recalc Accelerator alumni. Mentors bring a wealth of buyside experience in private equity, growth equity, and private credit. Mentors share their insights on the industry and work with mentees on their resumes, interview prep, and individual goals.
Community
When you join the Recalc Finance Accelerator, you join an amazing community of ambitious and supportive peers and mentors. Current participants and alumni stay connected through the Recalc Accelerator Slack as well as opportunities to meet up in person. We could not be more excited about the power of this amazing community.
Being a part of the Recalc Finance Accelerator program, helped me expand my connections with other like minded students across the nation, while also preparing me to be of excellence for my upcoming buy-side summer internship!
Emmanuel Esquivel
I joined this community with very limited knowledge but was instantly welcomed with open arms. I was able to learn vital technical skills, gain insight on the private equity industry, and expand my network with like-minded individuals! I still find myself engaging with the community and mentors I gained.
Lino Alanis Ocampo
I have gained so much knowledge and experience in terms of finance and recruitment thanks to my mentors Katie and Simon, they helped me every step of the way. Katie – was kind, informative, and always readily available to help. Simon, hopped on several calls and helped me through recruiting and making important decisions. I was able to develop professional and personal relationships – which is what I would consider to be the best part of the program. I am endlessly grateful and could not thank Recalc enough!
Isabella Corso
Recalc has been a fantastic experience. I was paired with a mentor who has had a very successful career in investing and always offers unique perspectives on what I have going on professionally and personally. The community helps you to prepare and shares tips from their past interviews/experiences. Katie is willing to do all she can to ensure you have an amazing experience, and I would recommend this opportunity to everyone.
Obafemi Ajayi
Recruiting Support
The Recalc Finance Accelerator is focused on ensuring you reach your recruiting goals. We work very closely with participants throughout their internship and full-time recruitment. We act as a sounding board as you navigate different opportunities, make introductions to relevant firms, and provide opportunities to practice interviewing and refine both your personal pitch and your technical skills.
Perfect your pitch
Learn to tell your story effectively and with confidence. Receive feedback on your elevator pitch from mentors, alumni, and program leaders.
Hear directly from leading firms
A big part of finding the right role is finding a firm that fits your personality and your goals. You’ll hear directly from partner firms about what makes their organization unique.
Mock interviews
Opportunity to practice behavioral and technical interviews. Mentors and program alumni can provide coaching on the type of preparation most relevant to your upcoming interviews.
Navigate recruiting
Work closely with Katie and the broader team for access to recruiting by top private equity and other investment firms. Recalc also partners with the team at CarterPierce, a leading private equity recruiting firm, on analyst and associate recruiting.
As someone who came from consulting with limited background knowledge of finance, this Accelerator Program was the ideal way to make the transition. The course efficiently covered the fundamentals of finance and simultaneously prepared me for interviews. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in moving to a career in finance!
Schuyler Van Den Broek
Recalc provided the technical training I needed to be a competitive candidate. In addition to technical training, the Recalc team played a key role in my recruiting process. Whether it was facilitating conversations, or setting up mock interviews – the team was always accessible and looking out for my interest.
Gill Imboywa
The accelerator provided in-depth & highly relevant training, helped me to forge friendships with like-minded students, and receive mentorship from a wide range of folks. From setting me up with interviews, helping craft my elevator pitch, and sharpening my accounting foundation, the Recalc community is the reason behind my successful recruiting experience. The founder Katie Fifer, genuinely cares to know each individual in the program. I would 100% recommend the accelerator to anyone pursuing a career in finance, as it is so much more than just a 7-week training course.
Ella Moran
Program Schedule
Two cohorts every year. Year-round community.
Each cohort includes 10 technical training sessions taught over 6 weeks
(Tuesday & Thursday evenings), individual mock interviews, and industry
mentorship.
Spring Cohort
MARCH & APRIL
Applications: CLOSED
STAY UP TO DATE ON TIMELINES
Program Details
Applications for the next cohort will open in the fall. Watch a video recording of our info session to learn more.
Mandatory:
- Watching a video recording of a previous info session.Â
- Evening classes from 7:30pm-9pm ET on Tue Feb 27, Thu Feb 29, Tue Mar 5, Thu Mar 14, Tue Mar 19, Tue Mar 26, Thu Mar 28, Tue Apr 2, Tue Apr 9, Thu Apr 11
- Engagement on Slack (checking it, sharing information, helping the community, keeping us updated on recruiting)
- Excellent follow-up with anyone you’re introduced to (mentorship, mock interviews, etc.)
Encouraged:
- Recalc open enrollment courses (Spreadsheet Fundamentals, Finance Fundamentals)
- Recalc small group mentor chats
- Special topic sessions (e.g. software investing, case interview prep, women in finance)
- Mock interviews
- Community events
Alternative Programs for College Seniors or Recent Graduates:
- For seniors entering (or recent grads in) banking or consulting who want to prep for private equity associate recruiting, our PE Recruiting Extended Bootcamp starting Feb 16, 2024 may be a better fit than the Accelerator Program. The PE Recruiting Extended Bootcamp is an intensive program focused on technical preparation to master the PE case interview. It will be faster paced with more emphasis on LBO cases and assumes familiarity with accounting and finance concepts. Learn more and register here.
FAQ
When do applications for the next cohort open?
Applications for the next Finance Accelerator cohort will open in the fall. To join our mailing list for future cohorts, please click here.
Who is it for?
The program is designed for current college students and recent college graduates. The program will help prepare you for your next career step:
- Freshman/Sophomore – Internship recruiting
- Junior/Senior – Private equity analyst and associate recruiting
- Recent graduates – Off-cycle private equity associate recruiting for people with 1-4 years of work experience.
What background do I need in order to apply?
Applicants do not need to be pursuing a finance degree or have prior finance work experience – this program is designed to be a launchpad for your career in finance. However, we will be screening for outstanding work ethic and a track record in analytically-oriented coursework or job experience. If you are a junior/senior or recent graduate, preference will be given for analytically-oriented internship or full-time work experience (consulting, accounting, banking, engineering, investing, or related – does not specifically need to be investment banking).
How much does it cost?
The program does not cost anything to participants. However, the program requires a significant commitment, and applicants will be asked to sign an agreement committing to their full participation in the program. Any participant not fully committed to the program will be asked to leave.
How can I apply to the program?
Applications for the spring cohort are now closed. Applications for the next cohort will open in the fall. Based on a review of written applications, certain applicants will be invited to a Zoom-based interview. To join our mailing list for future cohorts, please click here.
What other programs might be a better fit for college seniors?
For seniors entering (or recent grads in) banking or consulting who want to prep for private equity associate recruiting, our PE Recruiting Extended Bootcamp starting Feb 16, 2024 may be a better fit than the Accelerator Program. Learn more and register here.