William Bills
Financial Analyst
Analyzing Markets, Optimizing Investments, and Driving Financial Success.
Professional Summary
William Bills is a detail-oriented and analytical Financial Analyst set to graduate in Spring 2025 with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He possesses a strong foundation in financial modeling, data analysis, investment research, and risk management. Skilled in evaluating market trends, preparing financial reports, and building valuation models, he supports strategic decision-making with data-driven insights. Proficient in Excel, Bloomberg Terminal, and SQL, he has gained valuable experience through internships in financial analysis and investment research. He is currently preparing for the CFA Level I certification (June 2025).
Education
University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign, IL)
B.S. Finance (Exp. May 2025)
- Honors & Leadership: Dean’s List (4 Semesters), Treasurer of Student Investment Club
- Relevant Coursework: Financial Modeling, Corporate Finance, Investment Analysis, Risk Management, Macroeconomics
- Senior Capstone Project: Developed a financial forecasting model to assess investment risk in the technology sector
Experience
Financial Analyst Intern
JP Morgan Chase & Co. – Chicago, IL | June 2024 – Present
- Assist in financial statement analysis and investment research to support senior analysts
- Develop Excel-based financial models to forecast revenue and assess valuation scenarios
- Conduct market research on industry trends, competitive positioning, and financial performance
- Prepare reports and presentations summarizing investment recommendations
Investment Research Assistant
University of Illinois Finance Lab – Urbana-Champaign, IL | September 2023 – Present
- Analyze macroeconomic indicators and stock performance to identify investment opportunities
- Utilize DCF and comparable company valuation models to assess corporate financial health
- Present data-driven investment insights to faculty advisors and student investment committees
Certifications & Licenses
CFA Level 1 Candidate
Exam Date: June 2025
Microsoft Excel Certification
Advanced Financial Modeling and Data Analysis
Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst (FMVA)
Corporate Financial Institute
Skills & Competencies
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a deep understanding of financial modeling, investment analysis, risk management, and corporate finance. Adept at interpreting complex financial data, conducting market research, and developing data-driven insights to support strategic decision-making. Excellent communication and collaboration abilities, ensuring effective interaction with clients, executives, and cross-functional teams in a fast-paced financial environment.
- Develops detailed financial models in Excel, Python, and SQL to analyze historical data and predict future financial trends.
- Conducts discounted cash flow (DCF), comparable company, and precedent transaction analyses to assess investment opportunities.
- Creates and optimizes 3-statement financial models (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement) to forecast company performance.
- Uses SQL to extract, clean, and analyze large financial datasets for trend identification and business insights.
- Implements Python-based data analysis tools, including Pandas and NumPy, to automate financial reporting and risk assessments.
- Builds dynamic dashboards in Tableau and Power BI to visualize financial data, allowing for easy interpretation by stakeholders.
- Assists in corporate budget planning, cost analysis, and capital allocation to ensure financial efficiency and profitability.
- Evaluates company profitability metrics (EBITDA, ROE, ROA, NPV, IRR) to support decision-making for investments and business expansion.
- Performs variance analysis to compare actual financial performance against budgeted projections.
- Conducts fundamental analysis by assessing company financials, earnings reports, and industry trends to recommend investment opportunities.
- Analyzes technical indicators and price trends for risk assessment and investment strategy development.
- Applies Monte Carlo simulations and sensitivity analyses to assess the impact of market fluctuations on investment portfolios.
- Assesses credit risk and market risk exposure by analyzing balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
- Evaluates capital structure, debt ratios, and liquidity metrics to measure a company’s financial health and sustainability.
- Works with Value at Risk (VaR) and stress testing models to predict worst-case financial scenarios.
- Monitors macroeconomic trends, interest rate movements, and Federal Reserve policies to predict potential market impacts.
- Conducts sector analysis (tech, healthcare, finance, etc.) to identify industry-specific growth drivers and risks.
- Assists in evaluating M&A opportunities and competitive market positioning for businesses considering expansion.
Technical Proficiency
Proficient in industry-standard financial software, data analysis tools, and visualization platforms to enhance decision-making and financial reporting. Strong technical acumen in Excel-based modeling, SQL for data queries, and Python for financial automation, ensuring efficiency in financial analysis and forecasting.
- Bloomberg Terminal – Experienced in retrieving real-time financial data, tracking market trends, and conducting security analysis for investment research.
- Morningstar Direct – Proficient in analyzing investment funds, ETFs, and mutual fund performances for portfolio management strategies.
- QuickBooks & SAP ERP – Hands-on experience with financial accounting, budgeting, and expense tracking for corporate finance and business operations.
- Skilled in building and optimizing financial models using Excel, including DCF, LBO, and comparable company analysis for investment decision-making.
- Experienced in using pivot tables, VLOOKUP, INDEX-MATCH, and advanced formulas for financial data analysis and forecasting.
- Develops automated dashboards and financial reports using Power Query and Macros to streamline data processing.
- Tableau & Power BI – Creates interactive financial dashboards to present financial insights, revenue trends, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Matplotlib & Seaborn – Utilizes Python-based visualization tools to illustrate market trends, financial ratios, and data-driven investment strategies.
- Microsoft PowerPoint & Pitch Decks – Experienced in designing investment presentations and executive financial reports for stakeholders.
- Skilled in building and optimizing financial models using Excel, including DCF, LBO, and comparable company analysis for investment decision-making.
- Experienced in using pivot tables, VLOOKUP, INDEX-MATCH, and advanced formulas for financial data analysis and forecasting.
- Develops automated dashboards and financial reports using Power Query and Macros to streamline data processing.
- Python for Financial Analysis – Uses Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib for data manipulation, financial modeling, and trend visualization.
- SQL for Financial Data – Capable of writing complex SQL queries to extract and analyze large datasets from databases for financial reporting.
- R for Statistical Analysis – Basic experience in using R for econometric modeling and predictive financial analytics.
- Uses Monte Carlo simulations and Value at Risk (VaR) models to assess investment risk exposure.
- Conducts historical volatility and correlation analysis to optimize asset allocation and hedge risk.
- Works with stress testing models to evaluate the impact of adverse market conditions on financial portfolios.
Leadership & Extracurriculars
Demonstrated leadership and teamwork abilities through active participation in finance-focused organizations, investment clubs, and community initiatives. Proven ability to collaborate with peers, lead financial projects, and contribute to decision-making processes in both academic and professional settings. Passionate about financial literacy and mentorship, with experience in guiding peers and engaging in initiatives that promote financial education and professional development.
- Managed a $50,000 student-led investment portfolio, analyzing stock performance and recommending trading strategies.
- Led weekly meetings on market trends, portfolio allocation, and risk assessment.
- Developed financial reports and presented investment insights to faculty advisors and club members.
- Participated in case competitions involving corporate valuation, M&A strategies, and financial modeling.
- Attended workshops on financial planning, wealth management, and fintech innovations hosted by industry professionals.
- Engaged in networking events with alumni and finance professionals to gain industry insights.
- Conducted financial literacy seminars on budgeting, credit management, and investment basics for university students.
- Helped peers understand student loans, interest rates, and long-term financial planning strategies.
- Developed easy-to-understand educational materials to promote financial awareness among young professionals.