George is available for hire
Hire GeorgeGeorge Karam
Verified Expert in Finance
Finance Expert
Location
New York, United States
Toptal Member Since
May 29, 2020
George is an advisor on valuations, corporate finance, strategy, funding, and M&A. He has over 15 years of international investment banking experience across various industries, deep knowledge of global markets, and unique analytical skills. He is a skilled financial modeler and excels in providing strategic and transaction advisory. George is a Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst with an MBA from MIT Sloan School. He is a dual national of the USA and Brazil.
Career Highlights
Financial Advisor
Financial Advisory
Vice President
Fredericks Michael & Co.
Principal
Galles Investimentos
Education Highlights
Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree
MIT Sloan School of Management
Certification Highlights
Certified Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)
Corporate Finance Institute CFI
CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)
CFA Institute
CAIA (Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst)
CAIA Association
Case Studies
Expertise
Work Experience
Financial Advisor
2020 - PRESENT
Financial Advisory
- Acted as s senior advisor to São José Finanças, a Brazil-based advisory firm specializing in equity capital raise and sell-side M&A transactions.
- Took on the partner role at NextRound Partners, a US-based consulting firm for venture-backed companies in financial and strategic planning and capital raises.
- Acted as a senior advisor to 100Ventures, LLC, providing strategy consulting, financial planning and analysis, and business planning services.
Focus areas: Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Capital Raising, Finance Strategy, Strategy
Vice President
2015 - 2019
Fredericks Michael & Co.
- Managed 19 deals, including sell‐side and buy‐side mergers and acquisitions and debt and equity financings.
- Evaluated and advised on complex deal structures involving tax benefits, leveraged businesses, bankruptcy processes, and novelty financial derivates and earn‐out structures.
- Oversaw the development of complex valuation and leveraged buyout models containing intricate tax and payout structures.
- Provided oversight of due diligence processes—working closely with clients and third‐party advisors from inception to resolution.
Focus areas: Equity Financing, Debt Financing, M&A (Buy-side), M&A (Sell-side), Fundraising, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Market Research, SaaS
CFO
2014 - 2015
Bonzer, Inc.
- Worked for a technology startup co‐founded by MIT graduates. The enterprise’s objective is to provide an innovative oneway electric car-sharing service for the greater Boston area as a green urban mobility solution for commuters.
- Developed the initial business plan by studying alternative operational solutions, and building the financial model.
- Identified potential sources of capital, developed partnerships with public and private entities, and dealt with everyday administrative and legal matters.
Focus areas: Financial Modeling, Capital Raising, Business Planning
Principal
2006 - 2013
Galles Investimentos
- Co‐founded the firm and co‐led business development initiatives.
- Worked with clients to provide financial advisory and access to capital markets. Developed and oversaw a staff of highly qualified associates and financial analysts.
- Co‐launched investment management business, Galleas Asset Management, overseeing a team of equity analysts, reaching an AUM of $57 million, and spinning off the business within two years after a more than 100% ROI.
- Spearheaded Galleas' leveraged buyout of Intercontinental Furniture, Latin America's largest furniture exporter.
Focus areas: Private Equity, Asset Management, Restructuring, Valuation Modeling, Capital Raising, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Associate
2004 - 2006
Invixx Capital Partners
- Advised and managed the execution of 20 M&A, turnaround, and leveraged buyout deals, totaling more than US $3 billion in valuation.
- Built highly complex valuation and leveraged buyout models containing intricate tax, capital, and payout structures.
- Instrumental in the completion of transactions through the skillful management of cross-functional projects and diverse teams with competing priorities.
- Instrumental in winning buy-side and restructuring mandates ranging from US $200 million to US $1.3 billion in scope for clients and assets across Latin America, Europe, and Asia.
Focus areas: Turnaround, Leveraged Buyout (LBO), Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Financial Analyst
2001 - 2003
ABB
- Analyzed and advised on acquisitions and divestitures at the Group Strategy and Venture division.
- Adapted and implemented the global risk analysis tool for the local treasury center.
- Tracked and analyzed emerging market credit portfolio held by ABB Export Bank.
Focus areas: Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Divestitures, Portfolio Analytics, Corporate Treasury
Credit Analyst
2000 - 2001
Citibank
- Analyzed financial statements for a portfolio of corporate clients in the petrochemical, pulp and paper, and metals and mining industries.
- Conducted risk analysis and credit scoring for a portfolio of corporate clients in the petrochemical, pulp and paper, and metals and mining industries.
- Created company information reports for a portfolio of corporate clients in the petrochemical, pulp and paper, and metals and mining industries.
Focus areas: Financial Analysis, Credit Risk
Education
2012 - 2014
Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree in Finance
MIT Sloan School of Management - Cambridge, MA, USA
1999 - 2003
Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Public Administration
Fundação Getulio Vargas - São Paulo, Brazil
Certifications
JUNE 2022 - PRESENT
AFP Membership
AFP Association for Financial Professionals
JUNE 2021 - PRESENT
FinTech: Foundations, Payments, and Regulations
Wharton Online Program | Via Coursera
JULY 2018 - OCTOBER 2021
Series 63 — Uniform Securities Agent
NASAA | North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc.
JULY 2017 - OCTOBER 2021
Series 79 — Investment Banking Representative
FINRA | Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
JUNE 2016 - PRESENT
Data Science for Finance
Cognitir
JUNE 2015 - PRESENT
Bank & FIG Modeling
Wall Street Prep
SEPTEMBER 2013 - PRESENT
Certified Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)
Corporate Finance Institute CFI
AUGUST 2013 - PRESENT
CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)
CFA Institute
DECEMBER 2012 - PRESENT
CAIA (Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst)
CAIA Association
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