Matthew Darling

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey

I’m a Corporate Finance Advisor based in Adelaide, primarily focused on sell-side and buy-side business transaction advisory. My journey started studying Law at the University of South Australia. Partway through, I realised my interests leaned more towards commerce, so I switched to a double degree in Law and Commerce (Accounting), where I found my passion for the finance industry.

After completing my undergraduate degrees, I joined KPMG’s Adelaide office and worked in corporate tax for two years, which was a great blend of both my accounting and law backgrounds. While working, I pursued further qualifications, becoming a Chartered Accountant and completing my Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.

My exposure to mergers & acquisitions (‘M&A’) from a tax advisory perspective piqued my interest in a broader role within corporate finance. I was fortunate to transfer into KPMG’s corporate finance team, where I worked on buy-side and sell-side transactions, due diligence, valuations and financial modelling. Over my three years in this team, I continued my studies part-time, completing my Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance with Kaplan Professional.

After five years at KPMG, I was ready for a new challenge and joined Equity & Advisory, a boutique corporate finance firm in Adelaide, as a Manager. Here, I focused primarily on sell-side transactions and valuation engagements. My passion for learning continued, and I went on to earn a Master of Applied Finance with Kaplan Professional.

In July 2024, I was promoted to Associate Director, where I now have greater responsibility in team management and business development, alongside my ongoing work in corporate finance transactions.

What do you enjoy most about Corporate Finance?

What I enjoy most about corporate finance is the ability to apply my financial analysis skills to deliver exceptional outcomes for clients. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how our work can make a tangible difference. Additionally, I now have the opportunity to mentor and share my knowledge with colleagues, which adds a new layer of fulfilment. Another exciting aspect is the constant learning curve – each new project often means diving into a different industry, allowing me to continually expand my understanding of various sectors, and each project presents unique challenges to overcome.

Why did you choose to complete the Master of Applied Finance with Kaplan Professional?

I chose to pursue both the Graduate Diploma and then the Master of Applied Finance with Kaplan Professional because I wanted to deepen my knowledge in key areas like business valuations, M&A, equity markets and broader corporate finance topics. These subjects are not only critical to my role but also align with my personal interests.
While my university studies introduced some of these concepts, Kaplan Professional’s Applied Finance courses took them to a more advanced level. I’ve always been passionate about expanding my knowledge in areas that resonate with me, and I believe a great course strikes the right balance between providing a solid foundation and avoiding information overload. Kaplan Professional does just that – its Applied Finance courses offer a comprehensive yet focused approach, enabling students to build on their knowledge in the workplace without overwhelming them, which is particularly important given the busy nature of the finance profession.

How has the Master of Applied Finance helped with your career?

The Master of Applied Finance has enabled me to deepen my expertise in the technical areas critical to my profession, particularly business valuations, equity markets and M&A. This solid foundation has empowered me to tackle complex technical challenges and consistently deliver exceptional service to our clients.

In addition, the Master of Applied Finance has exposed me to areas I don’t often encounter in my daily work, such as project finance, quantitative methods and broader security valuation. This has been invaluable in broadening my financial knowledge and enhancing my overall acumen.

You hold Grad Dips in both Chartered Accounting and Legal Practice – how do you think the Master of Applied Finance will complement these?

Coming from an academic background in both accounting and law, one of the strengths I pride myself on as a Corporate Finance Advisor is my solid understanding of these fields, even though they are not strictly required for my current role. This cross-disciplinary knowledge allows me to approach challenges with a broader perspective.

I view holding a Master of Applied Finance as a significant achievement and a testament to my expertise in applied finance. Combined with my Graduate Diploma in Chartered Accounting and Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, these qualifications highlight my proficiency across finance, accounting and law – key areas that, in my view, are essential for a well-rounded Corporate Advisor. This diverse skill set has become a distinguishing factor in my career.

What were the highlights of completing the Master of Applied Finance from both a technical content and support perspective?

From a technical standpoint, completing the Master of Applied Finance significantly enhanced my expertise in business valuation and expanded my understanding of M&A and equity markets.

On the support side, I found the Kaplan Professional team to be highly responsive, particularly during assessment periods, addressing queries swiftly. The flexibility of self-paced study, combined with the prompt and reliable support, made the learning experience both convenient and well-supported.

Who would you recommend the Master of Applied Finance to? Why should someone in your shoes consider doing it too?

I highly recommend Kaplan Professional’s Applied Finance courses to anyone working in advisory roles related to business valuation, business transactions, transaction support or financial forecasting. These courses are also invaluable for those in, or aspiring to, in-house roles that require a blend of financial analysis and strategic thinking.

I am a big advocate for my colleagues in similar roles to me to pursue these courses, as they accelerate the learning curve in corporate finance and can serve as a key differentiator in their careers.

Your employer was also a big supporter of you completing the Master of Applied Finance. Can you share any insights on their behalf?

This is what Dino Talavanic, Partners at Equity & Advisory, had to say about me studying the course:

“At Equity & Advisory, we back our people to reach their full potential, by developing and nurturing our talent. This extends to continuous professional development. In this regard, we are glad to have partnered with Kaplan Professional, whose courses provide high quality and practical courses for our staff equipping them with technical skills required to succeed in corporate finance. With respect to Matt, we are immensely proud of what he has achieved and congratulate him on his double merit national award. Kudos!”

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

In 10 years, I envision myself as a well-established Corporate Finance professional in Adelaide, actively engaged in mentoring and education in some capacity. Ideally, I’ll be using my skillset to work with businesses in industries that I am most passionate about, such as health and fitness, sport, and consumer brands. I also wouldn’t be surprised if I’ve added at least one more degree to my qualifications by then!