Alex Gordon

Alex gained insights into the basics of corporate finance techniques at the business school, including capital structure and DCF methodology.

Alex graduated with a Bachelor in Commence and Adminstration majoring in Finance and Economics.

He was judged world champion at the 2012 ModelOff Financial Modelling World Championship held in the world's financial capital, New York, after competing in three rounds of challenges against over 2,000 entrants.

The finalists (the others were from Australia, the US, Britain, Russia, Canada, Poland, and Hungary) were set tasks testing their understanding on financial models, particularly in regard to innovation, speed, data, theory, and risk.

Alex says after the win he made many new friends and contacts from around the world, had a number of speaking opportunities, and attracted more clients wanting to build financial models.

He defended his ModelOff title the following year, coming runner-up, and from 2014 opted to take up a behind-the-scenes position in the ModelOff Question Design Team. He continued in this role in 2015 as the championship finals headed to London for the first time.

His passion for business was forged while attending Hutt Valley High School, where he studied economics, statistics, calculus, physics, and chemistry.

After this, he completed a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration in Finance and Economics at Victoria University of Wellington on a PwC scholarship.

At the University, he gained insights into the basics of corporate finance techniques, including capital structure and DCF methodology.

He says: "The finance paper I took taught by Martin Lally was the most interesting and the most applicable to what I do now.

"I also found economic history very interesting."

Alex joined PwC's corporate finance team following his graduation, and worked with a wide range of public and private sector clients providing financial modelling services as well as valuations, business case development, and business strategy advice and PPP procurement advice.

"I get to work on a variety of interesting and challenging projects where I get to combine finance principles, financial modelling, and problem solving to help analyse and provide insight to a wide range of issues."

He is currently Director of a boutique New Zealand-based investment bank, Clare Capital Limited.