Why choose business valuation
Explore a high-demand career in business valuation. Learn what valuators do, the skills required, and how to become a certified specialist.
Last updated 29 January 2026
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What is business valuation
Business valuation determines the economic value of a company or asset. This includes financial, tangible, and intangible assets.
What business valuators do
Business valuators assess company worth for various purposes:
Mergers and acquisitions: Determine fair purchase prices
Investment decisions: Guide investors on company value
Legal disputes: Provide expert valuations for litigation
Financial reporting: Support compliance with accounting standards
Tax planning: Calculate values for tax purposes
Succession planning: Value businesses for ownership transitions
Trends in business valuation
Business valuation is a dynamic field. It plays a critical role in strategic decision-making, investment, and risk management.
As businesses evolve, valuators are needed more often. They assess complex assets, emerging technologies, and intangible value.
Increased use of technology and automation
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are changing how valuators work.
Routine tasks like data extraction, benchmarking, and financial modelling are becoming faster and more accurate, freeing up experts to focus on strategic analysis.
Growing emphasis on intangible assets
A growing portion of a company’s value lies in intangible assets, such as intellectual property, brand value, and customer loyalty.
Valuators are required to develop more sophisticated methods to capture these non-physical value drivers.
Cross-border valuations
As businesses expand globally, valuations need to account for the complexities of cross-border dynamics, such as:
Currency fluctuations
International tax laws
Diverse market conditions
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors
ESG considerations are increasingly affecting business valuation, with investors and buyers valuing companies with strong ESG credentials.
Evolving standards and regulations
The valuation process is fundamentally shaped by ever-changing regulatory and reporting environments.
Governments and regulatory bodies continually update regulations, leading to stricter compliance requirements for financial disclosures and reporting. Adherence to these evolving standards is critical for protecting businesses from penalties and disputes.
Top reasons to choose business valuation
Choosing business valuation as your professional path offers several compelling advantages:
High demand for specialists
Organisations, investors, and courts increasingly rely on qualified valuation specialists. Your expertise will be highly sought after.
Strategic impact
Your work directly affects major business decisions. These include mergers and acquisitions, investment planning, and litigation support.
Diverse career paths
You can work in public accounting firms, boutique valuation firms, investment banks, corporate finance, private equity firms, and legal practices. You can also start your own consultancy.
Intellectual challenge
Each valuation is unique, requiring you to combine knowledge from accounting, finance, law, and industry insights. Exposure to different industries, asset types, and transaction scenarios ensures continuous learning and skill development.
Leadership opportunities
With experience, you can lead valuation teams, advise senior executives, or serve as an expert witness in legal proceedings, taking on roles with increasing responsibility and influence.
Skills for the modern business valuator
Modern business valuators combine technical knowledge with soft skills. This helps them provide rigorous, defensible valuations.
Technical skills
These are the core technical competencies you need:
Valuation methods and approaches: Understanding different valuation techniques and when to apply them
Financial analysis and modelling: Analysing financial statements and building financial models
Accounting standards: Knowledge of financial reporting standards and requirements
Applied practice: Ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world cases across different industries and asset types
Soft skills
These interpersonal and analytical skills are equally important:
Critical thinking: Analysing complex situations and identifying the right approach
Clear communication: Explaining technical valuations to diverse groups, including non-financial audiences
Ethical decision-making: Maintaining professional integrity and objectivity in all valuations
Professional judgement: Making sound decisions when information is unclear or incomplete
Start your business valuation journey
Kickstart your career with the Chartered Valuer and Appraiser (CVA) programme by the Institute of Valuers and Appraisers, Singapore (IVAS). It is Asia's first professional business valuation certification programme that is benchmarked against international standards.
After you complete the CVA programme:
You will gain the Associate Chartered Valuer and Appraiser (ACVA) designation
With enough experience, you can then qualify for the CVA designation
To remain relevant, valuers will have to continuously sharpen their skills and stay attuned to the latest industry developments. This includes pursuing professional milestones like the Chartered Valuer and Appraiser (CVA) designation as well as other learning opportunities to broaden perspectives.— Minister Indranee Rajah’s opening speech at the IVAS-IVSC Business Valuation Conference 2025