Check out the interview with JT Dhoot, Founder and Principal of Omnis Valuations & Advisory Ltd., and CBV Institute staff about JT’s career path in the ever-changing world of finance and valuations.

Reprinted from: https://cbvinstitute.com/members-students/in-the-spotlight/

JT Dhoot is uniquely qualified to resolve complex valuation issues involving commercial real estate, privately held businesses, and financial securities.

With more than a decade of experience in industry and consultancy, he serves a diverse client base, including entrepreneurs, their professional advisors, and leaders across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.

JT believes that understanding the “why” and the story behind the numbers is critical, stressing the importance of simplifying complex issues to make them accessible to the users of his reports.

We asked JT about his journey as a CBV, including his takeaways from the CBV Program of Studies. Here are some of the highlights from our conversation including a #FunFact.

How has the CBV designation supported your career development?

The CBV designation has been extremely beneficial. It enabled me to establish my practice, and without it, I would not have been able to achieve the level of success I have today. My knowledge of business valuation has helped me not only professionally, but also personally, as I have the skills to evaluate investment opportunities for myself and my family.

Can you share a particularly challenging and interesting valuation analysis that made you realize that you had chosen the right career path?

I began my career as a CBV in a non-traditional way, as a real estate appraiser. This experience sparked my curiosity about the similarities and differences between tangible and intangible asset valuations, ultimately leading me to the CBV Program of Studies. Not long after, I recall working on a challenging assignment involving a family-owned business with significant real estate holdings and a complex capital structure comprising multiple share classes. My work helped resolve a longstanding dispute between the parties, which was a rewarding experience that motivated me to continue learning and exploring opportunities in areas such as alternative dispute resolution and corporate governance. Unlike publicly-traded companies, many privately-held companies have a unique dynamic in that the officer(s), director(s) and shareholder(s) are often the same people. I find this type of work particularly interesting, and the CBV Program of Studies was foundational in preparing me to excel in this space.

What differences do you see in your current role as compared to your previous roles?

In my previous roles, my work was primarily focused on financial analyses and valuations involving commercial real estate and/or closely-held businesses. My responsibilities are much broader now, as running a practice requires you to wear many hats, some of which I find more enjoyable than others. My current role also gives me more autonomy, flexibility and control over allocating my time and resources.

Do you have any tips for people looking to become a CBV?

1. Reach out to other CBVs; this is what I did when I started. Students and prospective CBVs contact me frequently to ask questions about the profession, and I always help them out as best I can.

2. CBV Institute has done a great job in providing a variety of resources. Combining the information on the Institute’s website, social media, and CBV Matters can provide valuable perspective and a well-rounded understanding of the industry.

3. Maximize your study time by understanding and optimizing your schedule and learning environment. Some people are more productive in the morning, while others are night owls. It is important to find what works best for you regarding the time of day, location, and environment and then focus on putting in solid study hours. Find a quiet place, such as a library, or a more stimulating environment, like a coffee shop – whatever works best for you and gets you in the zone.

#FunFact: I find it amusing that I now live just a block away from my elementary school, despite not originally living in this neighbourhood. I remember taking the bus from the suburbs and looking at the older houses surrounding my school, lifting my nose and thinking, “my neighbourhood is way newer/better,” and here I am now, 30-plus years later, living a block from there. It’s funny how things change.