Deal Sheet

A Deal Sheet is a document that records all the successful projects headed or collaborated on by an employee or entrepreneur. It is the snapshot of an individual's contribution to a previous project, investment, or business deal. In finance, it highlights contributions across corporate finance, asset management, financial consulting, and risk management, among others.

It is a to-the-point summary that is crucial when an employee or entrepreneur wishes to prove their professional merit. Candidates can prove their experience and expertise in business and finance to hiring managers by presenting this piece of paper. It broadly contains a company's brief, deal date, transaction rationale, individual contribution, and role in bagging and fulfilling the deal.

A deal sheet is a document comprising a concise summary of the major projects handled by an individual in the past. In the financial industry, deal sheets are frequently employed to showcase an individual's or a team's professional track record. They highlight deals and transactions, thereby demonstrating expertise and competence. 

It includes crucial details such as the business overview, deal terms, individual's role or contribution, significant dates, and other pertinent information. It is important to note that deals that were initiated but did not go through can also be included in such deal sheets, particularly if they show how one gained knowledge and experience and grew as a professional. 

In various industries like investment, private equity, venture capital, real estate finance, commercial banking, insurance, risk management, asset management, hedge funds, etc., deal sheets effectively communicate to relevant parties an individual’s contributions to recent projects undertaken and accomplished. 

In some instances, deal sheets are used for marketing and networking endeavors. They can be shared with potential clients or partners to underscore past achievements and capabilities. For instance, they may be used to show expertise in portfolio management or real estate project management. Further, deal sheet formats can be tailored to reveal only necessary information, preserving the confidentiality of sensitive deal specifics.

Typically, deal sheets are brief, so they may not provide the depth of detail required for comprehensive analysis or due diligence. If the projects or endeavors undertaken but not closed are not highlighted in these sheets, they can be misleading. Hence, these sheets can be overly optimistic, or they may have information presented selectively in certain instances, potentially leading to a misrepresentation.  

Deal sheets are critical to potential candidates as such sheets can enhance their profiles and influence decisions if written effectively; otherwise, it is just another piece of paper. 

Let us now understand how to write a deal sheet with some examples. 

Example #1

Jenny, a sustainable investing job aspirant, wrote the following deal sheet.

I recently had the opportunity to work on a groundbreaking project in the renewable energy sector. I represented a consortium of investors in securing a $300 million project finance deal for a state-of-the-art solar energy farm in the southwestern United States. This project required intricate financial structuring to optimize tax benefits and ensure compliance with local regulations. 

I drafted and negotiated the financing agreements, coordinated due diligence on the land and permitting, and advised on renewable energy credits and incentives. It was a complex yet rewarding venture that will contribute significantly to the region's sustainable energy future.

Through this, Jenny offered her potential employer enough information to exhibit her skills but did not divulge any confidential information that could potentially land her in a soup—legal or contractual.

Example #2

Let us consider another sample deal sheet whereby Stacy, a finance consultant, exhibited her skills. She submitted the following deal sheet to a prospective client, highlighting her role in handling high-value business deals, computing relevant cost figures, and achieving cost reductions.

Deal sheets typically follow a standardized format, simplifying the interpretation and comparison of different candidates' profiles, strengths, and weaknesses by relevant entities like hiring managers or prospective clients. However, they can be customized if needed. Here is a simple template of a deal sheet.

Following is an image of a sample deal sheet format that professionals in real estate can use to showcase their experience and expertise in a visual format (with numbers, graphs, and figures).

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