When a company first starts, it more than likely has very little to no money or assets available. Corporate finance takes what is available financially, and uses it to benefit the company. If there is no money, as the corporation is just starting out, then a manager specializing in finances for a corporation is employed. This manager will find a way to make this corporation financially stable by finding things or using strategies that will make the corporation financially secure. He can also be employed to help "bail out" a company that is floundering or in danger of going under.

A corporate finance lawyer is required to make sure that all laws are followed to the letter in regards to finances for a corporation. There are many laws, and so a proper lawyer will have more than basic knowledge of these laws. He will be able to work in conjunction with the manager or other financial staff to ensure that these laws are being followed. This requires not only skills in finances for corporations, but also an understanding of the letter of the law. A good lawyer will also keep up in changes made towards the law, and advise the corporation on what these changes mean and how they will affect the company.

When a company does a merger, they are bought out, or they acquire another company, this all falls under corporate finance. The money or assets used to do these things need to be taken into consideration before these proceedings can begin. When you hear about companies being bought out for billions of dollars, that's not all necessarily cash that was handed to them up front. They may receive a portion of it as cash, but not all of it. Some of it is stock options, or other financial benefits that add up to the total amount that the company was purchased for. These finances are then split between the appropriate people, such as owners, CEOs and other important staff members.

Sometimes a company will employ a corporate finance consultant. He may work in conjunction with the manager and possibly a lawyer to improve the company's financial health. For example, a consultant may see a way to make a company more valuable, something that may have been overlooked by a manager. In other cases a consultant may be used as an evaluator for the company's financial health.