With New York City being the financial capital of the world, it’s no surprise that investment analyst roles in top Wall Street firms are highly coveted positions for finance graduates. These roles offer opportunities to work on complex deals and projects, gain exposure to global markets, and earn generous compensation packages. However, the work is demanding with long hours being the norm. This article will provide an overview of investment analyst jobs in NYC along with details on roles, required skills, salaries, and lifestyle.
Investment analysts develop financial models and conduct research
Investment analysts are typically entry-level roles for those with finance backgrounds. Key responsibilities include building detailed financial models to analyze potential investments, preparing pitch materials for client presentations, conducting in-depth company and industry research, and supporting senior bankers and associates. Strong financial modeling and accounting skills are must-haves. Analysts must be comfortable working with large data sets and have strong attention to detail. The job requires long hours with 80-100 hour weeks being common when working on live deals.
Top firms offer $85k – $125k base salaries plus bonuses
Major NYC investment banks like Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley pay first year analysts base salaries ranging from $85,000 – $100,000. Bonuses can exceed 100% of base compensation but are based on personal and firm performance. Total first year compensation packages typically range from $140k – $200k. Salaries increase each year with third year analysts earning roughly $125,000 in base and $150k – $250k total comp. Analysts normally exit after 2-3 years to business school or associate roles.
Advancement to associate roles after 3-4 years
After 3-4 years, top performers advance to associate roles with base salaries exceeding $150,000. Bonuses can reach $300k+ for strong performers. Associates take on more responsibility leading deals and managing teams of analysts. Further advancement leads to vice president, director, and managing director roles. Most associates choose to exit to private equity, hedge funds, or business school before being eligible for further promotion.
High stress environment with little work-life balance
The biggest downsides of analyst roles are the intense hours and high stress. Analysts often work 80-100+ hours per week including weekends when deals are active. There is little work-life balance. The hours are demanding mentally and physically leading to high burnout. However, for those willing to put in the hard work, analyst programs offer fast-paced environments to gain experience before moving onto other finance roles.
In summary, investment analyst jobs at top NYC financial firms offer huge earning potential yet require major commitments. Analysts gain broad experience working on complex projects and deals while being exposed to global markets.