Investment banker analyst is a popular job for graduates, but also has high requirements and pressure. The salary is very high, with annual salary up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, the promotion opportunity is limited, generally can only be promoted to associate level. The work hours are long, usually need to work more than 80 hours per week, giving up weekends and holidays. Applicants need to have strong analytical skills and be able to withstand high work pressure.
The salary of investment banker analyst is very high, up to hundreds of thousands per year
According to the provided materials, the annual salary of investment banker analysts at top investment banks is usually around £90k-£120k, including base salary of about £60k and bonuses of 0.5-1 times of base salary. In dollar term, the total compensation is usually $100k-150k. This salary level is very high compared to other industries.
But the promotion opportunity of investment banker analyst is very limited
Investment banker analysts are very hard to get further promotion. They can at most be promoted to associate level after 2-3 years. Many analysts end up leaving the investment banking industry after several years if they cannot get promoted again. The career development bottleneck leads to high turnover.
Investment banker analysts need to withstand very high work pressure
The work hours are extremely long for investment banker analysts. They need to work 70-85 hours per week in the office on average. Sometimes they have to give up weekends and holidays when deals are on going. Pulling all-nighters is also common when facing deadlines.
Strong analytical skills and communication skills are required for investment banker analyst
Investment banker analysts need to prepare a lot of financial models, valuations, pitch books during deals and client services. They also need to work with senior bankers and clients directly. So strong analytical skills like accounting, financial modeling and communication skills are crucial.
Solid finance knowledge and internship experience help get investment banking analyst jobs
The materials show that investment banks emphasize finance knowledge and relevant internship experience a lot when hiring analyst candidates. Accounting, corporate finance, valuation methodologies are key areas. Internship experience in investment banks also helps a lot.
In conclusion, investment banker analyst is a double edged sword. The compensation is extremely high but the promotion opportunity is very limited. Applicants need both strong analytical skills and ability to withstand high pressure.