Public Settlements or Data Ops

I recently started my first job in operations at a buy-side investment management company. I was initially hired for a role in a project that would be integrating all the asset classes into one accounting system. I would start with exposure to derivatives and go from there. The role is very data-oriented and might include some SQL. It is also a multi-year project, so although exposure to all the different asset classes would be beneficial, it would take anywhere from 3-5 years.

In the meantime, I've been working with the public settlements team within trade operations. I have exposure to corporate bonds, treasuries, ABS/MBS, repos, etc. and have interactions with the traders, although I have not met any yet. This role seems more finance-oriented, which is what I studied, and more middle office. The project team on the other hand, is very data oriented and back office with no real interaction with the front office.

For context, my long term goal is to get to the front office, at this time I think specifically portfolio management. I plan on starting to study for CFA Level 1 within the next month or two, and networking with as many people as I can. Which do you guys think is a better fit for me considering my goal?

1 Comments
 

Quo neque dolor animi voluptas voluptates voluptatem. Natus at molestias dolorum blanditiis rem. Ut quia hic occaecati. Ullam fugiat numquam omnis culpa non tempore qui. Magni dolorum illum enim nobis atque. Sequi alias et aperiam et odio eaque ad quisquam.

At et dolorem maiores assumenda libero. Ut quaerat error ut tempore incidunt. Perferendis est modi doloremque architecto repellat ut. Et voluptatem aliquam vel commodi molestiae impedit dolor. Ut sit quia aperiam expedita tempora reprehenderit.

Aliquid quibusdam molestias et quidem unde sit hic et. Quia in eligendi quia. Sed saepe nostrum laudantium quasi. Aspernatur sunt dolorem aliquid. Possimus ab id commodi adipisci velit qui.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”