Typical Comm'l Due Diligence Advisory Staffing (Junior/Mid-Lvl)

Curious: for those at junior levels (say, 5 YOE or less) in CDD groups or CDD-focused shops, 1) how many engagements are you typically working at once, and 2) approx. how many hours are you at your computer each week?

I realize that this mkt is notorious for its long hours

Currently at a boutique and interested in perspectives from other firms, including larger orgs, to to understand what's normal. Most interested in recent anecdotes but all feedback is welcome of course...

9 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s what you need to know about Commercial Due Diligence (CDD) advisory staffing and workload for junior to mid-level professionals:

  1. Engagements at Once:

    • Typically, junior professionals in CDD groups or CDD-focused shops handle 1-2 engagements at a time. This can vary depending on the firm's size, the complexity of the projects, and the available staffing resources. Larger organizations may have more structured staffing, while boutiques might require juggling multiple responsibilities due to leaner teams.
  2. Hours at the Computer per Week:

    • Work hours average around 55 hours per week, with peaks reaching 60-65 hours during busier periods. This aligns with the demanding nature of the market and the intensity of CDD work.
    • For particularly heavy weeks, such as during critical due diligence phases, hours can extend further, but this is less common in structured environments.

Let me know if you’d like insights into specific firms or additional details!

Sources: Seeking Info on PE-focused, T2 consulting firms, Activism Defense/Shareholder advisory comp/lifestyle, hours/culture/on the job, Strategy& Ex Employee - Q&A, Any other juniors EXHAUSTED due to COVID work-from-home?, Q&A: Sr. Associate at a CVC fund

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

At a big T2. We do one at a time, average is ~60 hrs with 0 weekend work. Lighter projects can be more like 55 and the heaviest weeks might push upwards of like 70, but never really more than that at the levels you described (engagement managers are easily 60-80 and sometimes worse). I previously worked at a boutique CDD-focused firm which was also one project at a time and average was closer to 50 in smooth weeks, but recognize this is more of an outlier in CDD world. 

 

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