London - Apart from Ibanking/PE/Primary markets, aware me on other options?

(cliffs at bottom for those who dont want to read)
Hello all,

I am wondering, what other FINANCE careers/paths could I undertake apart from investment banking/PE/etc in London?

Essentially I am a pretty recent graduate who is trying to put solid FINANCIAL ANALYSIS experience on my CV, but working in the primary markets is extremely competitive and I am looking at my alternatives.

Some point out Accounting (big four, accounting in F500) but It feels so far out from banking/proper finance that I am really turned off by it. There is the advisory group in accounting but again very competitive to get into.

I really feel I should be working in banking, and I hear apart from the big four and BB, there are over 300 banks in London.

So my question is:
1. What other sectors of banking could I get into?
2. What type of banks could I work for in London?

I am trying to put solid finance skills on my CV, not accounting, not other unrelated skill.

So far the main areas apart from primary markets operations are corporate banking and retail & business banking. I am quite interested in corporate banking, RBB interests me much less as it seems really vanilla, and I dislike dealing with main street customers.

Basically any tips on what I could get into apart from IB/PE ?
I tried going for Barclays corporate banking but so far application is not going anywhere...So am quite interested in other finance areas not dominated by the major banks...On the plus-side, the work athmosphere could be "fun" in a smaller niche-bank, with alot of actual real work rather than corporate nonsense if you know what I mean.

Cliffs:
* What areas of finance could I go into apart from prestigious IB/PE where I could build solid finance skills in London?
* Over 300 banks in London. Not so interested in Retail/Business banking (unless you prove me wrong). What else can I do apart from PE/IB?
I saw that the French banks and other such banks might be hiring so that's one idea (they pay ALOT LESS but Im in it for the FINANCE EXPERIENCE not the money at this point...)

I do know a couple friends who made it in very niche PE firms, but am more interested in banking.
Thanks!
Nic

 

This might not be what you are looking for but London is one the biggest Insurance markets in the world, and the companies offer a variety of products two of them being credit risk and financial institutions insurance. Might be something worth looking into.

 

Commercial banking is the answer to your question. Please stop capitalizing entire words in the middle of your sentences.

"For I am a sinner in the hands of an angry God. Bloody Mary full of vodka, blessed are you among cocktails. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death, which I hope is soon. Amen."
 

but they NEED emphasis, why can't you SEE that?

"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." -IlliniProgrammer "Your grammar made me wish I'd been aborted." -happypantsmcgee
 

One thing you might want to CONSIDER is SHIP BROKERAGE. London's a big hub for that. It's not banking but it offers a lot of interesting finance related work if you're into the whole "client facing" thing.

"Yes. Money has been a little bit tight lately, but at the end of my life, when I'm sitting on my yacht, am I gonna be thinking about how much money I have? No. I'm gonna be thinking about how many friends I have and my children and my comedy albums."
 

Thank you for the answers. It does provide with some variety, and sorry about the capitalizing.

I am mostly interested in more technical products, as I can't imagine talking with clients about credit cards and savings accounts :)

I definitely did notice Insurance groups in London, to be honest It was not the first thing that sprang to mind but will look into it, aswell as others mentioned here.

 

Pariatur iste quia et. Ullam quo ipsa provident voluptatibus quos totam illo aut. Doloremque ratione vero odit omnis et dolores commodi. Quis magni quis est consequatur a beatae expedita. Omnis vel eius minus voluptatem quia itaque reiciendis quae.

Nam eum molestiae sed tenetur. Tenetur consequatur quas temporibus exercitationem officiis neque. Ullam possimus nisi blanditiis delectus. Provident itaque quidem odit consequatur commodi illum hic. Aut quis et deserunt blanditiis repellat repellat. Et impedit est adipisci tempore ratione. Impedit explicabo incidunt omnis.

"For I am a sinner in the hands of an angry God. Bloody Mary full of vodka, blessed are you among cocktails. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death, which I hope is soon. Amen."

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
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...”