9 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to know about ECM roles and Citi's culture:

  1. Culture and Hours: ECM roles generally offer better work-life balance compared to other IB groups. While hours can still be demanding (e.g., starting early around 7:30 AM and working until late evening), they are more predictable with fewer last-minute surprises. Citi's culture, as noted in other threads, can vary by group, but there is a general emphasis on work-life balance. However, some groups may still push analysts hard depending on deal flow.

  2. Compensation: ECM analysts typically earn similar pay to their counterparts in other IB groups, especially at the junior level. This includes street bonuses and competitive base salaries.

  3. Exit Opportunities: ECM is not known for strong exits to Private Equity (PE) or Hedge Funds (HF). Instead, exits are more common to corporate roles, wealth management, or asset management. If you're looking for a long-term career in banking with manageable hours, ECM can be a great choice.

  4. Openings: The presence of multiple openings could be due to growth or turnover. High turnover in ECM roles is not uncommon, as some analysts may transition to other opportunities or seek different career paths.

If you're considering Citi's ECM group, it could be a solid option if you value a more predictable schedule and are open to staying in banking or exploring non-PE exits.

Sources: ECM Exit Opportunities, ECM, the high finance brain drain, ECM / DCM - the hidden exit opp?, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/should-i-stick-to-ecm-or-move-to-ma?customgpt=1, Equity-Linked and Hybrid Barclays

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

Maiores accusantium cumque eum quisquam aliquid fugit cumque. Ut sunt architecto et tempore. Error vero aliquam dolores voluptates quasi quia illum. Nulla facere non officiis assumenda ratione et blanditiis.

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 04 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 (17) $409
  • Associates (58) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $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...”