Also, would be nice if you can state whether you’re at a BB/EB/MM.
I can only find information about those in the US. Is the time that you come in/leave basically the same in London, or are there differences?
| +197 | Americas M&A League Table Q2 Updated | 79 | 3h |
| +131 | Restructuring: Anti-climactic Experience | 34 | 1d |
| +101 | IB Net Worth / Savings Check | 48 | 32m |
| +91 | Woman who emptied Knicks trashcan on street then stole it was DEI exec, worked at JPMorgan Chase | 24 | 13h |
| +80 | Stop sleeping on UBS - it’s pretty good | 26 | 2h |
| +52 | 2026 VAULT PRESTIGE RANKINGS | 29 | 1d |
| +39 | AI + Financial Modelling | 12 | 1d |
| +28 | Summer before college | 17 | 13h |
| +28 | Hardest interview experiences? | 16 | 22h |
| +26 | Current State of UBS in North America | 8 | 2d |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s what you need to know about London IB analysts' hours:
While this example is for an associate at a boutique, it suggests that hours in London may be slightly more manageable compared to the US, depending on the firm and role. However, hours can vary significantly between BB (Bulge Bracket), EB (Elite Boutique), and MM (Middle Market) firms, as well as by group and deal flow.
Sources: Investment Banking Hours - What to Expect?, Investment Banking Hours - What to Expect?, London IBD Associates: hours?, London IBD - hiring analyst(s), Investment Banking Analyst: A True Day in the Life
Most of the guys are in office 8am to Midnight. However, the Beckies tend to bail at 5pm under the disguise of work-from-home.
Interning at an American BB.
It varies quite a bit, even within my team. I’d say 10:00am to 1:00am is average, with some leeway either way. Sometimes you need to be in early for team meetings etc, other days you can start at 11:00 if you have nothing on and had to work later the night before.
Summer intern at a MM (top team within the bank). Most analysts come it between 9.30-10.00am and leave around 1am. As an intern, I am usually in around 8.45 and leave 1-1.30am. Quite tough tbh
10 am. I leave whenever I finish
Do Associates and above can leave around 7/8pm and then connect back from home in London?
Varies from team to team, I've seen it a lot.
Aren't the hours above even a bit "light" (e.g., 10 am to 1?). I would assume at a top shop with good dealflow it is more ~9-9.30 til 2-3 AM on most days.
Indeed, I think start at 9am and leave at 8am next day is pretty much the norm. Plenty of time in between to relax.
Commenter above.
It’s an average - but with 5 hours on a weekend that adds up to 80 hours a week, a ‘normal’ week so to say. Sure there are 100 hour weeks (where the 9-2/3 happens and a full weekend day or two), but they aren’t the norm, just like the 60 hour weeks. I’ve witnessed all these for different analysts at different times during my internship. Also my team is coverage, so depends heavily on co-sector team.
I don't get it. Maybe it is because you are an intern and don't have full visibility? The hours above (e.g., 9.30 - 2.00) are really not "outliers" in any strong M&A group. It is quiet normal to work like this Mo-Th.
I even have friends at MBB who regularly pull 9-1 so that people chime in here and say stuff like 10 to midnight/1 thats just not a fair representation of M&A outside of slow summer months.
I get in at 10am and leave at 7pm, if I have to work with other junior analysts then will stay later sometimes
At a MM boutique, super lean team and An1. On average 9am (sharp) - 1am. 6-8 hours sprinkled across the weekend. Have had a few 3-5am nights on a live deal deadline.
Can you give indication of firm?
Is this like a GH/LT type of more like a HL/ARMA/Alantra
The latter
intern at EB.
usually 9 - 0030.
Amet mollitia non a pariatur deserunt enim sint. Eaque vero autem et accusamus non. Ullam debitis vitae dolores dicta dolores.
Veniam aspernatur facere rerum eius a est molestiae non. Ut aut qui numquam commodi corrupti. Optio accusamus numquam quas dolorem. Modi qui aut ipsum id in. Consequatur consequuntur porro aut perferendis rerum asperiores est. Iusto facilis expedita doloremque quibusdam sed dolorum ut soluta.
Quo nostrum doloribus voluptatem itaque omnis nostrum. Est consectetur iste consequatur voluptatem id labore. Suscipit porro velit optio ipsam quo explicabo. Quia perspiciatis quod et aut.
Qui dolorum sequi et quisquam. Saepe incidunt inventore distinctio suscipit nihil id nihil. Blanditiis deserunt fuga placeat laudantium exercitationem consequatur ab.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...