London Top BB Associate Hours

Just wanted to get some feedback on hours for Associates. Especially at top BB teams (eg GS TMT). How much do you usually work in London?

I know people say 100 hrs but that doesn't seem realistic as an Associate and it feels like people just post their hours when they're getting killed. I don't see how people can actually work past 3am every single day over several years. Unless an exceptional firedrill, I think most people work on average 9-12 + a couple of hours on the weekend, so say 70-80hr weeks. Sometimes less (summer, December could be around 50-60hrs sometimes), sometimes more (before launch). Or am I wrong? 

4 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, the hours for Associates at top BB teams in London, such as GS TMT, are generally demanding but not consistently at the extreme levels of 100+ hours per week. Here's a realistic breakdown:

  1. Typical Weekly Hours: Associates in London BBs often average around 70-80 hours per week, depending on deal flow and group dynamics. This aligns with your estimate.

  2. Daily Schedule:

    • Monday to Thursday: Commonly 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM or 10:00 PM.
    • Friday: Slightly shorter, around 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM.
    • Weekends: Typically, 5-10 hours spread across Saturday and Sunday, often remote and focused on reviewing work or addressing urgent tasks.
  3. Seasonal Variations:

    • During quieter periods like summer or December, hours can drop to 50-60 hours per week.
    • Intense periods, such as pre-launch or live deals, can push hours higher, but consistent 100+ hour weeks are rare and usually overstated.
  4. Protected Weekends: Some BBs have policies for protected Saturdays or weekends, which can help reduce burnout.

While the workload is intense, Associates often have better time management and less "face time" pressure compared to Analysts, which can make the hours feel more manageable.

Sources: Actual BB IB Associate post-MBA hours, Investment Banking Hours - What to Expect?, Realistic BB Working Hours, Investment Banking Hours - What to Expect?, MBB Analyst comp/hours ?

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

Asperiores in dignissimos ut ab consequatur. Nisi placeat rerum qui ex aut. Id adipisci et suscipit alias amet. Dolorem quae tempore saepe est. Beatae aperiam quam deserunt sit consequatur quia.

Molestiae quis perspiciatis fugiat voluptas id veritatis. Molestias odit aut quo praesentium quidem ut. At quas earum et ea quia autem. Et enim ut placeat. Voluptatem est amet distinctio cum occaecati perspiciatis qui. Et temporibus officia dolorem voluptas nobis.

Molestiae dolores ut iste et. Tempore voluptatem nesciunt quia consequuntur. Enim et maiores voluptas est et suscipit quibusdam modi. Aut eos sunt fugiat rem eveniet cum. Quasi blanditiis incidunt iure molestiae cumque.

Ut aliquid quia aperiam vitae libero delectus et. Ipsam consequatur autem nam velit eum voluptas.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 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

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