Nordic bonus season
Not much intel on Nordic compensation so let’s compare bonuses in the Nordics.
I got 900k SEK (84K USD)
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Based on the most helpful WSO content, there isn't much specific intel on Nordic compensation in the provided context. However, your bonus of 900k SEK (approximately 84K USD) seems competitive when compared to other regions like Continental Europe, where bonuses for analysts and associates often cap at 100% of the base salary. For example, in European BBs, it's rare for bonuses to exceed 100% of the base salary at the analyst/associate level, as noted in the WSO discussions.
If you'd like to benchmark further, you might consider sharing your role, seniority, and firm type to get more tailored comparisons.
Sources: Management Consulting Salary & Compensation, Average Bonus in Consulting, 2018 /2019 Bonus Discussion, Q&A - Quant with 2 yrs exp in Europe both buy/sell side, Nordic Banking - finmeme account covering Nordic news, banks etc., 2021 S&T Bonus
Hi, I know this was posted a few months back but as somebody considering IB in Stockholm, I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions?
Thank you so much!
Let me know if any other questions!
SEB/Handelsbanken type of bank paying 900KSEK in bonus?
What would a US BB be paying then? Or BNP / CACIB?
ALso why is WBL bad? Whenever I try to get in touch with anyone in Stockholm it's a challenge after 7pm
SEB/Handelsbanken pay very bad but there are other players in the Nordics you know. SEB typically doesn’t pay above 12x I think and Handelsbanken barely pays any bonus at all
My bank is one of the highest paying ones though (Ive left tho), I would say total comp is slightly below US BBs (they have much higher base and lower bonuses, we have the other way around), but better than for example BNP that pays OK base but really bad bonus. I mean honestly, you can just buy Ratsit for 79 SEK and find people there and check their salary.
Idk what to say lol, it was bad because I worked a lot. Was working a lot with the worst PE firms you can work with which had an impact.
Thanks - helpful
im interested in IB in the nordics and saw a thread earlier that said Carnegie/ABG are great because of good deal exposure compared to SEB/Handelsbanken and less working hours? would comp and bonus be as good as your previous bank at these type of places?
Both Carnegie and ABG are great for deal exposure, my gut feeling is that Carnegie does more M&A (and the most ECM of all of course) so think your experience there would be a bit more balanced compared to ABG - that’s just based on my gut feeling though.
Comp historically can be very good, but it’s highly variable and it’s not uncommon that they just cut your bonus completely in a down year which typically doesn’t happen at SEB, or at my bank so I think if you spread it out over time, my bank had superior comp compared to them, and SEB shouldn’t be that far away (from what I’ve heard juniors receive 8-12x pretty much no matter what) - it’s the perk with having a larger organization behind you. One thing to take into consideration with Carnegie is the DNB x Carnegie merger as well, a lot of turmoil there at the moment.
On working hours, Carnegie and ABG folks will always say that they work the most out of all banks but I would say SEB is pretty much on par with them.
On overall comp, if you’re looking for the highest possible average you should go to a US BB. They do cut bonuses sometime, but since the base salaries are so high you have a higher portion secured each year compared to Nordic players where the base is much lower. For me, I earned SEK 53k / month the year I received 900k in bonus, so a down-year hits much harder than it would have if I had been at for example Goldman earning SEK +90-100k per month (but then you are Londons bitch).
I’m super interested in pursuing IB in the nordics, please dm would love to ask you a few questions.
Ask here
Would you send me a message? You’re anonymous so I can’t message you.
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