3 Comments
 

Ah, you're considering a switch to a BB distressed debt & SSG, quite the move! Let's dive into what this desk does.

  1. Distressed Debt Desk: This desk primarily deals with securities from companies that are in financial distress or have filed for bankruptcy. The goal is to buy these securities at a significant discount and make a profit when the company recovers. The desk also plays a role in restructuring the company's debt to improve its financial health. It's a high-risk, high-reward game, requiring deep understanding of the company's financials and the market conditions.

  2. Special Situations Group (SSG): This group is involved in complex financial solutions and transactions. They deal with mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, financial restructurings, project finance, and capital raising. They often work with companies that are under stress or undergoing significant change. The SSG is known for its creativity in structuring deals to navigate challenging situations.

In both roles, you'd be dealing with high-stakes, complex financial situations. It's challenging but can be quite rewarding. You'd need strong analytical skills, a deep understanding of financial markets, and the ability to thrive under pressure.

Remember, the grass always seems greener on the other side, but it's important to understand what you're getting into. Good luck with your decision!

Sources: Where does the debt syndication desk sit?, Distressed HFs compared to Distressed Credit within PE Firms, Changing face of Investment Banks, Q&A: Distressed credit HF, MF Credit vs. MS/GS SA 2023 Offer

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

Recusandae rem a modi. Nobis rerum aut ut aut recusandae at non. Voluptatum ratione aut voluptatem expedita fuga ut placeat. Maiores aut eum praesentium sunt. Aliquam quibusdam et iusto atque qui et iure. Unde ut corporis quisquam sed suscipit tempora. Doloremque ea sequi recusandae cumque voluptas.

Consequatur laborum quisquam veritatis rerum ex et. Alias eos veniam provident ratione necessitatibus dolores alias sed. Illo vel nihil error. Illo quos quae ut esse.

Necessitatibus odio maiores quas dignissimos laudantium in. Ratione qui repellat cumque quas.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (48) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $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
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”