VP/Director Life at RX Sweatshops

How is it? I understand firms like Ducera work you to the bone at Analyst/Associate level but how are things at Director/VP level? You officially cleared junior years (technically) but obviously still years to MD. I know VPs at PJT RX are getting worked badly for MD promotion  (3-year track) vs. Lazard RX VPs still enjoying better hours as they have another 3 years of D irector years before making MD. 

Separately, curious about mid level compensation progression at RX shops. Rumors say PJT RX pays you $750K-$1M through 3 years of VP vs. Lazard VP-D gets way below market. (probably $600-800K through 6 years?) Any idea at Ducera/Greenhill?

22 Comments
 

Hopefully we can get one of the 23 VPs in EB RX to weigh on this one man. Rooting for you. Bump!

 

Can confirm GHL RX VPs make around 600-700k all in.... They don't have many spots though given the size of the group 

 

Was this for an analyst role? If so, what topics do you think you flunked?

 

You’re telling me VP2/3 make 7 figures? That’s crazy. Can you share the range then? And I believe they are up or out after VP3 right?

 
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$450K - $800K stepping up from VP 1 - 4ish is a far more realistic comp range. Could top performing VPs catching an MD promo get to $1M, probably has happened, but that's nowhere near indication of realistic comp ranges. Maybe in big fee years there's some excess, but people love to talk about those years as if they're the norm. Bonuses can be volatile and bank or deal dependent.

For people asking about WLB, ask yourself if you think a top performing Rx VP working a distressed deal has good WLB. Needless to say, the answer is no. Do you "build the model", no. Do you have tons of other shit to do and handle, yes. We're up at 3am regularly. Trade-off for the money.

Lastly, would encourage people to not buy-into the defined 2 or 3 or 4-year track for promotion once you approach higher levels. A) People tend to leave / quit, which sets them back on the curve, but also B) The implication of this would imply there are numerous 30-32 year old MDs across the street. Again, anyone who has actually worked in restructuring, or banking in general, knows the rarity of a young MD like that (especially in Rx). This isn't VC where everyone is a "partner", much more hierarchy involved. Even if you did make MD or some equivalent Director title, you're the highly paid execution guy who won't be sourcing shit.

Source: VP in Rx.

 

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