Let’s say investment banks increased the headcount to the point where everyone was working 9-5 type hours and reduced the pay drastically. Like f500 financial analyst type pay. (I know given the nature of the business it wouldn’t work out this smoothly but just play along) Would you still do IB?
| +225 | Investment Banks Ranked By Your Divorced Blue Collared Uncle | 17 | 13h |
| +157 | Think Twice before Recruiting for HOUSTON IB!! | 65 | 3d |
| +141 | UBS Exits 2026 | 39 | 12h |
| +69 | Congrats on the ROs. I Still Don’t Know Which One You Were | 8 | 21h |
| +39 | Did not get a return offer due to headcount, but happy to move on. | 8 | 1d |
| +38 | IB RO Discussion | 8 | 7h |
| +29 | Getting a BB job just for brand name? | 5 | 12h |
| +29 | Lied about bonus to future employer | 17 | 15h |
| +28 | Early VP promo timeline | 15 | 2d |
| +26 | Dislike my analyst class | 20 | 4d |
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.
That's called Big 4
But even Big 4 hours can get pretty wild. I don’t think any group at Big 4 works 9-5 except for like tax during the slow season.
Big 4 is still client service and hence you still receive ridiculous requests from clients. I was pulling relatively insane hours 6 months out of the year in audit.
Due to division of labor issues and the client-serving nature of the business, this would be impossible for IB to implement. Playing along, I’d still do it for the exit opps
Do you think that Big 4 audit employees are underpaid relative to the hours that they work, as compared to investment bankers who are paid much more money for working slightly longer hours during the whole year? They are both client service roles which receive ridiculous requests from clients.
Can't opine on if audit is underpaid since I've never done it, but in addition to being less busy, it also seems like less challenging work where you wouldn't need the best talent.
If you're looking at sheer "work" a banking analyst does, they are likely underpaid. At more senior roles, they are probably a bit overpaid in terms of the work they do, but the "value" they bring can't be that easily quantified.
First you get paid for what you do, then for what you know, then for who you are. It does not scale linearly with hours.
this is the correct answer. and it makes Big4 a better choice for somebody who loves finance but also wants to have a life.
O
At facere libero explicabo unde dolores debitis qui. Accusamus reprehenderit itaque natus alias cum qui facilis.
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...