Determining lean or heavy headcount at PE Firm $/headcount

How do you determine if a team is lean or heavy headcount wise?

What should you aim for?

  1. Do you first determine the most recent fund raised? This would segment the fund into LMM/MM/UMM/MF
  2. See how large the checks are
  3. Count the number of senior people, Principal +
  4. Divide and get a $/Senior Lower ratio depending on LMM/MM/UMM/MF would mean less economics per person

It could also equate to more work since there are more seniors, each senior would want to chase their own deal and if there are not enough associates/VPs you could be working long hours

Have you seen any ridiculous $/headcount ratios high or low? I am sure they exist at HFs but what about PE?

How do you think about this as an associate evaluating different firms?

Would you be wary of joining a firm with too many associates? (Hard to get promoted as you are competing against others, not getting enough reps, etc)

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