How many deal sprints per year as an associate?

How many deal sprints do you typically average per year at the associate level?

I am at a MM growth buyout firm and am on track to do ~4 full sprints this year running all the way through final LOI / IC.  It feels like a lot given the intensity with a month or so of 100+ hr weeks.  Not sure if this is normal or sustainable pace wise or if I should just recalibrate expectations

Would be helpful to hear what’s typical in terms of sprint volume and duration

8 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Tracks with my limited experience. Went to IC about once a month/three weeks, say across 8-10 deals of which 3 went deep/final stage. 

30% of weeks are an angina-inducing >100h weeks

40% steady 60-70h

30% blissful 40-50h - mainly in the summer and in December/January, based in Europe so you may not have that in the US

Don't forget the PortCos too

 

We did 2 final ICs (~2-3 month sprint until final negotiations including legal) and 3 interim ICs (~3 weeks sprint this year).

Overall I would say:

20% of weeks with 90-100h (full weekend work)

30% of weeks work 70-90h (long weeks with some weekend work)

30% of week of 60-70h (long week no weekend work)

20% of weeks with 50-60h (finish at 9 pm Thursday, early Friday & no weekend work)

 

Est non dolor quibusdam voluptatem. Facere ut exercitationem cum quis voluptatibus laboriosam nemo dicta. Aut est itaque facere sequi sequi nulla. Qui voluptate ut itaque voluptatum. Non ipsa quod voluptas minima. Rerum esse et odio non.

Alias nisi reprehenderit dolorem ut autem cupiditate. Consequatur esse inventore non cumque consectetur laborum ipsam. Hic ad consequuntur animi nihil autem libero.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (100) $364
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (106) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (235) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (414) $231
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (273) $126
  • Intern/Summer Associate (39) $80
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (357) $61
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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”