Moving from investment team to BD?
Been thinking a lot lately about how I enjoy learning about new companies, don’t really enjoy the deep dives that are actually required to do a deal, and I’m an outgoing person that likes to meet new people and have more social interaction than I get on a daily basis. It seems like moving to the business development side of PE would be a perfect fit for me.
Can anyone tell me what a junior BD role at a PE firm is really like? What is compensation like, and what sort of ceiling is there in the long run as you climb the ranks; I assume the comp would be lower than on the investment side? Also, what is your work-life balance like?
Most senior roles in PE are ultimately BD and negotiation.
Junior BD roles are often building lists and making cold calls, at least in LMM and even MM.
Bump
It's highly dependent on the firm's BD model but moving over from the deal team is IMO the best background: you already know your firm's story/strategy well, and have execution experience so you can talk-the-talk well.
In my view there's two types of BD: 1) intermediary coverage, where you're basically the inverse of a sponsors coverage banker. It's your job to stay in front of all of the relevant bankers and build deep relationships. 2) direct outreach, where you're mapping markets and dialing companies directly.
Again, it varies a lot from firm to firm. Comp usually lags the deal team but not by too much and your lifestyle is better as long as you don't mind the travel -- there are no BD fire-drills or blown-up weekends. I think market for a VP right now at a MM/UMM is like mid 200s all-in and generally includes carry. The downside is that there are few seats to go around.
Numquam incidunt iure est. Aut modi repellat ad quidem. Expedita velit earum a tenetur rerum eum minus voluptatibus.
Quibusdam nisi est veritatis non sint et earum impedit. Illum fugiat sint eveniet ut aut. Omnis enim laborum nam magnam.
Ipsam aut itaque repudiandae minus. Ipsam fugit distinctio accusantium omnis. Repellat consequatur illo suscipit illo.
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...