Q&A: Senior VP in BB M&A (London)

Hello all,

I am one of WSO's new mentors/resume reviewers so thought I'd do a Q&A to kick things off. 

Brief background:

  • VP at a BB in London with 9yrs experience in M&A/coverage (PUI, Natural Resources, Transport, Industrials)
  • Resource director/staffer for my group
  • Masters in Economics from a top 3 global university
  • Previously ran a university admissions consultancy business on the side helping prep candidates for university applications

My path to IB was relatively traditional with Spring Week to Summer Internship to Full Time where I’ve been for 9 years so hopefully I can give good perspectives on how to rise through the ranks and survive the grind. I've also been the resource director/staffer of my group for a number of years and involved in intern/full time recruiting so I can tackle any questions on applications, what makes a good analyst/associate, how to position yourself for ranking season etc.

Happy to answer questions on any topics you may have.

WSO MENTOR

Want to work with me? Check out my profile here.

 
 



 
Most Helpful

Good question. The below is a mix of tips that helped me and traits I see in successful analysts in my team.

  1. Attitude above all else. People want to work with people they like. Be proactive, keen and enthusiastic. Maintain a good attitude even if it’s late at night or a stressful situation
  2. Think ahead – the biggest mind-set shift I made as an analyst was to start thinking about the wider context of each piece of work. What is the purpose of this analysis, what are the client’s strategic objectives, how does this deal achieve them etc. This also extends to being able to explain your work to others, particularly when it comes to modelling - why does EBITDA move in this way, why is the ICR breached in year 3 etc.
  3. Ability to learn – show an aptitude to learn and pick things up. Most seniors have no problem giving you their time to train you but we want to see that our time is not wasted and you are moving up the learning curve
  4. Always check your work – this gets preached so much but it’s amazing how many analysts don’t follow it and let down a great piece of work with sloppy errors
  5. Work neat and clean – be organised, setup good shortcuts/hotkeys, label files properly, save things down in the right place, format your excel well etc. A few extra minutes a day save hours in the long-run
  6. Understand it’s just business and not personal – it’s inevitable you’ll work with difficult characters in IB, being able to take it on the chin goes a long way
  7. Treat people well – again one that’s preached often, but not followed. Treat the cleaners/presentations team/printers/assistants well. Aside from being the right thing to do these people can save you in a pinch
  8. Practical – get a good screen and keyboard/mouse setup for home so you don’t need to always go into the office on weekends

On avoiding burnout I’d say:

  1. Understand it’s a marathon not a sprint. I went flying out the blocks as an analyst and it was only a few years in that I realised it wasn’t sustainable and adopted more work life balance
  2. Being a good performer helps, if you are trusted as someone who can deliver your seniors will be much more flexible in terms of deadlines – I appreciate that it can take time to build up this sort of political capital
  3. Don’t sacrifice exercise; doing something is better than nothing even if it’s only Friday/Weekends or going for a walk around the City during the working day
  4. Take advantage of your disposable income to make life easier (healthy eating, laundry services, cleaner for your apartment etc), its money well spent. Apps make it easier than ever particularly in London/NY

Re staying in the long haul, I landed in a really good group early on with a great learning experience, good comp and a couple of good Rabbis so my threshold for leaving was quite high. Over time this meant I had quite a bit of leeway to choose what I worked on and lots of upward exposure so my experience has been very positive. I also saw a number of peers who left for PE having an experience not so different to IB with in some cases worse comp. Thirdly I suppose a small part of it is the paradox of choice when there are lots of opportunities out there (PE, tech, start-ups, corporates etc).

 

Hi! Thanks for taking the time to post - hope you are well. I got a few qns

1) FT & OC recruiting in London - how bad is it set to be following covid? I graduated from a london based target in 2019 and recent networking has said its a shit show with barely any spots going around

2) best advice for preparing for case studies used in the AC? I had one at a US BB AC and I was a bit thrown - how can I best prep to not be caught out by it

3) How is headcount looking in your view 20/21   

thanks again!

 

Question 1

I think the full impact remains to be seen. Banks are very much taking things day by day and reacting to the wider news-flow around COVID - e.g. if there’s a vaccine and economic and M&A activity return to normal then the situation could recover very quickly, or the opposite if we have a particularly bad second wave.

So far the bigger impact seems to be on the OC side, a number of BBs in London have suspended their OC programmes for this year. That partly reflects the fact that OC internships have historically not been as much of a feature of London recruiting as say Paris. On the FT side spots are down versus previous years as banks are being cautious. That being said there are still spots out there as a few banks didn’t convert 100% of interns.

Question 2

On the practical side, get comfortable with navigating the three statements quickly and easily and get comfortable digesting large amounts of information to quickly hone in on the relevant bits (similar skill-set to psychometric tests). On the day itself pace yourself and don’t waste too much time going down rabbit holes. Staying calm and composed also goes a long way but I appreciate thats easier said than done

Question 3

All other things being equal for 2021 spring weeks/interns, no discernible change. FT analyst classes will be down but magnitude of 10-20% rather than 30-40% I reckon. Experienced hires/fires will just be a continuation of existing policies. I.e. those banks which had headcount freezes or reduction programmes in place pre-covid will end up resuming them. Again all this is just an opinion based on an outlook which changes daily!

 

Definitely, very possible to do so after a year, and certainly easier than it was 10yrs ago. All banks champion internal mobility but ultimately it comes down to the bank and the seniors in the team you are trying to leave and join. A few observations/bits of advice

  1. Have patience, sometimes these moves can take 6months+ to happen and you may have to push hard for it
  2. Be a good performer, this helps immeasurably. If you are a superstar the bank will find a way to make the move happen rather than lose you to another bank.
  3. Where possible try and get experience working on ECM/DCM deals in your sector and get exposure to the team you are looking to join
  4. Start networking with the ECM/DCM teams without actively shopping yourself. At the right juncture raise it someone senior in the target team, if you get some positive encouragement then raise it with the head of your team (eg 6months in)
  5. Be flexible, if the group you wish to join loses someone then accelerate your process
  6. Most banks have internal mobility portals/networks but often good roles in IBD don't appear on there so be proactive

Hope this helps.

 

Hi, thank you very much for the Q&A.

I'm about to join a London BB in the PUI team - I chose the team for the technical modelling experience, interest in the industry, and for the team's good reputation.

My question is: do you have any particular advice for someone joining this sector (that might not apply to other sectors)? What about the sector interests you? Is there anything in particular you advise learning / reading / practising early on that would help me in this sector in particular?

Thank you!

 

In terms of sector specific advice;

  1. Being detailed orientated helps, PUI models can be 20-40yrs with detailed build ups of revenue, opex etc. Having clear, well laid out models that are logical matters even more in this sector
  2. Don't be disheartened by the additional learning curve the sector presents, persist with it and it will eventually click into place. I found coming in on weekends during my first year really helped. It allowed me to focus on a model for long periods without the distraction of a typical workday
  3. Find a good senior analyst/associate and learn from them
  4. Cross sub-sector knowledge helps, once you master modelling one PUI asset you'll find that many of the principles apply to other sub-sectors
  5. Use sector specific knowledge to your advantage to help you become a better coverage banker (ie understand how a toll-road or power plant work) but recognise that you are a banker not a sector consultant
  6. Absorb as much as you can during training but recognise that most of the learning comes on the job

As for why I liked/like the sector PUI (particularly the I) is a maturing asset class with lots of growth so the deal flow is very good. In particular during COVID as M&A volumes have declined, PUI seems to have remained relatively robust. Secondly the sharper modelling skills you pick-up are a real advantage, not everyone can do it, so if you have these skills it can really help differentiate you at bonus time. Finally I really like that as analyst there seems to be much more value placed on the work you do versus other sectors where valuation and modelling is more vanilla - clients (particularly financial sponsors) are interested in the output of your model and scrutinise it.

 

Live comfortably is really subjective, your question depends on your spending habits and what you prioritise financially - which is true in any occupation. I know many VPs who prioritise renting in the most expensive areas of London, taking very expensive holidays, table service every weekend etc and spend all of their income.  Equally I know others who prioritise savings, investing and buying a house/apartment. Personally speaking I can't imagine grinding away for 10yrs and having nothing to show for it but each to their own.

Compared to pre-GFC comp levels are not as generous and prime real estate prices in major cities (NY, London etc) have increased dramatically such that the purchasing power of a banking salary is not what it used to be. However if you are a well ranked, don't have excessive spending habits and invest your money wisely then its very possible to be well setup for the future by the time you reach year 9. You find many people in banking ratchet up their spending levels as their income rises and then find it hard to readjust downwards. If you leave as a VP for a vanilla corporate development role you can certainly live comfortably assuming you have a property and low/zero mortgage. Equally you'd probably struggle if you tried to maintain your old spending habits or were trying to send 3 kids to private school for example.

 

Hi there,

I’m currently in a specialty finance FIG corp dev role but may want to move into IB at some point. I don’t have prior IB experience but I have spent 2 years at a boutique investment fund before moving to corp dev. Through my role I speak regularly with the BBs and MM banks.

Any advice on how I can make the move into IB? If you were to consider hiring an individual from corp dev, what would you look for? Any other general advice would be appreciated!

Thanks.

 

Its difficult but not impossible and I've certainly seen people make similar moves. Your best chance is to impress a BB/MM you work closely with, develop a relationship and try and find an in that way. I assume you would aim to move into a FIG coverage team within IB rather than M&A/a different sector since it would be valuable to leverage your sector experience.

If I were hiring someone with a corporate development background I'd focus on;

  • Quality of technical/numerical skills. There will always be some catch-up required but can I get comfortable the candidate is starting from some base and has the aptitude to learn quickly
  • Quality of previous corporate development experience, have they been actively involved in large scale strategic projects and M&A
  • Sector knowledge in FIG
  • Experience or competencies which can be demonstrated from the boutique investment fund role
  • Education/other background
 

Hi, thanks for doing this AMA.

I'm currently in a DCM team as a VP, and I have had experience before in corporate finance (covering debt financing in a Big4). Do you think is it possible to move to a VP role in a BB with little experience in M&A? Or would I need an MBA in order to change? Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks!

Money never sleeps.
 

I had a colleague who transitioned from a debt role into M&A as a senior associate. It was quite a learning curve (particularly in terms of the level of detail and strategic thinking required in an M&A execution vs DCM) but she was smart and keen to learn which helped a lot.

Your best bet is to move internally, you'd likely have to take a step down in quality of institution if moving to M&A at another bank otherwise. Perhaps as a stepping stone moving to a coverage team with significant DCM and M&A deal flow where you can learn the M&A skill-set without being throw in at the deep end would help. Particularly as people are less forgiving at the VP level and will expect you to make the adjustment quicker than an analyst.

Easier to make such a transition without an MBA in Europe than it is in the US.

 

Thanks for doing this! I'm in the process of applying for Summer Analyst roles, and was wondering what your thoughts were on how to go about showing an interest in Investment Banking when my background (internships, ECs) have been very investing (AM/ ER style) focused? Would an explanation in a Cover Letter, and later at interviews, suffice? 

Thanks very much!

 

I wouldn't worry too much about your past experience given its the Summer Analyst stage, indeed a number of other applicants will have even less relevant prior experience. AM/ER is close enough at your level to be beneficial in your application. The cover letter would be a good forum as you suggest. However rather than trying to explain away or justify your past experience I would focus on why IBD and then draw positives from your AM/ER experience to support that. If the question comes up at interview its far more likely to be a "why IBD" type question rather than "why dont you have past IBD experience".

 

What made you stay in IB over going to PE? I'm currently in PE and switched over mainly cause of comp/idea of more interesting work but have realized that the first part doesn't really kick in until much later and I haven't closed a deal In a year. I was in a coverage group in London and was wondering if I could make the transition to BB m@a. 

 

Looking at the experiences of friends and peers who moved to PE many worked IBD hours when on a deal (albeit lower hours when not on a live deal) and as you point out with equal or marginally lower/higher comp until carry kicked in. Therefore the upsides, while there, didn't seem as significant as many analysts perceive it to be. There are certainly PE shops where the economics work out much better than IBD but you really need to pick your spot if making the move. I also ended up staying in banking because I enjoy it, think I'm relatively good at it and have been fortunate to land in a good team where I'm well ranked every year. If you have experience in IBD coverage and then PE I think a move back to M&A or another coverage team would be relatively easy.

 

Curious regarding your experience...is it that bad to have not closed a deal in a year? And how much does the lack of interest and comp relate to the specific fund you are at? (are you at a MF / large cap / midmarket etc) and do you not still find the job interesting without deals - why do you think M&A would be more interesting?

Sorry to hijack the thread but I'm intrigued as I'm on a similar path (not been around long but no deals just by virtue of luck...)

 

In a very good year two M&A deals where I'm the day-to-day lead or heavily involved, plus perhaps one 'ancillary' deal (eg a financing or an M&A deal led by another team). In a bad year zero - lots of buy-sides for financial sponsors which can be a crap-shoot.

On comp google the Arkesden Compensation Report, broadly correct for London

 

wanted your thoughts on coverage vs M&A. I have seen that coverage bankers tend to have the relationships with firms while M&A is more execution focused. However, then again, all the senior most bankers at BB etc. came from M&A including the legends. Do you think M&A MDs also have strong relationships or is it more execution based at BB

 

The best MDs do both, the top M&A bankers you refer to all had excellent relationships with clients in a few sectors and equally the best coverage bankers I've worked with are those who are skilled in execution. A lot of the larger/better performing coverage groups across the City do most of their M&A execution 'in-house'.

Having done both I personally prefer coverage as I find the balance between relationships and execution better at the VP level, and I like the opportunity to deploy sector specific knowledge.

 

This thread is fantastic- so refreshing to hear from a banker who likes their job rather than just glorifying the buyside- thanks a ton. 

quick questions from my end: 

1) In response to your question above-- does that mean the top MDs may have started out in coverage, spent some time in M&A and then switched between groups? I am talking about these super senior bankers who now head divisions.

2) In response to your below point- if you were given an offer at say EVC and Bofa- which one would you personally take? I have heard boutqiues aren't as well established in EMEA and BBs are the way to go.

 

BAML and Citi are both a small step below JPM/MS/GS in London, but they both have certain very strong groups. BAML in Europe is an odd one, with the resources and balance sheet they shouldn't lag so far behind JPM. They had a number of senior departures over the last 3-4yrs and performed quite poorly in M&A, but seem to be turning a corner in the last year. With any BB it’s a balance between brand name and quality of team, it can be worth sacrificing a little on one for the benefit of the other.

I rate Evercore EMEA very highly, its got the scale to allow greater sector specialism (vs CW/PWP), but the advantages of a boutique (good comp levels, bonuses fully cash etc) and some very strong industry teams. Plus the office location is nice. CW is a very strong performer, some of the best comp amongst the BBs and larger boutiques but tough working hours and lots of pressure to perform. PWP I haven't had much interaction with in Europe. 

 

Which groups would you see as very strong at BAML (as well as at other BBs if time)? Many thanks!!

 

Very interesting point of view. 

Do you think that currently BAML is 1 step below of JPM and 1 ahead from Citi? Having worked at both I see more dealflow at BAML´s most of the teams and much better exits (which I dont end up understanding given the similar exposure)

Regarding to the gap between BAML/Citi and JP/MS, league tables in EMEA show that its getting smaller, do you think that these 2 will get to a point of similar prestige, or does this go beyond the dealflow / experience?

Thanks for this

 

Networking seems to matter less in Europe than the US, but there is still value in doing it. Competition is still tough so networking wont get a bad candidate an offer but it can help a marginal candidate. There is also value in networking if you eventually receive a SA offer, it can help significantly with landing in the stronger groups during team allocation. I would suggest connecting with juniors at your target firms either through your university network, friends of friends or cold approaches on LinkedIn. Asking smart questions and displaying interest can (a) help with your own knowledge base and understanding of the industry (b) may elicit some useful tips for the interview stage and (c) you never know who may end up interviewing you.

It seems more important now than ever in London to get 'in the system' early, ie Spring Weeks (but I'm assuming that doesn't work with your timing). For SA apply early, banks don't wait until the deadline to start interviewing/making offers, they do it in tranches so there is real value in this.

 

Shortlisting - Banks are more open than ever to 'non-standard' profiles and are keen to have greater diversity in SA and FT classes (referring here to non-target schools and past work experience). This will help with getting an interview but whether you are from a target or non-target school there are enough strong candidates in each group such that you need to make every element of your application (interview, case study, psychometric testing, cover letter etc.) as strong as possible. If you have strong ECs, Spring Weeks and A-Level Grades then I don't see you falling foul of the shortlisting process. For me personally target vs non-target school is very quickly eclipsed by a strong or weak interview.

Interview questions 

  1. Technical questions - many candidates do not adapt to the specifics of a question and tend to deliver cookie-cutter answers they have memorised. I've interviewed countless people over the years who can recite how to do a DCF perfectly, but crumble if you ask anything off-piste. Basic knowledge of accounting can help with technical questions also.
  2. Overall poor preparation - I'm amazed how many candidates (a) can't speak to their previous experience well and (b) haven't prepared the standard competencies. I can understand being blindsided by an unexpected technical question, but there is no excuse for not preparing these two items.
  3. Nerves and interview technique - these are worth practising, they help you to perform your best and add polish to your answers. Get in the habit of pausing for a second, breathing and structuring your answer rather than trying to answer immediately.

MD - probably still my Plan A, but as with many people COVID has prompted a period of reevaluation and reflection on lifestyle and long-term goals.

 

I personally haven't come across anyone making that exact move but that's not to say it doesn't or cant happen. It will be difficult but not impossible. Typically these type of cross department moves are easier during the mid-analyst to mid-associate years, any later and you'll be putting a lot of pressure on yourself to 'catch-up'. You are best off first trying to make that move internally, networking across a number of coverage/M&A teams to get your profile out there and understand when/where the opportunities arise. The tricky thing will be getting opportunities to demonstrate your skills. If you are at a top BB in credit risk it may also be worth considering a sideways move to a tier 2/3 or boutique to get 1-2yrs of experience before trying to move up again. Good luck!

 

1. In one of your earlier comments you mentioned that you are amazed about how many candidates don’t prepare for interviews/get nervous. Roughly what % of candidates which you interview are poorly prepared?

2. Have you ever read a covering letter?

3. If you were not working in Banking, what job would you be doing?

 

1) 20% are very well prepared/couldn't do more, 60% are well prepared but have a couple of holes they could easily fix and 20% are poorly prepared

2) Yes always. Admittedly I don't see an application until the interview stage so an element of filtering has already taken place. But if someone goes to the effort of producing a cover letter and attending an interview I will certainly read it. Whether cover letters are useful that's another matter, I personally feel they are of limited use.

3) My answer to this changes quite often, and I answer it from a perspective of having worked in banking (rather than instead of banking). Atm it would either be a type of portfolio career (having 3-4 income streams, day trading, running my own businesses etc) or working in a tech startup (boring answer I know!). 

 

This thread is fantastic- so refreshing to hear from a banker who likes their job rather than just glorifying the buyside- thanks a ton. 

quick questions from my end: 

1) In response to your question above-- does that mean the top MDs may have started out in coverage, spent some time in M&A and then switched between groups? I am talking about these super senior bankers who now head divisions.

2) In response to your below point- if you were given an offer at say EVC and Bofa- which one would you personally take? I have heard boutqiues aren't as well established in EMEA and BBs are the way to go.

 

Thank you for the kind words, you are very welcome.

1) It was more to say don't think of these top M&A guys as execution only, they have great relationships too. Its those relationships that allow them to go and setup a Zaoui & Co or a Robey Warshaw. To make it into super senior management positions you need to be well rounded. So an M&A banker without relationships or a coverage banker who cant execute M&A won't make it to Head of European M&A or Head of Investment Banking. 

2) It really depends on the quality of the groups at each, does one have a clear advantage over the other? What are your long term goals? Feel free to DM me if you wish.

Im not sure the comparison of BBs vs boutiques is that clear cut. Evercore is quite different to a Centerview/PWP/PJT which is quite different to Ardea/Robey Warshaw/Zaoui. For me Evercore sits between BBs and boutiques given its size. It also does a pretty good job of training juniors which can be a gamble at other boutiques. Equally Evercore EMEA is not quite the same as the US given the Lexicon acquisition. Both BAML and Evercore would be fine choices, the experience will be different but not sure one is necessarily 'better' than the other. Again it depends on group/your other criteria.

 

Thanks for your time and consideration. I'm an Asian international student studying in the US, at non-HYP Ivy (Think Columbia, Dartmouth, UPenn).

Attended an international school in SE Asia with many British friends, I always wanted to try out something across the pond. From my understanding, recruiting at the UK works modestly different from one in the US (Spring Week, many people come with a Master's degree).

I was wondering what is a realistic chance for a non-EU student studying in the US, at breaking into London I-banking. I have a 4.0/4.0 GPA and several relevant internships. Also, is applying through official application all I can do? or is networking helpful in terms of landing a first-round interview?

Thank you.

 

You raise a few interesting topics in here so I'll take them in turn.

EMEA recruiting vs US - Spring Week's are not essential, particularly if you have other relevant work experience or mini internships, but it is helpful in getting you onto a bank's recruiting track early. This is particularly true now when banking recruitment is more formalised and standardised vs 10yrs ago. That being said the majority of SA class in a given bank in London will not have done a Spring Week at that same institution.

Your chances - A non-EU student from a strong university such as Columbia, Dartmouth or Penn with a 4.0GPA and relevant internships will be a strong candidate indeed and stand a very good chance of an offer assuming you interview well etc. Where things may become difficult is around visa and right to work, this I'm less of an expert on. It doesn't seem to have been an issue at my bank with Asian students, but I don't know the particulars of each persons case.

Applications - As mentioned earlier in this thread applying early is key. Banks in London don't wait until the deadline to start interviewing or making offers, they do it in batches. In my view networking doesn't make much difference in securing an interview or not, where it can help is team allocation once you have a SA or FT offer. See my reply to Anubodi's post earlier in this thread for more perspectives on networking in London.

 

Hi,

Very excited to see your post and actually have some question about work in London:)

I work for power economic sector and a power trader in Canada - planning to pursue MBA with LBS for Fall 2021 starts and want to make a career transition to IBD or investment fund. Could you elaborate some details about MBA recruiting and the competitiveness of the job market ?

Also, as a female, will the chance to break in be much lower ? I hope to gain the global experience in London.

Thanks a lot in advance !

 

MBA recruiting in London is a bit of a mixed bag compared to New York. Most US BBs in London typically hire MBAs every year, the European BBs run an MBA associate programme some years and not others. From what I've seen MBA recruiting in London (both FT and SA) has been one of the first areas, along with OC interns, to get suspended as a result of Covid. So MBA recruiting can be tough if for no other reason than places are limited, and can vary dramatically year to year.

LBS is a target school for most banks in London and has a good careers service and alumni network so I'd encourage you to leverage those as a first step. Secondly take finance, valuation or accounting related courses as part of your MBA where possible. If you are joining as an associate you'll be ranked against those who have been in banking for 2-3yrs, so anything you can do now to close that gap will help. Finally take advantage of the special networking and recruiting events for women. Banks are desperate to solve the gender imbalance in front office roles, so being female will certainly not be a disadvantage. That being said there are enough high quality female applicants that you will still need to put your best foot forward. Finally it may be worth trying to target Power/Energy/Nat Res groups given your current experience.

 

Which London players are the strongest in the sector you work in? Thanks

 

I have been working my ass off in a backend IB role in India that caters to a large BB that's dominating the EMEA markets right now. 

We have an internship program where the best back-end analysts are offered an internship by the BB and if the firm likes the performance, FT offers are extended as well. 

I have delivered high-quality work with >99% accuracy even during tight timelines, took only 2 sick leaves in the last 2.5 years (most of the other well-planned leaves for my CFA prep), have been appreciated by every single senior, but the opportunity hasn't been offered yet. Trump has basically blocked the US/NYC route for now and my relationship with the EMEA/London bankers is not so strong since they send limited work and don't acknowledge our emails unless they have comments or additional work to share. 

I'm turning 23 in a couple of months and want to see myself as a FO analyst asap now. a few things I am confident of (apart from fundamental finance concepts) is my work quality and reliability.

Have worked on thousands of profiles, comps and precedents. But I guess I'll be able to realize my full potential after getting into a FO role with valuation and financial modelling, and other analysis-based stuff.  

Any help would be appreciated, thanks a lot. 

I understand how most of the FO bankers are always busy so really appreciate your time. 

 

I have seen people making similar moves, and on one occasion been involved in transferring someone from a back-end IB team to my team in London. There are still some visa hurdles to jump through in London but far fewer than the US. The move you describe is eminently achievable, you just need to push and approach it in the right way. I would advise;

  1. Firstly if there is a formal programme to offer internships politely try to find out why this has not been extended to you. Approach your local manager or programme/section head. Is it your relative performance, perhaps the transfer programme has been paused due to covid etc.
  2. Can you get any exposure to the team in London, or other sector/product teams in London to build a reputation? Can you staffer help with allocating you more London based projects?
  3. Can any of the US bankers you have worked with advocate for you in London?
  4. These moves can take time. There are lots of HR and visa complications to be navigated. Don’t lose faith if it doesn’t happen immediately and stick with it.
 

Thanks a lot, really appreciate your time.

1. I was offered a strategy internship role where I had to work within the corporate business and reporting team. It's a 2-3 week internship in London and then had to come back to India for this same role where I had to work independently. I politely declined over email and said that my only goal is to get into a corp. finance / M&A role. This was offered last year. The internship program is slowing down due to various reasons. Last year pre covid, I was told that the bank already hired a lot of FO analysts. Generally the bank asks our firm to send the CVs of the best analysts at the firm and then it shortlists the one's who they seem fit for an internship.

2. Hardly, 80% of the requests that come to the Industrials team are from the US bankers and 10-12% from EMEA. I have tried following up with the EMEA bankers to ask for feedback on meetings, what did the client have to say etc. etc. But we generally don't get any response unless they have additional work to send or have comments/changes on the previous work. US bankers, on the other hand, even shared some of their meeting notes to help understand the reasoning behind the slides. 

3. Absolutely, I have been working on transportation and logistics sector within Industrials team and if you'd ask any of the analysts involved in the sector, I am confident that they would have only positives to say about the work quality and performance.

4. Yes, I completely understand that. However, India IB (where MBAs from tier 1 colleges are hired as analysts) is very competitive and since I work in a KPO, I stand no chance to get into an IB firm in India. So with every passing year, I feel lost. 

This Q&A session has a lot of good advise and I can't thank you enough for the responses. 

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer questions from the community - your responses above have been super helpful.

What specific steps should one take in order to make a strong transition from Analyst 3 to Associate 1? A piece of advice I have received on this question is to 'try to emulate' what a good Associate in your team does but often I find that my perception of a 'good' Associate is biased by the fact that I like to work with/get on well with said Associate, rather than by their objective abilities.

Thanks!

 

Given analyst promotions tend to happen after 2-2.5yrs in London (vs 3-3.5yrs previously), the transition is a lot gentler than it used to be. My advice would be;

  1. Find a good associate and learn from them, particularly when it comes to modelling
  2. Think about the wider context of each piece of work. What is the purpose of this analysis, what are the client’s strategic objectives, how does this deal achieve them etc. Often analysts are so focused on a model they miss the bigger picture, good associates don’t
  3. Be invested in what you do and own a piece of work. Get in the mind-set of producing work because you understand the ‘why’ rather than simply because you’ve been tasked with it. I am always impressed when my analysts think beyond the task I’ve given them and it’s the hallmark of a good associate
  4. Develop a reputation as a safe pair of hands and self-starter. If you can be that trusted junior to a senior associate or VP they will really go to bat for you. Not to mention they will give you more leeway with deadlines
  5. Demonstrate an ability to manage juniors and delegate effectively where possible. As an analyst this can often be done with intern
  6. Above all else just be really good at what you do, particularly from a modelling perspective. Associates with gaps in their technical skills end up getting staffed like analysts
 

Ranking season

  1. Don’t be shy about vocalising your achievements, without being boastful. Don’t assume good work is automatically and universally recognised
  2. Don’t sweat the process too much as an analyst, the difference in absolute bonus between a top and middle performer is much less than you’d think. Its only when you get to associate level that the difference becomes meaningful
  3. Be good at what you do. Obvious I know but worth repeating
  4. Make yourself indispensable to a senior associate or VP/D, be their go-to analyst. You need someone to bat for you during ranking season
  5. Manage expectations – this is more a tip for associate onwards. Have an open chat with the head of your team or MD/D responsible for rankings in say early autumn. Let them know how you think the year has gone and your expectations (not necessarily in monetary terms). This is also an opportunity to learn whether the bank views your performance differently and to prevent any surprises in February. There is no point having this chat on bonus day, it’s too late by that point
  6. Work across IBD where possible. Ranking at most banks tends to place more weight on feedback from those outside your immediate team. Get exposure to as many different sectors/products/geographies as possible

Deal experience

  1. Hopefully you have a good staffer who makes sure all the analysts in your group have a varied experience across the different products/sectors/geographies - but don't rely on this
  2. Manage your own career, make sure you are getting varied experience, if this is not happening have a chat with your staffer. Obviously handle this in the right way, staffers are at the mercy of the workflow they receive, and be sensible about it (i.e if you are not getting varied experience in the long run)
  3. Develop some niches within that broader framework. E.g. if you are in a country M&A team and have worked on two recent consumer deals, it makes sense for you to be on the next one which comes along
  4. Again be good, see the post at the top of the thread about traits of a good analyst, the best performers get the best opportunities
  5. As an Analyst 1 complete every bit of work, no matter how small, to the best of your ability. Show people you can walk (comps etc) and very quickly you'll be trusted to run (deals)
 

Many thanks for doing this! Really appreciate the insight. As there seems to be a lot of misinformation on this forum around top groups at different firms, I was just wondering whether you could list 2-3 of the strongest teams at the individual BBs.

 

Brilliant thread here, thanks for taking the time to do this. Don't see enough from London on WSO.

Can I get your advice on getting into a BB without financial experience? I did my BA at a top 5 uni, and I'm doing a masters in Econ at Oxbridge now. I have some transferable experience from internships in politics (working with data to build models, interpersonal skills), but nothing like a spring week or SA. Is there any chance for me trying to get an SA/FT offer this cycle, and if so, what would be your advice?

 

When do you graduate from your masters? Assuming its next year SAs are off the table given they need to be the summer before your penultimate year of study. Based on your strong academics, and what sounds like a quality internships I would certainly apply for a FT place. Advice:

  • Apply early - see the advice earlier in this thread
  • Be well drilled on the standard competencies and draw examples from your politics internship(s)
  • Prepare for greater technical scrutiny and more "why IBD" style questions - I always probe further on these two areas when interviewing someone with your profile. On the technical side I'd still want to see aptitude, logical thinking and being able to think IBD mindset even if there are gaps in technical knowledge.
  • Apply far and wide, you may have more success with 'Tier 2' banks who are generally more open to smart people with limited past experience
  • Any off cycle internships you can apply for? Any part time internships you can take while finishing your masters (appreciate this is probably very tricky at Oxford, so perhaps focus on your degree)?

I hope this helps.

 

I'm due to graduate in 2021, so I suppose I ought to shoot for FT positions. I'm pretty well-versed in technicals, but I'll certainly apply broadly.

A potential side issue, I'm a US citizen rather than a UK. Do you think this will disqualify me because I'd need sponsorship? Or if I apply to the London office but I'd rather work in the US for tax purposes, is there any chance then can move me to an American office (not necessarily NYC) since I wouldn't need a visa?

This has been very helpful, thank you.

 

Hey there, thanks for the Q&A, great to see some content relating to London. Just have a couple questions regarding work life balance as you move up the ranks.

Do you feel like you get more ownership of your time as you move up, in terms of being able to plan events ahead and not having to cancel plans/holidays last minute? Also, as a VP is it more common to leave the office earlier and catch up with any left over work in the evening?

Secondly, would you say your work/life balance is better than that of your US colleagues at the expense of lower overall comp?

Finally, slightly off topic, what does the promotion track look like from VP and upwards, and what do those who can't make the cut end up doing?

Thanks again

 

Ownership of time - Yes definitely, its easier to exercise and make social plans for weekday evenings when you have more control over your own time. However this also relies on self policing - seniors are less likely to outright deny/cancel a vacation, but you're expected to decide that for yourself. As a VP I certainly work fewer hours than as an analyst or associate, but more crucially its fewer hours at the desk thanks to technology. Even if I leave the office early I still spend at least a couple of hours most evenings marking up pitches or replying to client emails from home. I don't find this super stressful however and being able to dine at home is a big plus for me. . Of course I still pull plenty of late nights in the office if a deal requires it, but work-life balance is much improved vs analyst/associate

Work/Life balance EMEA vs US - this depends on how strong your group is (i.e. deal flow, level of technical skills required, how organised your MD/D/VPs are etc). A strong group in Europe will work harder than a weak group in the US and vice versa. Equally do not equate long hours with success. Analysts in my class in weaker teams often worked longer hours than I did but sat there producing hundreds of slides of strip profiles and comps outputs. Comp is definitely structurally lower in Europe than in the US but that is partly a function of our longer vacation time and better benefits in addition to the fact that M&A fees are generally higher in the US.

VP and upwards - VP to D is the first promo with a small element of uncertainty for middling performers (vs An to As or As to VP). That being said its still up or out. If you are a solid to strong performer it should be no issue and you should have a good sense of what your chances are 12-24 months out. It's the first promotion where you have to put in a bit of effort and make your promotion case with a business plan (i.e. these are the trends in our sector/product/geography, this is the deal flow that should result, these are the deals and clients our team should target, here is how I've been working towards those).

From D to MD this is the difficult one, especially post GFC, where even strong performers may take until their 4th or 5th year to make it. External factors such performance of the wider business comes into play. You need to have revenue attached to your name and already be demonstrating you can hustle like an MD needs to. With weaker/middling performers banks know the risk of a D leaving if they don't get promoted is low.

 

In M&A/coverage, pretty similar to what it has always required

  1. Demonstrable ability to generate revenue as a Director
  2. Quality of relationships
  3. Ability to hustle hard / tenacity to chase down business
  4. A strong internal network and ability to navigate/play politics when required
  5. Track record of performance at the firm helps too
  6. Patience and resilience - this is the only additional item which is a product of the current environment. D to MD promotion rates are lower than pre-GFC, even a good performer may have to wait an additional year. Recognise that you may have missed out on the promotion due to factors outside your control

In terms of preparation - really you need to have ticked all these boxes as a D1/2 (and indeed formed some of them as a VP), if you wait until D3 its already too late 

 

Hi there, 

I am currently a 26 year old undergrad student ready to transfer from my Local community college to a top 10 Business school and earn my degree in Finance. I have hopes of becoming an IB and hoping to get hired at one of the bulge bracket firms. Is there any advice you can give me on how to get an edge over other students or how to maneuver through school where I can set myself up? Any tips would help. Also, it bothers me that I started late in my schooling as there are other students doing what I am doing at 20. Do you think my age would cause some concern during interviews or the hiring process? Thank you again! 

 

Hello,

The advice in the rest of the thread would also apply in your situation.

Broadly speaking, competition in IB recruiting is very tough so I would encourage you to (1) learn more about the various areas of finance (there are lots of excellent resources on WSO) which interest you, whether within IB or elsewhere, (2) network with people in these areas (alumni networks, friends of friends, cold approaches on LinkedIn) (3) work on achieving the best grades possible in your degree and try and focus on accounting/finance related courses and finally (4) try and secure work experience/internships in other areas of finance to help improve your CV before its time to do your IB internship.

Regarding your age I wouldn't worry about this at all. I've come across plenty of analysts over the years who were 25+ and indeed a couple who started in banking age 30+. In any case it doesn't pay to dwell on what could have been, look forward and attack this process.

Finally it sounds like you are based in the US so you may wish to seek additional specific advice from a banker based there, given my advice is from a European perspective.

 

How did you get to become a WSO mentor since it is not so famous here in Europe. I am curious.

Thank you for all your help.

Are you involved in watching Video interviews if yes? Any tips or standout ones you have seen as well as the bad ones too.

Thought on putting cancelled internship on a CV. It was because of covid. It is a brand name and I am a non target.

I am pharmacy student and wanted to play the healthcare side for recruitment but given they dont recruit by group in ldn any advice to stand out?

What do you think about diversity in the industry. I know some people hate it

 

While not as popular as the US, I know plenty of people in Europe who use the site. The interview guides and modelling prep tools are relevant regardless of geography

I have never conducted a video interview, only face-to-face or via telephone. Given the current pandemic there are many guides out there for video interviews who can do the topic justice.

Cancelled internship - I don't see why not, but keep it to one line

SA/FT recruit into a pool, but your pharmacy background can come into play during the team selection process. Spaces are not randomly allocated, once you are on a SA or FT programme, start networking with people in the healthcare team, sell your attributes and make sure they know you're keen to join the team. I always try to speak to/meet SA/FTs in advance of the selection process. Its very rare my group will pick someone we haven't met or spoken to.

 

Thank you so much for doing this! What’s your take on EB vs BB to start out as an Analyst? From what I’ve read on this page so far EBs are not as well regarded in Europe as in the US? Do you think Citi and eg PWP are on a comparable level in Europe?

 

I wouldn't necessarily say they are not as well regarded. EBs in the US are just larger and consequently the experience seems closer to a BB than in Europe. For example Evercore sometimes ranks T5 in US M&A, Centerview in the T10 which doesn't typically happen in Europe (although I suppose Lazard and Rothschild take their place).

I still think Evercore and Centerview and great places to work in Europe, good exposure and good comp (see earlier in this thread). PWP Europe is a different beast, they are a lot smaller and as such the risk of your analyst experience deviating from a BB (in terms of different deal exposure or a poorer training experience) is probably higher than Evercore or CW. That's not to say it’s likely to be poor or I think PWP is a bad place to work - there's just more risk. This is all at the junior level btw.

In your position I'd personally go with Citi over PWP. If the choice was between say BAML EMEA and Evercore/CW EMEA I'd have to think a little longer. However that's just IMO and I don't know the specifics of your situation.

 

Hi there,

Since you're a Senior VP and the job becomes more sales focussed as you progress through the ranks, how are you actively building your own book of clients or how have the top MDs/rainmakers e.g. Simon Robey achieved this? 

If you're at a BB the clients may be clients of the firm instead of the MD, is this the case? 

Also, a significant part of the job involves writing whether it is preparing strategic updates or various marketing materials, how do you refine your writing skills? Is it just through repetition?  

Thanks!

 

When it comes to client relationships

  • Start early. Try and form relationships with juniors clients as an analyst/associate, as they rise through the ranks so do you
  • Get used to presenting/speaking extensively in meetings early (it should be commonplace by the time you are an associate). Show clients you have content and add value at an early stage. It's a small industry and you cross paths with the same people again and again
  • Be personable - clients want to work with people they like
  • Have a good technical base - the best coverage bankers are those with both relationships and a good technical execution skill-set 
  • Find sub-sectors/niches which aren't covered as heavily by MDs/Ds and try and make them your own. This will enable much more solo client interaction. Obviously there needs to be a business case to make it worth your time.
  • As for the top rainmakers its a combination of connections, tenacity and determination, working hard, developing your career over many years and navigating internal politics. Even then most MD's will never make it to the top top level of rainmaker, that probably requires an additional dose of luck, having outstanding connections and some 'secret sauce' which I'm yet to decipher

Firm vs MD - it depends, varies on a relationship by relationship basis. If all BB clients was solely bank relationships then Robey Warshaw, to use your example, would never have got off the ground.

Writing skills I'm afraid its difficult to give advice. English is my mother tongue and writing has always come naturally to me. I suppose reading books can help expand your vocab and grammar.

 

Thank you for this, super informative.

Would be great to get some advice on my situation. I moved to a London BB recently, coming from a European country where I was in a no name boutique. I had a few years of experience, but took a bit of a title cut to make the move to where I am now.

Everything is going really well and I have achieved high rankings, but I feel that because there was some discount to my previous experience I am at “too low” of a level - I think this is kind of acknowledged by the team and I am staffed as if I was in the year ahead of me / aren’t compared to what is officially my intake. My question is how can I approach asking to be bumped up a year / getting an early promotion? I don’t want to annoy anyone, but want to be compensated and treated at the right level for the work I am doing.

Many thanks.

 

Thank you so much for making this thread, I've read every single word of your comments and I really think it is super helpful and inspiring.

I was wondering if you could give me some advices about my current situation:

I have graduated in 2019 from a semi-target EU b-school and done several OC internships, most recently, at a BB in London. 2/3 of this BB internship was done by WFH and due to the headcount cut-off or maybe the fact that I was not shining enough, I did not get a return from my bank. The only good news so far is I am still in good connection with some of analysts and associates I've worked with.

I am very passionate about M&A and IBD and would like to do anything to break into this field. Below are my plans:

  • Plan A: Apply as many FT/OC positions as I can, and even SA as I also have a plan B to further study in UK for a year (don't know whether I am still eligible to apply for SA). I am also sending out hundred of cold emails trying to make it happen (I know I look desperate and stupid). As I see the likes of BAML, Citi, Nomura not even opening FT/OC apps for now, if I can't get a positive result of my apps before roughly December then I have to take my Plan B
  • Plan B: Study a master in finance in a reputable UK school and continue applying in next recruiting season. (previously I studied only management so could be a reasonable motivation)
  • Plan C: Go back to my country in Asia, find a job in some local IB, and two years later come back to UK as MBA candidate for summer associate 

Do you have any recommendations or comments about the above? I would appreciate for any thoughts of you in this terribly special season. Many thanks in advance!

 

Each of those three options have quite different lifestyle implications, particularly Plan C. If your aim is IBD then those 3 plans and order of approach seem sensible. I would try and dual track (A) and (B) to give yourself optionality. Don't worry about appearing desperate and stupid, if this is really your dream then why leave anything to chance.

 

Truly appreciate it!

1. I am a FT Analyst at a MM in London. I got the group allocation today, I was placed within ECM and will also rotate withing the ECM syndicate team. Don't really know what this means since I completed my summer within a coverage group at another bank but read online that exit opps are shit. What's your opnion on that and how should I try to change teams?

2. Do you think a Masters is "worth it"? I got my Bachelor from a Target (Warwick/UCL)

3. How should I approach recruitment for BB/EB? Should I stick out until I completed my analyst stint?

 

While ECM exit options are not as wide and deep as coverage/M&A they are still very good and I wouldn't describe them as 'shit'. Again how strong an analyst you are has more sway. A strong ECM analyst will always beat a mediocre M&A analyst for most analyst level exit ops. So firstly for however long you are in ECM, focus on doing the best job you can and learning as much as possible - unfortunately in ECM sometimes you are at the mercy of overall IPO market conditions.

I'd try and combine both your moves (to M&A/coverage and to an EB/BB) into one. Rather than sticking out your analyst stint try and make it happen earlier. Actually moving within the first year will be difficult (particularly as there won't have been much if any turnover amongst the BB/EB 1st yrs yet) but make sure within that time you are connecting with headhunters discretely. Let them know your desired moved, motivations (desire to be in M&A/coverage) and potential timetable, get an understanding of the market and opportunities out there. After a year you'll find the number of opportunities increases. Stick it out for the 1st year, learn as much as you can but have a longer-term plan in mind

Master - worth it for what? Do a masters because you are interested in the subject and motivated enough to get a 2.1/1st. Could it help when trying to move from a MM to a BB/EB? Possibly.

 

Firstly, thanks for doing this.

As an intro: I'm an associate in M&A at a large bank.

I've often seen sector MD's outshine M&A MD's both internally and with clients, seemingly carrying intellectual capital which gives them more strategic value vs. M&A bankers. I can see that M&A bankers (even very senior) are good do-er's, and whilst they might have relationships, are valued for their ability to process which seems repetitive and somewhat brutal for a long career. 

From my perspective, I would be keen to move into a boutique / MM and really own a space/sector for the reasons above and also because I have a strong interest in a specific space which I could imagine working in for a long time.

My questions are: (1) In the context of me wanting to build my career, would you agree with the above? (2) Given the current environment, is it worth me risking a move, or should I wait for things to calm down a bit?

 

A good banker will shine whether he or she is in coverage or M&A, both require relationship and execution skills to make it to the very top. I know plenty of M&A MDs who are very strong at execution but struggle because they have no clients.

On your first question. It depends, only you can ultimately say what sort of career path and trajectory will be fulfilling. Ultimately making it MD is a grind, you have to be in it for the right reasons or it becomes a very tough grind. If you are an associate at a BB I wouldn't necessarily move to a MM solely to own a sector, you want to balance that with good quality deal experience also. You are absolutely right to be thinking about this as an associate, rather than waiting to VP, but it is still possible to do this within the confines of a BB. It would seem the optimal time to make the sort of move you describe for the reasons you outline would be at the junior VP level. If you move to an MM/boutique as an associate you won't automatically get lots more coverage responsibilities (if you do you've got to question the quality of the institution and its seniors), you'll likely still have an execution focus.

On your second question, be cautious, hiring is still warming up again and certainly not back to pre covid levels. Maintain the same threshold for new opportunities that you would have pre-covid, if an opportunity that exceeds the threshold comes along go for it - its not impossible in the current climate just less likely.

 

On the whole better, as you'd expect, but there are a few considerations here:

  1. As an analyst the greatest benefit comes from scaling the learning curve quickly. Your hours improve immeasurably as you become more efficient
  2. A greater focus on work-life balance for juniors vs 10yrs ago certainly helps
  3. If you are a top performing junior with the trust of your seniors it is possible to run tighter to deadlines which helps
  4. The nature of the work changes. As a VP/D/MD you are less tied to your desk and can to some extent work remotely via email/phone. While the hours are still long, it’s certainly easier to review pitch books and send emails from home at night rather than from the office
  5. You have to drive the improvement in hours as you get more senior, no one else will do it for you. Utilise the internal political and reputation capital you gain while rising through the ranks. There is an inexhaustible supply of work therefore it’s important to learn when to say no and which tasks require 100% effort vs 80% effort.
 

Hi there!

Thank you for doing this, the thread and your responses above were incredibly insightful. 

I would like to seek your advice on my current predicament

I graduated in 2018 from a semi-target UK university in a non-finance degree. I went back to my home country in Asia and broke into IBD in a regional investment bank having worked about a year in a Sponsors team as an analyst assisting M&A, and have built good skills around IBD job scopes. I'm intending to apply to the IBD in the UK, however I'm concerned my location and lack of financial background may deter my efforts in applications. 

What are your thoughts on the advantages of a 1-year experience to the application, and how does the team or rather recruiters weed out applications in terms of background or location? Any advice how I may expand my reach to possibly even get a shot at being considered? 

Your time in responding would be very much appreciate

 

If I understand correctly you would be applying from Asia as an experienced hire? If so I would (a) make contact with as many London based headhunters as possible, there are always openings for 1st/2nd year analysts in London (and these tend to increase as the year goes on) and (b) draw up a list of  your target BBs/boutiques and continually check the careers section of their respective websites for openings. Connecting with headhunters will be the most important. Treat your interactions with HHs as a 1st round interview, be clear on your motivations for making the move (both into IBD and from Asia to London) and be well prepared to talk about your experience in sponsors.

Clearly 1yr experience in sponsors is valuable, but you will of course be competing against those who have 1yr experience in M&A/sector coverage so make sure you can demonstrate the key skills gained in the role and how they are relevant to M&A. Location is typically not so much of an issue (of course this in part depends on which Asian country you are based in and visa requirements etc), London finance is a large, fluid and international job market. As for other elements of background, hard to say without knowing your particulars, but clearly the requirements for a 1st/2nd yr analyst hire are not so different from a SA/FT hire, good education, experience, aptitude etc are all important.

 

Thanks for setting up this thread - it was very informative to read.

I am about to start a short-term off-cycle internship at a MM and given the COVID current situation, it will be completely virtual and I will not be able to meet the team in-person which can add another hurdle. Do you have any advice on completing a short-term WFH internship in terms of (1) How should I navigate it? e.g. networking, facetime/visibility, (2) What have successful virtual interns done to allow them to be successful/build a good reputation with the team? (3) Are there any particular hurdles virtual interns face vs normal times?

Thank you!

 

(1) Be as proactive as possible, be visible and available. The pressure to always be available is a sad consequence of WFH for many juniors but that's the state of play atm. Network where possible. Try and setup 30min phone or VC networking chats with your team, ofc the usual advice earlier in this thread applies (be mindful of peoples time etc). Attend all the HR/networking events etc.

(2) See (1), tbh theres not much. The upside of wfh internships seems to be that in the absence of being able to fully evaluate interns in the normal manner, banks are more willing to dole out offers (ie getting the internship is the real test).

(3) Yes plenty, difficult to build a rapport with colleagues, and the work experience is worse (compliance restrictions on what interns can do). Its a new world and everyone is still trying to figure it out. 

 

Hi,
This entire thread has been quite informative for me, Thanks for your time.
I am an M&A Consultant connecting an International Investment group with potential sellers or those looking to go public. I am fairly new in this field and would appreciate your advice on what approach could possibly connect me to more deals. Would you recommend any groups where I can find professional brokers and possible affiliates?
I have recently started connecting with brokers, lawyers & CAs. Should I add more profiles to this list?

 

Network. Accountants, lawyers, brokers as you suggest plus other bankers in the sector, investors in your space. All useful to pick up bits of information, what's going on in the sector, who might need to sell etc.

Otherwise leg work, check which funds holding investments in your sector next to exit in the next 24months, which corporates might be facing BS pressures and need to divest non-core assets etc.

 

Hello OP- thank you for doing this Q&A. I've read all the above comments and it was a very informative read. I noticed that this thread is quite old but hope there's a chance you're still following. I had a few questions on more on-the-job, some high level topics. Any advice would be appreciated!

1) Why do you build out full 3-statement/balance sheet projections in utility/infrastructure models? (as opposed to just cash flow+CAPEX/D&A+debt schedule) What are the main reasons?

2) When reviewing models built by someone else, what is your strategy to make sure there are no errors? Are there any specific steps that you follow?

3) Related to question #2, when you see a formula that is incredibly long and complex in a model built by someone else, how do you go about understanding it - especially when its not built by your firm (e.g. counter-party)

4) Do you have any tips on understanding a business/industry that is completely new to you?

 
  1. In a full buyside model you will end up needing all 3 statements. Full IS and CF in particular for credit metrics and key outputs. Full BS to check model integrity, certain items for the calculate of credit metrics and associated adjustments, and to calculate closing mechanics (eg Locked Box).
  2. Nothing particular. Just spend time looking through the model, tracing back and forth etc. A few things spring to mind
    1. Trend analysis, anything look out of place in terms of financial/operational metrics and their profile (EBITDA, revenue, gearing, credit ratios etc). E.g. does EBITDA spike in one year etc.
    2. Integrity checks, run simple checks to ensure matrix integrity, BS check etc
    3. Internal consistency of numbers (ie does FY23 gearing on one tab match elsewhere in the model)
    4. Look through the 3 statements for any technical errors, sign mistakes etc
    5. Check the valuation tab - can be a good place to start and trace backward
  3. I recreate what the formula is trying to achieve but split over 5-6 rows. I also test individual bits of the formula (ie with F9), or stress test the formula with extreme inputs.
  4. Try and source old CIMs for that sub-sector, usually a good summary. Or find an initiating coverage broker report on a name in the sector - these usually include higher level sector overviews.
 

Hi EmpireMaker!

Thanks for making and continually engaging in this Q&A! I've gone through the thread and appreciate all the insights you shared.

I was wondering if you had any advice for me looking to break into IB at a BB/EB from a T2 Consultancy. My situation is as such:

  • recently began full-time at one of S& M&A/EY-Parthenon/L.E.K. with a focus on PE DD and growth strategy
  • Background: Law graduate from a semi-target (Bristol/Durham/KCL), BB IBD SA and MM PE internship both in an emerging market
  • while I do enjoy the strategic thinking involved in consulting, I'm drawn to the more exciting (headline deals vs. behind-the-scenes work), fast-paced (multiple workstreams vs. one project at a time), tangible (M&A/IPO execution vs. presenting a PPT), and financially rewarding (apologise if this seems shallow but my parents worked extremely hard and I'd like the ability to pamper them) career in BB/EB IBD
  • I have conversed with numerous IBD analysts and associates on the work involved, firm/team culture, and their experiences which is how I came to the conclusion above
  • IBD SA recruiting experience: applied early with CVs and CLs checked by current IBD professionals but only reached a phone interview with Evercore and was rejected (was quite disheartened by this as I really made an effort to polish my behaviourals, technicals, and deal discussions)
  • do not have a sector or product preference but want to avoid ECM/DCM/LevFin as I am interested in M&A

I'd really appreciate your perspective on the following:

  1. How can I make the move? I noted your advice above on networking, reaching out to HHs, and tracking career websites. Do you have advice on seniority or whether I should seek advice from HR/Graduate recruitment? Are you aware of the specific HHs (I know of Dartmouth Partners)? On career websites, should I just apply as often as possible to roles I'm interested in or is it better to first have an in with the firm (internal rec) before applying online?
  2. How much value would you view T2 consulting experience? While a notch below MBB, I do have and expect to gain relevant experience in PE/Corporate M&A albeit on the more commercial side.
  3. When should I start to make a move (after 1/2 years, is <1 year exp. doable)? I don't mind starting from Analyst 1 and would actually like to start with the typical graduate cohort and go through Summer training (for the learning and relationships). How should I navigate speaking to my managers at my current firm on this move (from your experience, seeing some of your colleagues lateral to different industries, is it best to land an offer and tell your managers 1 month before you leave)?
  4. If I do successfully make the leap but will not meet the timing for Summer training, is there training for e.g. off-cycles/lateral hires? I have studied IB by Rosenbaum (on DCF, comps, and LBOs) as well as the WSO and BIWS guides on top of some online Excel training. However, I am sure the FT training is very valuable. If not, what can I do to prepare for the role?

Would it make a difference if someone in my case required visa sponsorship (have a friend with similar aspirations)?

 

Quite a lot to digest there and much of the below will depend on your individual circumstances

  1. In addition to the advice earlier in this thread, connect with head-hunters. There are dozens in London, Dartmouth are good, Blackwood, Kea, Greenwich Partners, Sheffield Haworth, Langbourne, JD Haspell, Russell Reynolds, TOG etc etc. There are decent threads elsewhere on this forum which give more complete lists.
  2. It all depends on you as a candidate. While recruiting is to some extent formulaic (and in that regard MBB would of course be looked on more favourably than T2), your profile does not exist in a vacuum. It will depend on how your interview, ability to demonstrate passion and aptitude for M&A, do you have clear motivations for making a move at this stage etc. T2 consulting is a fine background from which to move and its certainly been done before, but profile only goes so far, you need to perform at interview
  3. If you want to start as analyst 1, the sooner the better. You should only raise it with managers at your current employer once you have a signed offer and are ready to resign. 
  4. See advice earlier in this thread, but along the lines of what you are doing, self study, training courses, keeping up to speed with the sector etc.
 

Tech has been a decent sector for the last ten years and will likely be for the the foreseeable future, but how long will it be as scorching hot as the past 12 months? That is difficult to say in the context of a career which could last for decades.

There are a few considerations when thinking about group; quality of bank, quality of team/individuals and sector/macro level. Deal flow will be a combination of all three and ultimately deal flow is what matters and builds careers. All these factors can be a trade off, yes the tech sector has good 'macro' level tailwinds, but is it worth going to a lesser bank for a hot sector? Probably not imo (a rising tide doesn't lift all ships). If you are stuck at a low-tier bank, hot sector or not, the deal flow will be poor both in terms of volume and quality. Ultimately I would focus on a strong franchise with a sector team that is top 3-5 in that sector. If you can move to a TMT team which satisfies those criteria then great, but don't chase the sector where it leads you to trade down in terms of franchise quality.

 

Thank you for taking the time to do this; it is an absolutely fantastic thread and so rare to see. If you do not mind, had a few questions: 

1) What has kept you in Europe rather than going to the US (I am sure you have had the opportunity at some point in your career to try to make the jump) 

2) It seems as if you started as an analyst - what has kept you in IBD rather than moving over to PE? 

3) What do you think separates the very best analysts / associates you have worked with vs. those who were good? Basically what made the difference within the top bucket? 

4) As a senior VP / Director how are you going about building relationships? 

Thanks in advance for your time! 

 
  1. I'm from Europe and my sector is more defined/larger fee pool in Europe. NY doesn't appeal to me that much. If the centre of US M&A was elsewhere I might have considered it.
  2. I landed in a really good group early on with a great learning experience, good comp and a couple of good Rabbis so my threshold for leaving was quite high. Over time this meant I had quite a bit of leeway to choose what I worked on and lots of upward exposure so my experience has been very positive. I also saw a number of peers who left for PE having an experience not so different to IB with in some cases worse comp. Thirdly I suppose a small part of it is the paradox of choice when there are lots of opportunities out there (PE, tech, start-ups, corporates etc).
  3. See my 2nd post in this thread (reply to Intern Monkey57 on 31 August 2020)
  4. Building relationships (1) persistence (2) tightly define your coverage universe and focus on those names, ie quality over quantity (3) Be interesting and personable, able to talk about topics and interests outside of finance and (4) Don't be robotic, clients work with people they like (5) Do a good job on executions, reputations stick with you.
 

1. What do analysts/associates do in an M&A product group that doesn't model? Is it just boring/admin work?

2. What are your thoughts on joining such a team compared to sector coverage? (in terms of experience/learning and PE exits)

3. Would it be possible to lateral from this M&A team to another bank? (considering no modelling or sector experience, why would another bank be interested?)

Thank you!

 

1) Decent M&A groups will do modelling and have coverage responsibilities in addition to all the process/execution skills

2) If you land in the right M&A product team (ie with decent deal flow and leading their own deals) then the experience and exit ops are as good as coverage

3) Yes if (2) is satisfied. At a junior level if you have deal and modelling experience you can shift from product to sector quite easily.

 

1) Both good shops and good exit ops. Depends on geography too. Rothschild strong on restructuring, debt advisory etc but very limited US presence so Lazard clearly superior if talking US.

2) Honestly its seems easier then ever to convert intern to full-time, you have to be pretty poor these days to not get an offer. Its usually either due to poor attitude (e.g. arrogance, turning up late, leaving early without checking with the team etc) or lacking aptitude. The latter is usually less common as that type of intern gets filtered out during the interview process. On poor attitude I've seen interns fail to convert because they aren't willing to take direction from analysts and have a poor attitude towards basic tasks

 

In light of this -intrigued to know what you think of someone who hasn't converted but has good reviews/recommendation from people they worked with.  Been struggling to gain traction for this very reason.

 

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