AM firms in Europe with decent hours?

Hi,

I'm currently pursuing a MSc in Finance at a Target University, and landed a PE internship at a very well-know MM firm after my TS internship at one of the Big4 last year. The PE hours are close to IB hours, and I was in the process for a Tier2 IB off-cycle internship in London after this one, but stopped after the second round since I now know that I will not be able to tolerate the hours. 

In my PE internship, I work around 70-80 hours per week, and I know that IB hours will be much worse when I look at my friends.

I honestly don't mind working 10-12 hours per day. For me the ideal job would look like this:

  • max 60 hours per week

  • no work during the weekends (or very rarely)

  • decent pay 

My main aim is to work in Zurich, London or maybe Frankfurt. All 3 locations are realistically possible for me. I know that hours at the big companies can be worse than what I wrote down, so I'm curious if there are other firms which fit my criteria?

 

Hey there,

Based on the most helpful WSO content, it seems like Asset Management might be a good fit for you. Here's why:

  • Asset managers typically have 40-60 hour work weeks. The larger the fund, the more hours you'll put in, but it's still within your preferred range.
  • You start with around 3 weeks of vacation time and can work your way up to 5 weeks of vacation time. This suggests that there's a good work-life balance in this field.
  • The lifestyle in asset management is one of its most appealing traits. There's significantly less turnover and more development/promotion from within, which suggests a healthier work culture than the typical finance firm.

As for locations, Zurich, London, and Frankfurt are all major financial hubs, so you should be able to find asset management firms in these cities. However, do note that the hours can vary depending on the firm and the specific role.

Remember, it's not just about finding a job with the right hours. It's also about finding a role and a company that you're genuinely interested in and excited about. So, take your time to research and explore your options. Good luck!

Sources: Why Work in Asset Management?, Asset Management as a long-term career?, Q&A: European PE professional at a Large-cap Megafund, Q&A: Managing Director at Large Global Asset Manager

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Bump - have a very similar profile but currently at a BB right now and getting crushed week in week out. How would AM at a bank look like? I heard the pay discount is minimal compared to the IB division

 

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