As a highly demanding job, investment bankers often work long hours with few breaks. Articles show they routinely work over 80 hours a week, including weekends. Yet some groups maintain better work-life balance. Reasons for long hours include dealing requirements, internal meetings, client services, international teams, and pre-IPO preparations.
Nine to five means 5am to 5pm for investment bankers
The article shows investment bankers work extremely long hours. A common joke is they do “nine to five” jobs – the question is whether that means 9am-5pm or 5am-5pm. Work often stretches late into evenings, past midnight, and encompasses weekends. Yet the article notes the speaker’s team had relatively good work-life balance, normally working until 9 or 10pm and sometimes having weekends off. Reasons for the hours include ongoing deals, client services, internal meetings, international teams in different time zones, and pre-IPO preparations.
Top roles include managing clients and structuring deals
The articles outline daily responsibilities for various investment banker roles. Managing directors meet with clients, structure deals, and travel frequently. Vice presidents manage live deals and client services as frontline commanders. Associates and analysts remain in the office handling valuations, pitch books, research, data analysis to keep deals progressing smoothly.
Specialized finance skills and communication abilities required
Becoming a successful investment banker requires strong finance knowledge in areas like accounting, valuation, corporate finance, and fixed income. Attention to detail is vital for both process management and delivered work products. Clear communication skills are also key in working with team members, managers, and clients to provide updates, convey thinking, and describe additional needs.
Hours can make personal life difficult
The long stressful hours clearly take a toll, making maintained personal relationships difficult. The article notes dating an investment banker poses comparable challenges to actually becoming one. Achieving major life goals like finding a life partner can be hard given the job’s demands. Some support services aim to teach work-life balancing skills.
Investment bankers work notoriously long and difficult hours, routinely over 80 hours a week, encompassing nights and weekends. Yet experiences vary, with some groups maintaining relatively better work-life balance. Motivations for long hours include pressing deal and client service demands. Successfully managing the role requires specialized finance expertise plus strong communication and detail-oriented abilities.