Careers in Investment Banks

What do investment banks do? In short, investment banks are in the business of helping companies raise capital or advising large, global corporations through periods of strategic change. They're also huge players on the global capital markets, trading billions of dollars of securities every day. Investment banks employ thousands of people and hire hundreds of graduates in sectors like mergers and acquisitions (M&A), debt capital markets (DCM), equity capital markets (ECM), sales and trading, and investment banking operations. Increasingly, technology is a growing function and banks employ as many developers as large tech firms like Google.

DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 14: Doug Parker (L), Chairman and CEO of US Airways, and Thomas Horton, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Airlines shake hands after a news conference to announce the merger of the two airlines February 14, 2013 in Dallas Texas. US Airways and American Airlines have agreed to an $11 billion merger, creating the largest airline in the world. The airline will be called American Airlines and be headed by US Airways CEO Doug Parker. (Photo by Donna McWilliam/Getty Images

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) careers explained

Bankers in M&A, or mergers and acquisitions, are the embodiment of the investment banking dream. These are the men and women in the sharp suits and stiletto heels who travel

Equity capital markets (ECM) careers explained

While the M&A departments of investment banks still hold the ‘glamour’ tag, places on their equity capital markets (ECM) desks are highly sought-after. As far as the general public is

Investment banking sales and trading careers explained

If you want to work in sales and trading, you’ll need to be interested in buying and selling. Sales and trading roles in investment banks are all about markets (and

Debt capital markets (DCM) careers explained Debt Capital Markets

The debt capital markets (DCM) teams of investment banks work in a fast-paced environment, which is unusual for an advisory role in the sector. While the mergers & acquisitions (M&A)

Skills investment banks want from equity capital markets (ECM) bankers Equity Capital Markets

If you start out as an analyst working in the investment banking division, some firms will initially place juniors into a ‘pool’ of analysts all competing for the top jobs across

How much you’ll be paid working in mergers & acquisitions (M&A) M&A

If you start out in investment banking straight from university, you will be the envy of your peers – at least from a monetary point of view. Investment banking analysts,

Investment banking operations careers explained Operations

The operations division of an investment bank is most commonly referred to as the ‘back office’, suggesting that it’s essentially the cogs that keep the financial system running smoothly. This

Equity research careers in investment banking explained Research in investment banking

Equity research is a vocation for intellectuals; the thinking men and women of investment banks who craft notes and investment recommendations on the stocks of particular companies based around huge

Risk and compliance investment banking careers explained Risk & Compliance

If you work in risk or compliance, you work in a part of the banking sector which has been expanding in both size and importance for the past seven years

Skills you’ll need to work in sales and trading Sales & Trading

If you want to work in sales and trading, you’ll need to be analytical, with an ability to draw together disparate information to form a bigger picture. “A good analyst-level

Financial technology in investment banking careers explained Technology

Technology is inescapably intertwined with financial markets. Not only has it enabled investment banks to become more efficient, they’re also engaged in a constant battle to ensure that their IT

Careers in Investment Banks

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