Do you want to become a Investment/Merchant Banker? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:
Job Description - 
Print Page
Investment bankers, also known as merchant bankers or ‘front office' bankers, work with clients to advise them on different approaches to financial, commercial and trading activities. They can work for clients looking to buy another company or they can help companies trying to avoid a takeover bid. Investment bankers also work for clients wanting to raise funds. Their clients can be companies, institutions, government departments and wealthy individuals.
The deals investment bankers look after are typically split into two stages; research and financial modelling to decide on the best tactic for clients to take, and implementation of a programme, negotiating the detailed terms of a deal.
Anyone joining an investment banking team will start as an analyst.
The working hours of investment bankers can be long and irregular. The work can be both mentally and physically demanding, and may involve a good deal of overseas travel.
Salaries range from around £33,000 for new graduates to £120,000 or more for executives who are responsible for managing teams of investment bankers.
Investment bankers should:
· have a good memory for facts, events and news, and be able to link these together
· have good communication skills
· be self-motivated, and work well under pressure
· have strong analytical, numerical and literacy skills
· have a strong understanding of the financial markets and be well informed about all the activities affecting their specialised sector.
Most investment banks in the UK are centred in London. This is an international market, so overseas work is possible, with most banks having offices in key investment centres abroad.
Many investment bankers are recruited straight from university or college, with first or 2:1 degrees - particularly in accountancy or economics. Increasingly, entrants also have postgraduate qualifications such as an MSc or MBA. For non-graduates, employment options are limited. Some banks may offer training programmes for students with good A levels/H grades. Some mature entrants move across from a career in accountancy.
Many employers provide intensive on-the-job training for new entrants, giving them a complete business overview. This can last up to a year, training with a senior analyst or team.
Promotion depends on performance, but it can take between 10 and 15 years to move from the job of analyst to executive director.
Do you know of a useful and relevant website that would be helpful to our users? Tell us about it by emailing 
