Overview of Investment Banking in Los Angeles

The investment banking industry for the US market has been generating approximately $133 billion. The sector, globally, has generated revenue of over $200 billion. The top four companies developed the lion’s share of this revenue in 2017. Since the global financial crisis of 2008, the concentration level with selected few companies has substantially increased. In this article, we discuss Investment bankingDiscuss Investment BankingInvestment banking is a specialized banking stream that facilitates the business entities, government and other organizations in generating capital through debts and equity, reorganization, mergers and acquisition, etc.read more in Los Angeles in detail.

Investment Banking Services Offered in Los Angeles

Investment banking services in Los Angeles are broadly classified into the “sell-side” and “buy-side.” As the name suggests, the sell-side of assistance refers to trading securitiesTrading SecuritiesTrading securities are investments in the form of debt or equity that the company’s management wants to actively purchase and sell to make a profit in the short term with securities they believe will increase in price. These securities can be found on the balance sheet at the fair value on the balance sheet date.read more for cash or other financial securities in exchange. The buy-side of services Buy-side Of ServicesThe term “buy-side” refers to entities that advise their clients like individual investors and institutional buyers on investments and securities purchases. Private equity firms, mutual fund companies, life insurance companies, unit trusts, hedge fund companies, and pension fund entities are examples of buy-side firms.read more pertains to mergers and acquisitionsMergers And AcquisitionsMergers and acquisitions (M&A) are collaborations between two or more firms. In a merger, two or more companies functioning at the same level combine to create a new business entity. In an acquisition, a larger organization buys a smaller business entity for expansion.read more, institutional investorsInstitutional InvestorsInstitutional investors are entities that pool money from a variety of investors and individuals to create a large sum that is then handed to investment managers who invest it in a variety of assets, shares, and securities. Banks, NBFCs, mutual funds, pension funds, and hedge funds are all examples.read more, private equityPrivate EquityPrivate equity (PE) refers to a financing approach where companies acquire funds from firms or accredited investors instead of stock marketsread more fund houses, mutual fund houses, and hedge funds. Unlike conventional commercial banksCommercial BanksA commercial bank refers to a financial institution that provides various financial solutions to the individual customers or small business clients. It facilitates bank deposits, locker service, loans, checking accounts, and different financial products like savings accounts, bank overdrafts, and certificates of deposits.read more, investment banks do not take deposits from their creditorsCreditorsA creditor refers to a party involving an individual, institution, or the government that extends credit or lends goods, property, services, or money to another party known as a debtor. The credit made through a legal contract guarantees repayment within a specified period as mutually agreed upon by both parties. read more.

Another way of classifying investment banking activity is based on the type of operations, namely the front office, middle office, and back office.

  • The front office is mainly responsible for generating revenueRevenueRevenue is the amount of money that a business can earn in its normal course of business by selling its goods and services. In the case of the federal government, it refers to the total amount of income generated from taxes, which remains unfiltered from any deductions.read more for the bank. It is done by investmentInvestmentInvestments are typically assets bought at present with the expectation of higher returns in the future. Its consumption is foregone now for benefits that investors can reap from it later.read more advising, sales and trading, and market research.The middle office is responsible for treasury management, internal corporate strategy, and maintaining internal controls on the bank.The back office checks requests for transactions initiated and subsequently processes them. In most cases, investment banks outsourceOutsourceOutsourcing refers to contracting out specific business processes to a third-party or specialized service provider, i.e., an individual or company.read more this job to third parties, increasing their efficiency.

List of Top Investment Banks in Los Angeles

Mentioned below are some of the top companies in investment banking in Los Angeles: –

You are free to use this image on you website, templates, etc., Please provide us with an attribution linkHow to Provide Attribution?Article Link to be HyperlinkedFor eg:Source: Investment Banking in Los Angeles (wallstreetmojo.com)

  • BCC Capital PartnersGlobal Capital Markets, Inc.NewCap Partners IncWestPark CapitalBoustead Securities, LLCPeter A Sokoloff & Co.DelMorgan & Co.FocalPoint Partners, LLCDealSource Partners, LLC41 North, LLC

Recruitment Process

Getting a job at an investment bank Getting A Job At An Investment BankTo get into investment banking, know where to begin with, understand how investment banks recruit, master investment and technical banking skills, and work on your soft skills along with the required degree and knowledge.read more in Los Angeles is hard to crack. Most of the work starts during graduation years, and the first step for someone wanting to land a job at an investment bank Job At An Investment BankThe investment banking job description is a formal narrative that lists out the essential qualification, basic skills and technical skills required in a candidate to fill in the vacant investment banker position. It also explains the roles and responsibilities to be performed in this job position.read more would be to get themselves enrolled in events run by the companies. Many banks offer live talks, on-campus dinners, and insight days to keep an eye on promising candidates.

Many of these events lead to students landing internships at these firms, which is the next best thing to getting a job there.

Applying for a job commonly consists of an application form, but the biggest investment bank, Goldman Sachs, has always preferred a CV and a cover letter. So, highlighting one inclination in a cover letter becomes highly critical as recruiters put a lot of weight on it.

The process does not end here. Next, one can surely expect themselves to go through a psychometric test. The main objective of conducting these tests is to assess the candidate’s personality and ensure that a candidate’s stressed behavior aligns with the company’s tolerance bands.

Following the psychometric test, one can expect a call for a telephonic or video interview wherein pre-recorded questions are asked to candidates. Investment banks use the computer algorithm to analyze the answers and score them accordingly, but that should not be the reason for giving pre-prepared answers or trying to rig the interview. A scripted response would not give much leverage to a candidate.

Following the telephonic/video interview, successful candidates receive an invite for a second interview. In the industry, this interview is termed a “super day interview,” wherein a candidate is supposed to meet five to six people within the bank in one to two hours. However, these more rigorous interviews aim to analyze the candidate’s character.

Salaries

Investment Banking is the most rewarding industry worldwide and across any time zone. While the same lucrative remunerationRemunerationRemuneration refers to overall monetary and non-monetary compensation that employees or independent contractors receive for providing services to an organization or company.read more often becomes the cause for criticism, it surely is in appropriation with the number of grueling hours investment bankers put in Hours Investment Bankers Put InInvestment banking hours vary based on investment bankers’ position; however, they work 80 hours a week on average. At the peak time, the working duration may even reach upto 100 hours a week.read more to profitProfitProfit refers to the earnings that an individual or business takes home after all the costs are paid. In economics, the term is associated with monetary gains. read more for their respective clients.

If we look at the average starting salaries of analysts or junior analysts, the ballpark figureBallpark FigureA ballpark figure is a rough estimate given to understand the value of something, which can help make important decisions. It is considered a logical measurement that accounts for a margin of error.read more in Los Angeles will be around $75,000. That excludes the joining bonuses. The joining compensation depends on the company one is employed in and the job position. But on average, the typical bonus is around 20% of salary and falls between $15,000 to $20,000.

As one can see, there are two parts of salary for an investment banker: base salary and bonus.

The bonus component of one’s salary is usually the lion’s share, especially on senior levels where the same can be many folds of the base salary.

  • The salary figures for a Vice President of an investment bank in Los Angeles usually fall from $120k to $150k. The bonus is mostly the same level, with average bonuses falling between $100k and $150k.

  • For the management level, base salary figures for the managing director can range from $300k to $1million, excluding the bonus. The bonus component averages from $200k to $10million+.

As it is evident, the sky’s the limit, and bonuses make investment banking the best-paid industry.

Exit Opportunities

A job as an investment banker in Los Angeles can be taxing physically and mentally. One must work for 100+ hours per week consistently, and the error for margin is almost next to zero. As a result, many bankers look to exit investment banks Exit Investment BanksAmong the several exit options available to investment bankers are: 1.Private Equity 2.Hedge Funds 3.Strategy Consulting 4.Fin-Tech 5.Advisory for large corporates.read more after a successful run for a few years. Some conventional exit options include strategy consulting, where banks employ consultants to increase their efficiency and improve the bottom lineBottom LineThe bottom line refers to the net earnings or profit a company generates from its business operations in a particular accounting period that appears at the end of the income statement. A company adopts strategies to reduce costs or raise income to improve its bottom line. read more.

The fin-tech industry is another popular shift where the technical abilities acquired during investment banking take the front role. One is expected to leverage technology to make businesses more profitable.

Roles as regulatory compliance officerCompliance OfficerCompliance officers ensure that the firm operates within the company, state, federal and international regulations set. They make sure that no rules are flouted intentionally or by mistakeread more and advisory also appeal to the masses as a switch where companies seeking mergersMergersMerger refers to a strategic process whereby two or more companies mutually form a new single legal venture. For example, in 2015, ketchup maker H.J. Heinz Co and Kraft Foods Group Inc merged their business to become Kraft Heinz Company, a leading global food and beverage firm.read more or buyoutBuyoutA buyout is a process of acquiring a controlling interest in a company, either via out-and-out purchase or through the purchase of controlling equity interest. The underlying principle is that the acquirer believes that the target company’s assets are undervalued.read more seek advice and guidance on regulatory compliance.

This article is a guide to Investment Banking in Los Angeles. We discuss top investment banks in Los Angeles, culture, career, salaries, and exit opportunities. You may also have a look at the following article for learning more about investment banking: –

  • Investment Banking in HoustonInvestment Banking Market in FranceInvestment Banking Market in GermanyInvestment Banking Market in CanadaInvestment Banking in Brazil