ADD ADVICE TO FAVInvestment banker (operations)
Investment bankers working in operations (or back office) support front-office staff by checking trades and transacting the required transfers.
What investment bankers (operations) do
- deal with queries from clients
- take on responsibility for specific clients and projects
- manage day-to-day processes relating to clearing and settling transactions made in the front office
- develop new systems to help maximise profitability for the bank
- supervise teams of clerks
- deal with systems problems
- act as an interface with other divisions of the bank.
Key skills
- strong numeracy and analytical skills
- good organisation and time management ability
- excellent oral and written communication skills
- negotiating and influencing skills
- problem-solving skills
- ability to work effectively in a team
- competence in IT.
Training to be an investment bankers (operations)
Structured programmes, usually lasting either one two years, form the main basis of graduate training. As well as providing graduates with an overview of the business, training is also likely to centre on developing the key personal skills required for success in this highly competitive environment.
Professional qualifications – Certificates, Diplomas and the investment Administration Qualification (IQA) – are provided by The Securities and Investment Institute (SII).
Salaries
Salaries in operations are not as generous as those paid in the front office, where revenues are generated, but they still highly attractive.
A starting salary of around £30,000 to £35,000 can rise steeply, reaching £100,000 or more for senior positions. Discretionary annual bonuses can add significantly to remuneration packages for high achievers.
Professional bodies
- British Bankers Association (BBA)
- ifs School of Finance
- London Investment Banking Association (LIBA)
- Securities and Investment Institute (SII)
