Find a Job You Really Want In
Yes, investment banker services is a good career path. Investment Banking or Broker Services is a career path that focuses on helping companies, government agencies, or other entities raise capital. Someone in this field might assist with getting new lines of credit or loans, sell securities, facilitate mergers, acquisitions, and reorganizations, or they might broker trades for large investors, institutions, or private investors.
All of the jobs in investment banking services or investment brokering are going to require a great degree of knowledge and skill when it comes to financing. This often requires an advanced degree, and it may require more school beyond that. But once you’ve earned your degree, this field can be very lucrative and can lead to a fascinating career.
The 5 Best-Paying Jobs in Investment Banker Services
Investment Banker Services often requires a degree for advancement in the field. If you’re willing to put in the work to earn a bachelor’s degree and beyond, then you can work your way into one of the following five best-paying jobs in the Investment Banker Services business.
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Investment Banking Managing Director
Average Annual Salary: N/A
This is the top end of the investment banking business in many banks and companies. The managing director has put in their time, has at least a master’s degree, and is able to manage others working under them. There is a lot of responsibility involved in this job because it is at the top of the chain.
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Investment Banking Division Analyst
Average Annual Salary: N/A
The investment banking division is the go-between for large enterprises and investors. Analysts who work in this area advise businesses and governmental agencies on how to achieve their financial goals and get support from individuals buying stocks, bonds, or derivative products.
This division of the investment bank is working with large amounts of money that can create big fees for the bank.
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Quantitative Risk Analyst
Average Annual Salary: N/A
A quantitative risk analyst looks at a company’s past financial decisions and future goals and then makes suggestions that can guide them toward fiscally appropriate next steps. It’s all based on looking at quantitative data, so understanding and translating data is important, but it gives you a basis for your predictions and guidance.
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Regulatory Reporting Accountant
Average Annual Salary: N/A
A regulatory reporting accountant reviews the way a business is operating to ensure that they’re up to standards and are safeguarding the bank’s assets. They’re tasked with knowing the regulatory process for this industry and ensuring that their institution is in compliance.
This also means that they need to stay up to date on any regulatory changes that may happen and advise on how to navigate those changes within the system.
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Average Annual Salary: $78,000
Actuaries can be found in many different industries, but they play a very important role in the world of investment banking. They’re masters of statistics and can take data and use it to determine the financial impact of certain investments. They can also determine uncertainty to help investors avoid taking some risks that might not be safe.
10 Entry-Level Jobs in Investment Banker Services
The truth of the matter is that any job in investment banking or brokerage is going to require a bachelor’s degree. At the very least, many require a master’s. This is not an easy industry to work in, and companies, government agencies, and private investors who have the kind of capital necessary to hire an investment specialist will want people with a lot of experience.
That said, the following jobs can be entry-level or starting jobs for someone with the right education in finance or accounting and who is willing to put in the time and effort to prove themselves in the business.
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Entry-Level Investment Banking Analyst
Average Annual Salary: $65,000
In this position, you’re learning the ropes of investment banking and earning a reputation. You’ll do a lot of research and analysis for clients of other investment bankers. This job will not only help you inform customers of trends, but you’ll be able to see patterns emerge that will turn you into a better investment banker in the end.
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Average Annual Salary: $94,000
This job is typically considered to be a step above analyst, but it’s an entry-level position because the best and the brightest are recruited from their master’s program to do this job. Your duties are similar to the analyst, but you’re that much closer to being a managing director, which is the top tier for investment bankers.
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Average Annual Salary: $55,000
Many people get into the investment banking world by starting out as a stockbroker. You’ll find that the better firms offer comprehensive training for their stockbrokers, although it’s possible to be thrown into the field without much training and only your bachelor’s degree to guide you.
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Average Annual Salary: $78,000
A financial analyst might work for an investment company, or they could work in an insurance company or a consulting firm. As an analyst, you’ll be looking at budgets and income statements to prepare reports, develop forecasts, and begin to predict trends.
It depends on the company, but you may find that you’re tasked with making other predictions and suggestions regarding the financial direction of your company or clients. It’s an entry-level job that requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
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Junior Tax Associate
Average Annual Salary: N/A
While the tax side of investment banking isn’t where the drama and glamour are, it’s still an important part of the equation. Tax laws are constantly changing, and all investment firms need to stay abreast of the changes. Stepping into the junior role is often an entry-level individual with a degree in finance.
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Personal Financial Advisor
Average Annual Salary: N/A
This indeed can be an entry-level position and a real stepping stone into the field of investment banking. It’s not just where someone learns the ropes of personal finance, but it can be where you learn how to nurture relationships and inspire trust. This job has a lot of responsibility, and it will require an advanced degree.
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Investment Operations Representative
Average Annual Salary: N/A
This is a position you might be able to enter with just an associate’s degree in business, finance, or accounting. In this job, you’ll be reporting to the president or vice president of operations, and you’ll be tasked with managing paperwork, inputting data, and assisting customers when necessary.
It’s a good way to test the investment waters and decide if you want to dive in and get your bachelor’s degree.
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Equity Research Associate
Average Annual Salary: N/A
This job requires a bachelor’s and several certifications, but when you have that under your belt, you can hold the title of equity research associate. In this position, you’ll gather and analyze market research, build models, and suggest investment approaches. Your reports will be used internally to help managing investment brokers instruct clients on recommended investments.
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Average Annual Salary: $34,000
The top investment brokerages have many different positions that can get you in the door and help you start making the connections you need to land an investment job. One of those possible entry-level points is in collections. A collections specialist works to collect past due bills and resolve payment situations.
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Office Support/Administrative Assistant
Average Annual Salary: $36,000
A truly entry-level position at an investment brokerage is that of office support. There are a lot of people working in all financial institutions, and not all of them have degrees or even an interest in working in finance; they’re there to support the rest of the staff and run the day-to-day operations.
These people work to help process paperwork, do data entry, keep track of schedules, arrange meetings, and any other jobs that are required to keep their boss(es) days running smoothly. No degree in finance is required, but some computer skills are necessary.
Why Choose a Career in Investment Banking Services
If you’ve decided that investment banking might be the right field for you, then you probably already have an interest in the field of investment or finance. This is an exciting business with the opportunity to make a lot of money, but it comes with a lot of educational requirements, pressure, and responsibility. It’s not something that you should enter if you don’t have a passion for finance.
The following are some reasons why you might want to choose a career in Investment Banker Services.
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It’s a passion. As mentioned above, this job is one that requires a lot of work to get there. There are few entry-level positions in investment banking and almost all of those require a bachelor’s degree and even some additional certificates. If this is your passion, then there’s obviously no other field for you.
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High earning potential. This industry is one where the top performers get rich. Knowing how to advise people on investments doesn’t only pay off for your clients; it can pay off for your own investments as well. This is a top-earning industry, and money is a frequent motivator.
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Exciting. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and want to constantly be learning and becoming better at your job, then investment banking and finance are a great place for you to land.
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Dealing with people. Many people in the banking industry enjoy getting to communicate with other people on a regular basis. Because you’re in the role of advisor, you are helping others, and you are the expert, which can be very rewarding.
Education and Certification Requirements for a Career in Investment Banker Services
Financial services is a difficult field with regulations and tax issues to consider, high-level mathematics, and a deep understanding of history, particularly how financial trends have been affected by societal changes. All of this means that you’re going to need a lot of education. In fact, you might find that you’re constantly learning and earning certificates.
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Bachelor’s Degree. Just about every job in finance requires a bachelor’s degree, and this includes the investment banking and brokerage side of things. You’ll often find that this is just the beginning of your educational journey.
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Internship. In the world of investment banking, your internship can make all the difference, so it’s important to put in the time and effort to get into one of the top investment firms. This is almost as important as your job itself.
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Masters Degree. An MBA or Master of Business Administration is sometimes considered the bare minimum; it depends on the job you’re seeking.
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Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). This certificate is definitely a step in the right direction and will help prove that you’re serious about the job and your skills are top-notch.
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FINRA Certification. You’ll also want to register with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and take an exam in your field of expertise. Once certified, this will go a long way toward proving your merit to future customers and clients.
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Certifications and special training. There are other financial certificates that you can earn along the way and ones that will fall specifically into your niche of expertise. This is a field where the more certificates you can collect, the better off you’ll be.
What Do People Working in Investment Banker Services Do?
Finance is a very stable profession that still offers a bit of variety. If you’re passionate about money and really enjoy staying ahead of business news and watching for trends in the market, this is absolutely the right field for you.
It must be noted that the business of investments is a high-stress job, and it demands a lot of education and intellect. If you want to succeed and hit the highest levels of your profession, you’ll need to dedicate your time to your education and never stop learning. That said, you’ll also receive some of the highest paychecks around.
Working in investment banking also comes with a level of prestige that is quite appealing to many. You’ll typically find a lot of respect from others because they trust and rely on your opinion and your knowledge, and that can make your busy days and long hours worth it.
Author
Kristin Kizer is an award-winning writer, television and documentary producer, and content specialist who has worked on a wide variety of written, broadcast, and electronic publications. A former writer/producer for The Discovery Channel, she is now a freelance writer and delighted to be sharing her talents and time with the wonderful Zippia audience.
