Pros
-Excellent benefits package (401k, health/dental insurance, vacation allowance) -Pretty casual work environment, filled with generally interesting and smart colleagues -Managers are flexible with what you do with your time. You can take time to do research or write a report on nearly whatever you want, as long as its related to your area and reasonably interesting. Though this isn't quite as good as it once was as we are getting saddled with more and more responsibilities (without any extra pay or thanks) and less time to do the research we want. -Adequate pay (once you take into account the benefits, relaxed environment and often 40-45 hr weeks)
Cons
-Management is a mess. Managers seem to be promoted based mainly on time served and having similar beliefs as existing managers, with qualifications taking a backseat. -Top management is totally focused on a near term IPO so they and other senior employees can cash out, at the expense of current work product. They are trying to do too much and do it too quickly in order to drive growth. -The company operates on an unspoken code of secrecy and things are often on a “need to know” basis and are passed to analysts only once decisions have already been made. -No analyst development programme. Also, goals in performance reviews are rather meaningless as ratings seem to be based on managerial preference and speed of progression between bands is inconsistent between a few chosen analysts and everybody else. -Research turnover has increased significantly in the past couple years which strains already overextended analysts. -Private equity ownership for the past few years has led to severe underinvestment in business processes, which results in inefficiency and an incredible amount of wasted time. The beyond awful IT systems fit in here. I feel bad for the guys responsible for supporting the unstable Jenga tower that is our IT system.
