Investment Banking Analyst Job Description (2026): Duties, Skills and Salary
An investment banking analyst builds the financial models, comps and pitch books that support M&A deals, capital raises and other transactions. They work under associates and VPs, turning a banker's view of a deal into spreadsheets, slides and drafts that go in front of clients.
Analysts sit in coverage groups (industrials, healthcare, TMT) or product groups (M&A, ECM, DCM), so the deals vary but the core work repeats: modeling, formatting, data-checking and responding to last-minute requests. The hours are long and the learning curve on finance and Excel is steep in the first year.
Investment Banking Analyst job description template
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Investment Banking Analyst
[Company] · [City and office days, or remote with the countries or time zones you hire in] · [Full-time]
About [Company]
[Two or three sentences on what your company does, who it serves and why this team matters now.]
About the role
[Bank] is hiring an investment banking analyst to support our [industry / product] group. You'll build models, assemble pitch books and help the deal team prepare materials for live transactions and client meetings.
What you'll do
- Build and maintain financial models: DCF, comparable companies and precedent transactions.
- Create and format pitch books and other client-facing presentations.
- Pull and check company, industry and market data from [Bloomberg / CapIQ / FactSet].
- Support due diligence and data room review on live deals.
- Draft sections of offering memoranda, teasers and management presentations.
- Run sensitivity and scenario analysis to support deal recommendations.
- Coordinate with associates, lawyers and clients on deliverable timelines.
- Proofread and quality-check numbers and formatting before materials go out.
What you'll bring
- Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, accounting or a related field.
- Strong Excel modeling skills and comfort with PowerPoint under time pressure.
- Solid grounding in accounting and corporate finance fundamentals.
- High attention to detail with numbers and formatting.
- Ability to work long hours and reprioritize as deal needs change.
- Clear written and verbal communication for client-facing materials.
- Internship experience in banking, equity research or a related field.
Nice to have
- Series 79 or progress toward it, where required.
- Experience with [Bloomberg / CapIQ / FactSet] from prior internships.
- VBA or Python for modeling automation.
- Coursework or internship exposure to [sector, e.g. healthcare, technology or energy].
What we offer
- [Pay range: e.g. $X–$Y base salary, plus bonus or equity if offered]
- [Signing and year-end bonus, relocation assistance, meal and car allowance for late nights]
- [Health cover, retirement or pension plan, paid time off, parental leave]
- [Work authorization: whether you can sponsor a visa or hire through an employer of record]
[Our process: a resume and cover letter screen, a first round with technical and fit questions, a superday with multiple interviewers and a modeling test, and a final offer call.]
[Your equal opportunity statement, and how candidates can ask for adjustments during the process]
Put the pay range in the ad. Several US states, including California, Colorado, New York and Washington, require it in job postings, and the EU Pay Transparency Directive gives applicants the right to know the starting pay or its range before the interview.
Investment Banking Analyst duties by seniority
What the job usually looks like at each level. Pitch the ad at one level and say which in the title.
Junior
- Builds model inputs and pitch book slides under close review.
- Pulls comps and market data, and checks numbers for accuracy.
- Learns deal processes and the group's formatting standards.
Mid-level
- Owns full models and pitch books for live deals with less oversight.
- Coordinates diligence requests and manages data room logistics.
- Trains first-year analysts on tools and formatting.
Senior
- Runs the analyst workstream across multiple live deals at once.
- Reviews junior analysts' models and materials before associate sign-off.
- Takes on some client contact alongside associates and VPs.
Investment Banking Analyst career path
- Investment Banking Analyst
- Senior Analyst
- Associate
- Vice President
Investment banking analyst is typically a two to three year program filled from undergraduate finance, economics or business programs, sometimes after a related internship. Common exits include private equity, hedge funds, corporate development and an MBA before returning to banking as an associate.
Similar roles
- Financial Analyst job description
Focuses on internal budgeting and forecasting rather than live deals.
- Management Consultant job description
Advises on strategy and operations across industries rather than transactions.
- Financial Advisor job description
Works with individual clients on personal finances instead of corporate deals.
- Accountant job description
Focuses on financial reporting and compliance rather than deal execution.
Investment Banking Analyst job description FAQ
What does an investment banking analyst do?
Builds financial models, assembles pitch books and supports due diligence on M&A deals, capital raises and other transactions, working under associates and vice presidents to prepare materials for clients.
What skills should an investment banking analyst job description require?
Strong Excel modeling, accounting and corporate finance fundamentals, PowerPoint skills and attention to detail. Bloomberg, CapIQ or FactSet experience and VBA or Python are useful extras worth listing as nice-to-have.
Is investment banking analyst an entry-level job?
Yes, it's typically a two to three year program for recent graduates, structured with clear class years. State the program length and expected hours clearly so candidates understand the commitment.