Investment Banking Graduate

I chose Banking as it is a wide-ranging profession where you have the chance to get involved in any sector of the economy, be it Commercial, UK Corporates, Energy and Industrials, etc. There are a huge range of opportunities within investment banking, both sector-specific and global markets so you can pursue whatever piques your interest.

I first heard about Nomura from a friend who interned here the previous summer and

informed me that the London office was one of the most incredible places to work, right on the bank of the Thames! Apart from the impressive real estate Nomura’s USP (unique selling point) is its position and expertise in Eastern markets, being the largest bank in Japan it holds prestige and regional understanding which is unique to Nomura. The majority of the bulge-bracket Investment Banks are western-centric, being European or American-led, the fact that Nomura was different and held a unique culture in this regard was an attractive prospect.

I joined the Risk Solutions Group (RSG) and completed the Graduate Analyst Training Programme in 2021, during which I particularly enjoyed getting to know the different graduates on the programme even in a mostly virtual format. I really enjoyed doing all the exams as I felt I had a foot in the door of Investment Banking and a better grasp of the knowledge that has ultimately complemented my IB experience.

RSG sits within the Client Financing Solutions (CFS) function of the Bank. Its role marries both Investment Banking and Global Markets so RSG have an active role within advisory supporting M&A hedging opportunities as well as having a foot in the door in the Global Markets division. While RSG sits in Investment Banking, it also spends a significant amount of its time examining the trajectory of rates and market developments, this combination of advisory and market understanding made the role of significant interest to me.

On a daily basis we look at different rates across the market (interest rates, inflation rates, currency, FX) and look to hedge our clients’ risk to rate movements. This is particularly important in the current environment as interest rates are continuously on the up driven by spiralling inflationary pressures; the rise in rates will mean that the debt interest rate payments will become prohibitively expensive, to mitigate this scenario we offer hedging instruments to mitigate their future risk exposure. Sometimes it may not seem as glamorous as other parts of banking but it is so interesting particularly in the current market as we are of tantamount importance to the bank and the clients we service.

The RSG team itself is very energetic, they are all young and dynamic which is a huge plus especially as an Analyst who has recently joined the firm. They are very welcoming, engaging and have a depth and breadth of expertise in the RSG product; I get to work around people who inspire me which helps to provide that extra burst of energy during the day!

My best advice to prospective interns or Analysts is to be proactive in your learning: do not leave it to other people to teach you and definitely ask questions. Take the initiative to learn for yourself as I have always found it easier to digest new information in my own time, then asking follow-up questions to those with subject matter expertise showing you have done your research in advance. Secondly, say yes to pretty much every opportunity that comes your way, no matter whether you find it daunting or a real challenge at first (e.g. presenting/presentation skills). Thirdly, being present and engaged in all training, be it scheduled as part of the Analyst Programme or information sharing on the desk, will put on will set you in good stead for the start of your career.