Private Banking Intern Review

The past 10 weeks at Coutts have been very enjoyable. There was much more contact with clients than I thought there would be and this allowed me to gain an insight into the practical manifestations of the work of a Private Banker/ Wealth Manager.

The team that I worked with in my client group were extremely helpful. I also felt that I was able to ask for help if I was unsure of something. As I became more competent at the day to day work, I was given real responsibility and felt valued as a member of the team.

My Line Manager was very helpful and was always happy to help if I had a problem. She helped to advise me on more challenging pieces of work and introduced me to different members of our team who were able to give me an insight into their work.

On a daily basis, I arrived in the office at 8:15/ 8:30 and would start my work for the day almost immediately. Generally I would take 20 minutes for lunch and tend to finish around 5:30/ 6pm depending on the work load for that day. When assistants were on courses or on holiday the office was typically busier and I had work to do from multiple Bankers, staying later as a result of this.

I felt that I was given quite a lot of responsibility throughout the internship and was trusted with taking forward work for clients on a regular basis.

I think I have improved my time management skills to quite a great extent. Having to prioritise multiple tasks for clients from different Bankers whilst still working to the highest standard is something that I believe is a valuable skill to take back to university,

The atmosphere in the office was always very friendly and conversations did not have to be limited to solely work related topics which I think was particularly welcoming.

The overall work placement was brilliantly organised by the Graduate Manager with many insights into different areas of the business and a structured plan of the types of work we should have completed and when by.

I felt that the firm invested in me to quiet a great extent as I was able to attend a Tax training opportunity which proved useful in gaining a holistic picture of the proposition of my client group.

The Graduate scheme is exceptionally structured and there is a clear set path to progress within the business. This is something that I find particularly attractive about Coutts.

I felt that there was quite a good social scene throughout the internship. Although we all worked hard, we often would go for lunch together on a Friday or for drinks after work.

The cost of living is London will always be quite high, However, because I live in London the cost difference was not something which greatly affected me.

There were a few bars nearby where people from work would generally go to on a Friday after work. Also, the location of Coutts on the Strand being near to Leicester Square and Covent Garden is perfect for a good social scene.

As Coutts has squash courts, I know many of the interns played colleagues at different points throughout the internship.