Corporate Banking > Analyst

Business Description

Our Corporate Banking programmes span two organizational units within Citi Markets and Banking: Global Corporate Bank (GCB) and Global Portfolio Management (GPM), albeit that these units work in complete partnership. These two corporate banking businesses each have different client or functional focuses and so the Analyst programmes differ somewhat in terms of structure, content and geography. Read on to learn more about the businesses:

The Global Corporate Bank

What is The Global Corporate Bank?

Global Corporate Banking exists to serve over 4,000 clients across the Developed and Developing World and including almost the entire world’s leading corporations and financial institutions. This would include financing new investments and possibly acquisitions, often in the order of billions of dollars; managing the risks being effected by fluctuations in currency, interest rates, energy costs and material cost in each and every country it operates in; and the basic but vital need to help clients make and receive payments in an efficient and secure manner in locations scattered around the world. Our global network with a presence in over 100 countries is unsurpassed and with it the depth of experience gained from operating in some markets and with some clients for over a hundred years! The GCB is very well equipped to evolve with the world economy as it embraces more and more players from Developing Markets as they build on successes at home and expand globally

The GCB is widely acknowledged as the world's leading global corporate banking group. Its bankers are the Relationship Manager Financiers who build and grow our long-term relationship with these clients. Our bankers orchestrate the delivery of Citigroup's vast global product platform and develop integrated financing strategies, by acting as a primary point of contact through which our clients utilize our extensive capabilities around the world. Through these efforts, our bankers address our client's most complex global banking needs, helping them solve problems and realize opportunities.

What service do we provide to our clients?

The GCB works with Citigroup's Investment Banking, Global Capital Markets, and Global Transaction Services product businesses to develop creative solutions for our clients across the full spectrum of products such as fixed income, derivatives, securitization, structured products, FX, asset based finance and transactional services. This collaboration enables the GCB to lead debt financings, structure bank loans, provide advice on optimizing capital structure and risk management strategies, and assist clients in global treasury management.

At the same time the GCB works with the Global Portfolio Management division in the management of the bank's risk portfolio and is tasked with maximizing risk adjusted revenue and returns. In short, by combining their long-term client relationships with deep industry knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of Citigroup's global product platform, GCB bankers serve as their clients' most trusted and global financial service providers.

What product/groups do we cover?

The GCB mega-industry groups are:

• Consumer & Healthcare, including Retail

• Financial Institutions

• Industrials (including Aviation, Shipping, Autos and General Corporates)

• Technology, Media and Telecommunications

• Power, Energy, Chemicals and Mining

• Public Sector Group

• Global Portfolio Management

What is Global Portfolio Management?

GPM is responsible for analysis, approval and monitoring of credit-related transactions, primarily loans, to Citi Markets and Banking clients. As such GPM is a key member of the deal teams working on credit related transactions, primarily loans, derivatives and trade finance, helping to structure deals, perform risk mitigation and portfolio management of the loan portfolio. GPM proactively manages the Group's loan portfolio, seeking to maximize Citigroup's returns and increase liquidity through the intelligent and strategic use of capital. Analysis focuses on identification of business, industry, transaction and franchise risks; company cash flow generation; and transaction structure. As part of Citigroup's independent credit risk management organization, GPM is required to provide its independent approval for Citi Markets and Banking transactions, placing it at the center of client deal flow and industry-leading risk management processes.

What service do we provide to our clients?

GPM works in parallel with our Corporate Bank and product partners to provide unique and powerful customer solutions. We are supported by a vast global network of industry and product specialists in a variety of markets, each serving jointly to deliver an advanced understanding of an industry's underlying drivers to clients and transactors.

Unique to Citi is the approval process. Generally, two separate credit officers – one from the business and one from GPM – are required to approve any credit decision, rather than a central credit committee. This speeds up the process, providing flexibility and a rapid decision if required by the customer. GPM uses its industry and business expertise to ensure that any credit-related transaction is originated, approved and executed in the best manner possible – recognizing that clients' and Citigroup's internal interests may differ at times. This unique approval process allocates responsibility to individuals, establishing a risk management culture that promotes good analysis, judgment, flexibility and balance between risk and reward.

What product/groups do we cover?

GPM is organized along industry and geographic market lines, similar to that of the Corporate Bank, with teams in the U.S., Europe and Japan. The GPM professional begins his or her career as a generalist gaining industry and product expertise as he or she successfully advances in the programme. GPM is organized in specific industry and product portfolios, broken down into the following business segments:

GPM Portfolio Groups

• Consumer & Healthcare

• Industrials (including Aviation, Shipping, Autos and General Corporates)

• Technology, Media and Communications

• Power, Energy, Chemicals and Mining

• Leveraged Portfolio

• Structured Portfolio

• Public Sector Portfolio

Our Programmes

Global Corporate Bank (GCB) Analyst Programme

The overall objective of this new programme is to provide the GCB business with a talent pool of Corporate Bankers with strong relationship management skills as well as those of a consummate financier. Included within this are in-depth credit knowledge, understanding of diverse client industries as well as sophisticated multi-product expertise. These skills are critical to meet the needs of our client base and deliver on our revenue, risk and return commitments.

The Analyst programme generally starts in late August in London. The Analyst programme begins with approximately 3 months of intense training covering Analytics, Risk Analysis, Modeling, Presentation and Accounting Skills, and Money and Capital Markets. This is followed by a 12 month placement in the Global Portfolio Management business in London focusing on the application of Citi credit and risk policy by which analysts should develop risk analysis and modeling skills and an appreciation of the credit culture. Once this placement is completed, the Analyst will likely join the in-country GCB team for which they were hired in one of our EMEA countries.

Global Portfolio Management (GPM) Analyst Programme

As a Analyst within Global Portfolio Management (GPM) in London you will start your career as a generalist supporting our global industry teams. You will be a member of a team responsible for a variety of analytical and transactional activities necessary to identify and respond to our customers’ financial needs. You will gain a thorough understanding of transactions in various industries, the associated risks, and our customers’ banking needs. 

The GPM programme is designed to provide a wide exposure to our business. You will be a key member of a team, who will support your development from day one. The Analyst programme is recognised by all of our managers as the essential first step in developing the talented people we need to continue to serve our customers effectively.

The training you are provided with is designed to focus on personal skills development and to give an overview of the organisation and a more detailed understanding of the product and industry groups within Citi Markets and Banking.

As an analyst, taking part in the training will provide you the opportunity to meet senior managers throughout the business and build long lasting networks with fellow trainees.

Summer Internship

The London office Summer Internship Programme runs for 10 weeks from the end of June.

You will start the Internship with an Induction to Citi along with 200+ Summer Analysts joining Citi Markets & Banking divisions in London.

The initial 3-day training includes:

• a review of important processes that you should know as a new employee to Citi

• an Introduction to Global Financial Markets and Citi. This course provides the opportunity for you to identify and explain the main business areas of an investment bank, Citi’s products and services as well as engage in interactive trading simulations and portfolio management

• specific business presentations

• a team work event

After the initial training you will then be assigned to a desk within Fixed Income, Currencies & Commodities where you will be allocated a project/rotations to work on.

Throughout the summer we will continue to provide you with training and networking opportunities to help you gain an in depth knowledge of the whole of Citi. These events include a weekly Business Presentation series, networking opportunities with senior managers and various intern-wide social events. A buddy will be also allocated to you to give you an informal advice and support network over the summer with us. 

During the programme, we will be evaluating you for a full time position on the Analyst Programme for the following year. We do this through:

• a mid term evaluation

• a project presentation to senior management and

• a final term review.

This is a two way process, providing you with an opportunity for you to evaluate whether this is where you want to take your career as well.

The programme may also feature additional activities such as:

• Breakfast Forums

• Lunch Forums

 

Who we are looking for

Citi is looking for highly motivated individuals with strong academic performance, excellent communication skills and a solid quantitative ability. With an ever-increasing international environment, cultural awareness and language skills are also an advantage.

Some of the key skills we look for are:

• Creative problem solving ability, detail-oriented with a focus on meeting deadlines

• Strong interpersonal and communication (verbal and written) skills

• Drive, combining initiative and career motivation with a professional attitude

• Pro-active, self motivated, willing to take responsibility and adapt to change

In addition, the very best distinguish themselves by their:

• Keen interest and knowledge of the banking industry

• Intellectual curiosity and innovation

• Intelligence and intuition

• Eagerness to forge your own career paths

Recruitment Process

We open for applications on the 1st September 2007

The application deadlines are:

Analyst Programme: 4th November 2007

Summer Internship Programme: 20th January 2008 

Our interview process for the full time programme will commence in November 2007, for summer internships it will commence in January 2008.

Full Time Analyst 

Below is an outline of the recruitment process from application received to offer:

Stage 1: Application is reviewed by Graduate Recruitment and the Business

Stage 2: Invited to an online Numerical Reasoning Test

Stage 3: Further screening by Graduate Recruitment

Stage 4: First round interviews:
               Two 1:1 competency based interviews,
               Numerical Reasoning Test

Stage 5: Assessment Centre:
               Three 1:1 competency based interviews with Managing Directors & Directors,
               Written Case Study Analysis/Presentation & Group Discussion

Stage 6: Offer extended by Graduate Recruitment

Summer Internship

Below is an outline of the recruitment process from application received to offer:

Stage 1: Application is reviewed by Graduate Recruitment and the Business

Stage 2: Invited to an online Numerical Reasoning Test

Stage 3: Further screening by Graduate Recruitment

Stage 4: Assessment Centre:
               Three 1:1 competency based interviews with Managing Directors & Directors,
               Numerical Reasoning Test,
               Written Case Study Analysis/Presentation & Group Discussion

Stage 5: Offer extended by Graduate Recruitment

Where

Global Portfolio Management

All our Analyst opportunities are located in our EMEA Head Office in London

The Global Corporate Bank

Our EMEA (Europe Middle East and Africa) headquarters are based in London. The majority of our positions are based in London, however we also recruit Analysts into our offices in Frankfurt, Paris, Madrid, Milan, Stockholm and Zurich. Occasionally we also have positions in some of our other EMEA locations, please check the website for any new opportunities.

 

Our People

Divya Eapen MSc. Economics, UCL; BSc. Applied Mathematics and Economics, Brown University / LSE Analyst - GPM

If you could have dinner with anyone (past or present) who would it be and why?

Possibly Michael Parkinson. He's met so many fascinating people, and I'd have a million questions to ask him. Having dinner with him would give me an insight into some of the most influential people of our era.

How would you describe your team and the people you work with?

Everyone I work with is very intelligent and driven, yet at the same time friendly and approachable. We’re all keen to learn from each other, and very open-minded to different ideas and new approaches to solving problems. I’ll often just swivel my chair around, and we’ll talk about different solutions, whether it’s with other analysts, or the group head. I’ve learned a lot from the day I started in this position, and that’s mainly because of all the questions I’ve asked the people I work with.

What about your career excites you the most - gets you out of bed in the morning?

Definitely the people I work with. I learn so much from each person that I work with, as they all have different backgrounds and views. No matter how senior or experienced anyone is, they encourage you to challenge them, and question the way things are done. In addition to that, I have a great time with the people I work with, whether it’s just to turn our chairs around and chat for a minute, or to have lunch together.

How do you apply your degree to what you're doing now?

My degrees were in Economics and Applied Mathematics. There are a few academic aspects of what I actually learned that I use in my job, but most importantly, I can apply the same problem-solving techniques and logic to work as I did to my courses.

What non-work related activities do you get involved in through Citi (community, mentoring, charity)?

There are so many different activities that you can get involved with through Citi, no matter what your interests are. I’ve joined the wine appreciation society, which is a great way to meet people from different divisions within the bank in an informal situation. I’ve also been involved in mentoring/buddy programs, for new recruits and summer interns.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I’m not exactly sure what the future holds, which I believe makes Citi the perfect place for me. I know that I want to work in finance, and Citi provides the gamut of financial services, from microfinance, to private equity, to sales & trading. I also know that at some point I would like to leave the UK and hopefully move to India, Hong Kong, or S.E. Asia. Its very important to me that I’m never bored in my job and that I'm constantly learning. Citi is one of the few organizations that I can be assured that Ill constantly be stretched in my professional life. I can move into any job in finance, in any country, and still stay within the same firm, yet never feel stifled.