Ever thought of working abroad? How about a fast-paced, high-earning role in one of Europe's most glamorous capital cities? Not bad for a 24 year old just out of university. Olaf Anthony - a Capital Markets analyst living and working in Paris - writes for beyondoxbridge on his experiences and career so far.

I read French & Politics, and I had never considered a career in finance. Rather to my (and my friends’s) surprise, today I am an analyst working for an investment bank in Paris. The department in which I work focuses on the origination of Leverage Finance transactions that are structured in a variety of different ways, according to the jurisdictions in which they occur. Essentially, the job requires a constant attention to detail and the opportunity to research and study a broad range of financial and business practices than span a variety of legal systems and cultures. It is not just number crunching. The idea of modelling a business or venture can initially seem daunting (especially for someone with an arts degree). However, the concept is part of multi-lateral process that provides a platform for decision making, that draws from economic and political risk factors often misunderstood by those who have not had the occasion to work in finance. Some would not enjoy this aspect of the job. For others, it is an opportunity to consolidate and improve upon a profound understanding of socio-political environments and apply this to logic-based decisions that allow companies to flourish. It is for this reason I decided to work in the Capital Markets.

Following an internship with the same bank during my degree I was offered the analyst position and jumped at the chance to return to Paris. Doing the internship itself in Paris was a fascinating experience. Not only from a cultural point of view, but with the advantage of fluency in English one is quickly exposed to a dynamic in which the processing of information from one language to another becomes vital to the organisation. There are few other methods that offer such intense language training in tandem with and as natural compliment to immersing oneself into an industry. It is truly rewarding. Obviously, the hours can be long and the pressure constant. Yet, for those who thrive under such conditions the rewards are great, not only from a financial perspective but also the access to such vast informational resources and exposure to such a variety of organisations at both extremes of the financial services spectrum.

Life and the ‘young professional’ daily routine could be described as a far cry from being a student. The hours are of course much more demanding. However, as an analyst, certain skills developed during the course of one’s formal education are an implicit requisite of the job. The ability to research thoroughly and adeptly synthesise this information into concise presentations and reports is key to the efficiency of the bank. Decisions are based upon an expectancy of analysts to provide up-to-date accounts and commentary based upon a sound understanding of the market. As such, daily reading of the industry press and awareness of major developments in sectors one covers are essential. In addition, preparation of specific market reports and company breakdowns, often in the form of an applications for credit or debt issuances, are an intrinsic part of the job also. Furthermore, modelling of financial information to ascertain the sensitivity of debt capacities in a variety of economic scenarios provides the basis for decisions regarding the structure of Capital Markets deals. Of course, much of this information is often discussed over lunch with the client.

From a social point of view, Paris allows for someone in my position to enjoy everything from gastronomic fare at reasonable prices and more art to see than a lifetime could allow, to cutting-edge fibre-optic internet access at speeds 10 times those in London. Coming from London, and its status as a global financial centre, comparison is easy: Rent is cheaper, no commute is likely to take more than 25 minutes, the apartments are generally much larger and the city is a lot smaller so taxis after a night out don’t ruin you, whilst access to everything is simple and fast. As an English speaker I also have the opportunity to head back to London at least once a month for work. I need say nothing about the speed of the Eurostar.