Babcock & Brown Reviews

Pros

great team and global experience

Cons

financial management problems on the horizon

Pros

Overall nice people and solid insurance and other benefits. Te parties were very nice and I always had the feeling that I was contributing.

Cons

It wasn't a terrible place to work until they filed for voluntary receivership in Oz. The non-hierarchical structure was amazingly hierarchical and a lot of the old timers treated staff shoddily.

Advice to Senior Management

I don't know that I have any advice as they all have gone their own ways, but I do feel grateful for have the opportunity nonetheless.

Pros

You're surrounded by people with friendly attitudes that are always willing to help. There's a focus on creating a positive culture for the firm.

Cons

The senior management made some bad decisions and bankruptcy resulted. Though everyone was friendly and had good intentions some people were given power that should not have had it, resulting in the company going under.

Advice to Senior Management

Try to work hard to get the groups sold and be sure to deliver the severance packages that were offered a few months ago.

Pros

Pay and bonuses were good - definitely higher than the market generally would pay. Transactions were interesting and usually fun to work on - although the time and effort involved often meant long hours. Overall a nice bunch of people (some weirdos), and it was always really good to come into work with a motivated and intelligent workforce. I worked through a period of huge growth and development, so there were always lots of interesting things going on, both within the transactional space and from a corporate point of view. There was some ability to move between business groups and offices.

Cons

They pay massive bonuses to the people at the very top who are not necessarily the most cometent people - rather they are the people with the most political clout. Although solid bonuses are paid down lower, the massive bonuses do not really trickle down the chain. It would have been fairer and more motivating for all if bonuses actually reflected input.
Also, they thought they had really good HR policies, but in fact the glass ceiling was as firmly in place at B&B as anywhere - I sometimes felt that the women stayed ät home"in the office looking after the corporate work, while the men went out "to work"doing the transactions, and the pay reflected that.

Advice to Senior Management

Review the pay structure

Pros

I enjoy the work environment, the people, and the compensation.

Cons

People are overworked and the balance between life and work hardly exists.

Advice to Senior Management

Communicate better.