Natixis Reviews

Pros

-Excellent Work/Life Balance
-Market Rate Compensation given the Smaller Size of the Firm
-Great Location
-Great Team; Generally Nice People
-Free Lunch!

Cons

-Lack of Emphasis Upon Employee Development/Training (i.e. building Tangible Skills for Junior Level Employees)
-Internship Program is Basically A Joke--No Real Emphasis Upon Seriously Taking on Temporary --employees for Worthwhile Permanent Positions (i.e. Basically Doing "drudgery work" mostly admin tasks, as opposed to working on live deals.
-Lack of Focus Upon Internal Recruiting
-Top-Heavy in relation to Senior Management to Junior Staff

Advice to Senior Management

Focus on Developing Internal Talent (i.e. Internship Program Should be much more Rigorous in Formal Training, Active Participation in Client Meetings, Substantive Duties); could Definitely take some cues from the "Bulge-Bracket" banks more formal Internship Programs

Pros

Benefits of a large French parent with a small investment banking footprint in New York. One can gain exposure to numerous people and functions within the bank. It is a great learning experience for someone entering the banking industry, as you have to be a generalist in your duties as opposed to compartmentalized. Benefits are solid and competitive with other investment banks and the employee contributions are relatively low. Lunch was free but not sure if this program is still in place. There are at least three weeks vacation, four weeks for vice presidents or higher, and up to five weeks vacation after five years of service. Up to date computers, mobile devices and systems. The working hours were reasonable.

Cons

Bureaucracy and politics pervasive throughout the bank. French nationals and French speaking employees are definitely favored. Paris head office is slow to react to NY trading desk requests and there seems to be a communication breakdown regarding the understanding of risk between NY and Paris. Compensation is lower than average for investment banks based on anecdotal information. As it is a small bank in New York, opportunities are limited. Senior management, especially in risk, are not open to promoting people to different areas within risk. However, for French speakers willing to go to Paris there is more to choose from.

Advice to Senior Management

Cut the politics, clear out the senior management deadwood, allow more of a meritocracy, promote from within and allow talent to move where their interests lie.

Pros

Learn a lot about derivative trading strategies.

Cons

The career track was limited.

Pros

Small and some friendly people. Free coffee and soft drinks. Lack of control on travel expenses as some management did not really care.

Cons

Don't work in HK office unless you want to be publicly criticized and insulted, very unprofessional and undignified. Some staff in senior management positions lack experience or real management skills, especially in people management. Do not value employees or develop their strengths. Lack of communication and team work in some departments. Do not have a proper HR department.

Advice to Senior Management

Stop promoting people without experience into senior roles or moral will continue to be low.

Pros

little teams
Management close from juniors profile
Juniors and interns involved in the process
Good atmosphere at work
Intersting challenge

Cons

Intelectually not very challenging
Senior profile not very impressive
A bit lazy
Management changed 3 times in one year
Not much deals

Pros

A very liberal company that takes care of its employees

Cons

They don't take care of the employees who have dedicated themselves to the company

Pros

Easy Commutte to New York. Free Lunch

Cons

Extremely unprofessional environment. All management and comptent employees left us after the 2008 events and the loss of more than half billion in the Maddoff scandal. All who is left are people with limited talent and with no other options but to stay. They are hiring now but they can't seem to bring people with talent to the organization. Compensation bonus is based on whether your manager likes your company or not .

Pros

great pay
great benefits
good hours
flexibility during the day

Cons

unfair promotions
favoring from management
extremely male oriented
weak culture

Advice to Senior Management

need more real procedures in place- figure out some different career paths for people who don't want to be wholesalers, allow them to grow within the company. stop favoring people

Pros

work/life balance good. job security better than average in bear market. nice office. autonomy on tasks. nice colleagues who are personable.

Cons

not much room for growth. french control is very hands on approach taking power away from us-based finance professionals. layers and layers of committees and very bureaucratic.

Advice to Senior Management

keep a more open door policy, empower finance professionals, remove several layers of committees for approval of investments, one should be plenty.

Pros

Some activities are growing. The teams are diversified: people of both sexes, many origins and educational background, which is very pleasing.

Cons

You are not very well paid and opportunities to take responsibilities within the bank are not very high. The bonuses in 2010 were very disappointing.

Advice to Senior Management

Have a larger overlook on the activities is something that is already done and that should be kept as the new leadership of the bank expresses very precise and pertinent needs.