Susquehanna International Group Reviews in Philadelphia, PA Area

Pros

SIG provides you with the ability to grow as much as you want. They put a premuim on individuals who are innovative and forward thinking. The talent level of the groups in which I've worked is the highest of any place I've been in over 20 years of work experience. The dynamic nature of the business creates new opportunities. SIG does a lot to enhance the overall lives of the employees. As many are aware, they provide free lunch with many different healthy choices. In addition, self-serve breakfast items are available each day (cold & hot cereal, hard-boiled eggs, bagels and breads, yogurt, coffee, tea, etc.). Free gym. A concierge service that arranges with businesses to make it easier to get your car serviced and clothing dry cleaned. Special fitness sessions at reasonable prices (yoga, total body fitness).

Cons

Information sharing is difficult across such a large organization. Sometimes the lines between groups gets blurred and it becomes unclear who is responsible for specific issues or objectives.

Advice to Senior Management

Continue to emphasize the elimination of bureaucracy along with sensible management structure. Make it clear what the relative priorities are between the various businesses.

Pros

Decent pay, free lunches, free gym, tons of discounts from retailers, the occasional flyers ticket in the company luxury box, great people, laid back feel, you can wear jeans and a button down shirt everyday!

Cons

Too many "teams" of people working on the same project(s), lack of communication between teams, which leads to people stepping on toes.

Pros

- You're surrounded by intelligent people
- Extensive exposure to quality decision making
- Challenging technology problems
- Reasonable work weeks
- Culture/practices are continuously being improved

Cons

- No work at home but given the reasonable work weeks it's not a signficant issue
- Company is small and the management structure is relatively flat making promotion imtrinsically more difficult

Advice to Senior Management

Find more ways to recognize people's contributions - this doesn't always have to mean monetarily. It can be calling out people's accomplishments in their reviews, etc.

Pros

- Free breakfast and lunch (even if it is getting to be a little too healthy!)
- Great place to start your career and if you are patient a good place to move up.
- Friendly environment
- Good at pushing you to learn more

Cons

- Pay at first is below average
- Long hours

Advice to Senior Management

Change pay scales to attract more people and keep the great people you already have!

Pros

The People, The benefits, the work

Cons

Not enough communication between senior team and others

Advice to Senior Management

talk to more people, bring more people into your circle, get to know more people

Pros

Great Work environment, with a number of perks including shorts on summer work days, free breakfast and lunches and many great company functions. Health care plan, while costs have gone up considerably year after year, remains great benefit.

Cons

Compensation not in-line with rest of the Street for majority of employees as the firm plays 'Money Ball'. Most managers has very little say or flexibility in employee salary, as salaries are decided by a few select upper managers. These managers have very little interaction with most employees they are trying to value and the valuation process becomes a merit-less exercise for most employees, as the compensation committee views everyones salary as trade, trying to pay the lowest possible amount to keep the employee from being disgruntled. Unless have a defined bonus, every year discretionary bonus expectations are talked down. Firm keeps compensation below market value for most employees while locking in guaranteed contracts for productive and unproductive producers.

Advice to Senior Management

Re-focus on the meritocratic roots of the firm. While the Yankees have the highest payroll in baseball, large guaranteed contracts are not always the answers. Pay for production and not the promise of production.

Pros

Free food, good benefits, talented and knowledgeable people are all great benefits to working at SIG. Also, a strong community.

Cons

Management seems to be a bit behind in the times; a lot of them were kept around solely due to seniority.

Advice to Senior Management

Mix it up a little bit and have more incentives for good performance. Perks are nice, but long term job satisfaction comes from being appreciated and respected.

Pros

-Casual, non-corporate atmosphere
-Free catered buffet-style lunch, continental breakfast, and snacks
-Competitive health/insurance/401k benefits
-Great in-house education/training opportunities
-Intelligent atmosphere
-Other perks including social outings and ball games

Cons

-Long/busy work days
-Unsatisfactory starting salary

Advice to Senior Management

Change control and version control need some work.

Pros

Great benefits, friendly, relaxed environment, a real "family feel" even though when push comes to shove, they fire people like every other company does. However, they are smart, and typically will let someone take a bet if there is good justification for it and risks are defined.

Cons

Slightly disingenuous about what they offer, they definitely take advantage of starry-eyed college kids for the Assistant Trader program- the contracts are terrible, compensation is unlikely to match those at funds, banks, etc. On the flip side, cost of living in Philly/suburbs is definitely less than Manhattan.

Advice to Senior Management

Intellectual property is clearly important, and should be protected, but you may be turning away some of the best talent by having them sign a contract that is rarely enforceable anyway.

Pros

The benefits of working here were awesome. Free food and gym area. There are a ton of talented individuals that work here.

Cons

There is limited growth in the company especially if you enter as an entry level position. Limited promotion

Advice to Senior Management

There are great leaders at SIG with great experience. Everyone is very helpful in guiding this company towards success.