Jack Durston

In 2018, I spent 10 weeks on Houlihan Lokey’s summer internship programme before converting to become a first year Financial Analyst.

I’d already completed a variety of internships elsewhere, but during my internship at Houlihan Lokey I was actively involved in real projects and able to make a meaningful contribution, which I found particularly rewarding.

The size of the deal teams – often just three or four people – meant that I never felt lost within the organisation. There’s certainly a very steep learning curve at the start of your career, but equally it means that you get real responsibility from early on, and this is part of what makes the job so rewarding as a junior.

In the Corporate Finance team, we undertake a wide range of activities involved in executing buy- and sell-side M&A transactions, working directly with talented entrepreneurs and companies to understand their business models and the value they provide to their clients.

There is a real collegial, friendly atmosphere throughout the firm – you always feel supported and valued as an important part of the team. There’s no face-time culture – you’re expected to work hard, but you’re also encouraged to have fun when you can, and the firm puts real emphasis on making sure you can build and maintain that balance.

Job Title: Financial Analyst, Corporate Finance

Education: BSc—Economics—University of Exeter