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A Day in the Life

Satomi Oku

Job Description : Associate
Business : Global Banking
Year of Entry : 2006

8:30 Arrive at the office
  After checking my email, I map out the day’s schedule in my mind.
10:00 Client meeting
  Visit a client who has been inquiring about taking their subsidiary private. During the meeting, we try to grasp the client needs through our discussions of methodology and issues and considerations. A good chance to observe how the material I prepared is being used and gauge client reaction, as well as to learn how my boss communicates with clients.
11:30 Lunch
Although I often take a quick lunch at my desk. I’ve been trying to step out and scout new restaurants with my peers, which makes for a refreshing change.
14:00 Conference call with legal council
Joined a conference call with external legal council to discuss some issues on a new type convertible bond transaction. The issuance would be through a completely new structure, specifically tailored to meet client needs. There are so many issues not only from legal, but also tax and accounting aspects that I sometimes feel completely overwhelmed. However, the process of resolving all the issues as a unified team really highlights the importance of coordination among all team members, and there’s a sense of enjoyment in its intensity. It requires that each deal team member does one’s utmost in one’s respective role within a limited timeframe and, in a sense, comparable to a volleyball game where team members stretch and stretch to keep the ball in play.
17:30 Meeting with our internal legal and tax specialists
Based on the discussions during the earlier call with external legal council, we meet with our in-house council and tax specialists to determine our position on certain aspects of the transaction in question. We can ask questions more casually with our internal experts, so communication with them is very important.
19:00 Dinner
Tonight, I ordered Indian curry for delivery with my deal team members.
21:00 Preparation of cross-border M&A pitch materials
Started to work on a pitch book for an overseas client who is considering an alliance with a Japanese company. Because it’s a cross-border deal, we proceed to prepare the materials regarding M&A structure and valuation while confirming certain points with our colleagues in New York from time to time. I take charge of the pages on structuring alternatives, incorporating the recently amended laws and regulations, accounting and tax issues. When preparing this kind of materials, I sometimes become discouraged in realizing the breadth of knowledge I need to acquire, but I think involvement in numerous live deals and pitches enable me to better understand them and learn them in a systematic manner.
After Work After spending all that concentrated time at work,
After spending all that concentrated time at work, I unwind by getting a massage or reading a novel before going to sleep. Because the job doesn’t get completed in a day, I sometimes carry my tension into the following day, but it helps to switch my mode before going to sleep and then wake up revitalized. This is key to lasting in my job.

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