These schools all serve as fertile recruiting grounds for investment banks and asset management firms. Investment Banking vs. Banks and brokerage firms use advisory talent-pools to aggregate these same services. Almost every investment banker starts out as an associate or analyst and hopes to put in enough years to reach a role as a vice president or managing director. What may be more important than an individual’s specific educational background are the personal talents and skills he or she possesses. Understanding Branch Managers: A Demanding and Highly Visible Job A branch manager is an executive who is in charge of the branch office of a bank or financial institution.