While consultants spend their time attempting to improve corporate operations, the asset side, investment bankers are almost completely concerned with the capital structure of the firm, the liabilities side. So bankers try to find optimal capital structures for companies to finance their operations. On a practical basis, this means raising funds in the private and public securities markets. They also operate in a top-secret type environment. These investors then decide whether or not they wish to invest - otherwise known as the buy side.
Bankers work on what is known as the sell side.
But, unfortunately for you West Coast addicts, the investment banking presence out here is relatively small compared to New York. However, several of the firms in California, recruiting at Anderson, have developed extremely lucrative specialties in technology. In addition, the brown-bag corporate presentations begin rather soon, so take this opportunity to ask intelligent questions and get a sense for different corporate cultures. Oh, and the rumors swirling around regarding me and some ambulance in New York are utterly and completely false.