Investment Banking Associate, AI Residency (Part-time) | Frontier AI Research

About Aptura

Aptura works at the intersection of institutional finance expertise and frontier AI systems. Our founding team brings deep capital markets and private capital experience from Lazard and Partners Group, combined with applied AI research. Headquartered in London and San Francisco, we collaborate with leading foundational AI labs to improve how models reason and make decisions in high-stakes financial contexts.

The Opportunity

This residency is designed for high-performing investment banking associates in the UK who want meaningful, early exposure to shaping how AI is applied across corporate finance and M&A workflows. You'll work alongside ex-bulge-bracket and elite-boutique professionals to push the limits of what frontier models can do in finance.

You will:

• Prompt: Develop realistic, deal-relevant prompts you would assign to an analyst and stress-test the quality of AI-generated outputs against bulge-bracket standards.

• Compare human vs. machine judgment: Systematically evaluate where AI reasoning diverges from how a trained banker would approach valuation, modelling, and diligence.

• Design frameworks: Translate how bankers navigate ambiguity in financial statements, structure transactions, and pressure-test assumptions into problems that challenge AI reasoning.

• Construct expert benchmarks: Build and validate real-world financial models, DCFs, comps, LBOs, and deal cases used to evaluate frontier AI systems.

Why This Experience Is Valuable

• Hands-on exposure to how rapidly AI is reshaping IB workflows from pitch prep and diligence to modelling and execution.

• Be among the first investment bankers in UK to work directly on how frontier AI models reason about corporate finance.

• Build a differentiated profile at the intersection of IB and AI increasingly relevant for buy-side, strategy, and product roles.

Who You Are

• 3–4+ years of IB or Corporate Finance experience at a top international bank (bulge bracket, elite boutique, or top-tier middle-market).

• Associate level; sector agnostic.

• Strong modelling and valuation skills (DCF, LBO, comps, precedents) with experience across live deals.

• Excellent written communication and attention to detail.

• Genuine intellectual curiosity about the application of AI in finance.

Residency Structure

• Commitment: Minimum 30+/week, flexible scheduling

• Location: Fully remote

• Compensation: Competitive hourly rate, commensurate with experience

• Start date: Immediate / Rolling

• Referral bonus: For any successful referral hired into this role