Employment site Vault has created the Vault Banking 50 list of the best employers in the banking industry, based on prestige, culture, job satisfaction, pay and work hours. Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) came out on top, despite its massive PR  and regulatory problems. People in the industry still yearn to work there.

The Blackstone Group came in at No. 2, JPMorgan Investment Bank took third, and the Credit Suisse investment banking unit took fourth.

But the rest of the top ten was dominated by smaller boutiques such as Houlihan Lokey, Moelis & Company, Centerview Partners, Jefferies & Company, and even Willima Blair & Co.

Morgan Stanley came in No. 22. This is not necessarily anything to brag about.

Some have suggested (jokingly, we think) that Goldman's PR execs skewed the results with some heavy voting. But it's fair to say that Goldman has not lost its cachet in the industry. That said, there are some drawback to the prestige and pay of working at the industry leader, notably the intense pressure to perform and long hours.

It can also be said that a lot of people who work there are doing so as a stepping stone. Goldman looks great on your resume. If you don't make managing director, your future is still golden.

For more:
- here's an LA Times article

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