Stay of out IT here if you want to keep your sanity - Partner Northern Trust Employee Review

1.0
Nov 13, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I honestly cannot think of any beyond gainful employment.

Cons

Cost seems to be the only factor in most upper management decisions. There is a push to move as many positions as posible to India. The majority of people in IT do not understand English very well, which makes it incredibly difficult to do complex, intricate IT work. The company is run very similarly to a kindergarten or preschool in regards to its training courses and messaging to employees, who are grown adults. The company does not pay high enough salaries to attract or retain quality employees. In IT 70% of the staff is contractors. Most contractors are not based in the US and are new to the company. It typically takes 3 - 5 calls to the Help Desk to resolve any kind of technical issue. The bank outsources a lot. The companies that the bank outsources to do not have the capabilities to meet the bank's needs. The bank likes to implement as much burdensome process as possible vs. simplifying and removing administrative overhead. The amount of time I spend doing real, value-add work during any given day is probably under 30%.

Explore other reviews about Northern Trust

5.0
May 29, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great place to work, especially starting your career.

Cons

I have no cons— fabulous people.

2.0
Apr 21, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Nice people and a good environment. Benefits are good and the work is interesting. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate NT as a 7. But, it’s typical big corporate crap that hands out 2% raises and minimum bonuses during a good year yet spends $360 million this past quarter buying their stock back.

Cons

Constant reminders to do more with less and cut costs and belt tightening while the execs line their pockets and you maybe get a 2% raise. I could see such actions if the firm was doing bad financially, but they aren’t. Record this and record that for many quarters now. And they walk around patting each other on the back like they all did such a great job when in reality, the markets are up so the value of the assets we manage are up. I’m wondering what sort of actions will happen when the market goes south for several quarters. Oh. And the constant state of surveillance here is BS. Tracking to make sure you are here 3 days a week. Keyboard / mouse / PC tracking systems receding your activity. It’s like a 21st century high tech sweatshop in some ways.

2
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