Bad culture and mismanagment - Senior Associate Ares Management Employee Review

1.0
Apr 6, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Catered lunch and good benefits. The compensation is good but that's about it. there has been a lot of growth but there is a cut throat culture with very poor management or clear message on strategy. Lots of infighting between the different groups.

Cons

The biggest problem at Ares is the lack of infrastructure and ongoing mismanagement. While growth had been strong, the company has failed to build an infrastructure to support the business. Lack of access to information makes it difficult to do job effectively. Hours are tough and people are rude. Worst part of all is the infighting between groups. Constantly infighting between direct lending, liquid credit and PE. Real estate might as well be another business. Do not work here. Better options at other Alts shops.

Explore other reviews about Ares Management

5.0
May 11, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Very collaborative culture with a strong connected leadership team; a high-growth organization that provides great opportunities for performing team members - many examples of strong mobility (employees growing through promotion as well as employees moving locations and teams). I have been with the firm for more than 5 years and it has been a completely positive experience - I've grown significantly in responsibility and compensation.

Cons

Nothing that comes to mind.

2.0
Jun 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Prestige, Good Benefits, snacks in the fridge Some teams are very good. Ideal for someone in their 40s or 50s who is looking for stability.

Cons

All teams are different at a company of this size, but working in the middle office technology team was the worst experience of my career. Day to day work was either completely free of directive or projects would be completely blocked by bureaucracy. When a project I was working on went well, there was no celebration and when it was late or had issues there was no reflection. The culture is going into work to a cubicle to sit in zoom meeting straight from nine to five or eating lunch alone each day in a ghost town office. Other teams will speak poorly of each other and gossip. My boss's boss was a bully and would threaten people constantly. Everyone I worked with was "living the dream", overworked and bored to death but making a ton of money. Every team outing they had in three years was just a golf simulator. It just doesn't have to be like this. We've moved on from this cubicle farm company since the 90s, work should be encouraging and fun. Unless you're looking for stability above all else, you can find a better place to work.

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