Work culture in finance, law and consulting

Key rules

• Overtime: Overtime is capped at 80 hours a year and must be paid or compensated with time off.
• Dress: No law sets a dress code, so ask each employer for its policy.
• Language: English-working teams are concentrated in Madrid and Barcelona; smaller cities and local firms usually require Spanish.
• Late hours: Law and Big Four firms often work until 20:00-22:00 or later in busy periods.

The short picture

Corporate services in Spain are formal, hours can be long, and the biggest concentration of jobs is in Madrid. Many teams work in both English and Spanish. Barcelona comes next, and the details below vary by firm.

Hours

A typical office day runs from about 9:00 to 18:00-19:00, with a long lunch break. International banks and consultancies often compress the day.

Law firms and Big Four firms often run to 20:00-22:00 or later in busy periods. Staying visibly at your desk (presentismo) still counts for a lot in law and consulting. It is easing slowly as hybrid work spreads.

Retail and corporate bank branches usually work mornings, about 8:15-15:00, with some afternoons.

Many firms offer jornada intensiva, a shorter day, usually 8:00-15:00. It is common on Fridays and in July and August, especially at large firms.

Overtime

Overtime is capped at 80 hours a year and must be paid or compensated with time off. Employers must also record working time. In practice, extra hours in law and consulting often go unrecorded, so ask how your team handles it before you sign.

The legal weekly maximum is 40 hours on average. A cut to 37.5 hours has been proposed, so check the current limit when you negotiate.

Dress

Dress codes have relaxed, but formal dress is still common in client-facing roles. Traditional law firms and investment banks usually expect suits for meetings. Lawyers wear a gown (toga) in court. Many international firms allow business casual on ordinary days or Fridays. Retail bank branch staff usually wear a uniform or business attire.

No law sets a dress code, so it is each firm's policy. Ask before your first day.

Language

English-working teams are most common in Madrid and Barcelona. You will also find them, less often, in Valencia, Málaga, Bilbao and Seville. They are typical in:

• shared-service centres and global business services
• Big Four and consulting firms
• international law firms
• investment banks and asset managers
• tech and start-ups

In smaller cities and local firms, Spanish is generally required. Even in an English-working team, good Spanish helps with client work and daily life. Make sure the city you pick fits your Spanish level.

The checklist below gives questions to put to an employer, and the FAQ answers common worries.

Checklist

• Ask the employer for the usual start and finish times, since offices typically run about 9:00 to 18:00-19:00 with a long lunch break.

• Ask how often the team works until 20:00-22:00 or later, which is common in law firms and Big Four firms in busy periods.

• Ask whether the firm offers jornada intensiva, a shorter day usually 8:00-15:00, on Fridays or in July and August.

• Ask how extra hours are recorded and paid or compensated, because overtime is often left unrecorded in law and consulting.

• Ask for the firm's dress policy for office days, client meetings and Fridays.

• Check whether the team works in English, Spanish or both, and how much Spanish the role needs.

• Check that the job's city fits your language level, since English-working teams are most common in Madrid and Barcelona.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to speak Spanish to work in finance or consulting in Spain?

Not always, because English-working teams are common in Madrid and Barcelona, but good Spanish is usually still needed outside them. Multinational shared-service centres, Big Four firms, international law firms and investment banks often work in English.

What is jornada intensiva in a Spanish office?

Jornada intensiva is a shorter working day, usually 8:00 to 15:00, without the long lunch break. Many large firms use it on Fridays and in July and August. Ask whether your employer offers it.

Will I have to wear a suit at a bank or law firm?

Often yes in client-facing roles, but no law requires it, so each firm sets its own policy.

Do law firms and consultancies in Spain expect me to stay late?

Yes, law firms and Big Four firms often run to 20:00-22:00 or later in busy periods, and staying visible at the office is still common. Hybrid work is slowly easing this. Ask how overtime is recorded and paid before you sign.