Bulge Bracket M&A Offer in European Office vs Consulting Roles in London - Need Advice!

Hello everyone,

I've recently received an offer from a bulge bracket bank for an M&A role in a European regional office (think Paris, Frankfurt, Milan). While the offer is tempting, I have a few other options on the table that are complicating my decision. I'm also interviewing with a couple of MBB consulting firms. On top of that, I'm talking with other BB or Elite boutique firms.

Here's where it gets tricky: my long-term goal is to move into Private Equity, ideally in London due to career growth and family.

I'm grappling with the following questions:
1. How much would working in a European office hinder my chances of transitioning to a London-based PE firm?
2. Is it worth it to continue pursuing roles at MBB analyst roles, given their own set of pros and cons?
3. For those who have made a similar move, how easy or difficult was it to transition back to London?

I'd appreciate any advice or personal experiences that could help me make an informed decision.

Thanks in advance!

 
Most Helpful

Congrats! Both roles are great!

Having said that, MBB in London is probably way more competitive to get into, however, does not necessarily provide you with better exit options than the IB role. 

It really depends on where you see yourself in the future: 

1. If you are interested in an operational role, want to found a company or want to pursue an MBA -> go for MBB in London. 

2. If you want to go on the buyside -> go for IBD in Europe. Be mindful that moving over to London therafter has become more difficult! 

This obviously only applies for good BB banks, I wouldn't trade Deutsche for BCG in London for instance. 

Another factor to consider is the quality of life. MBB wages in London are quite low and you'll live like a student. As ANL1 in any of the mentioned European cities, you will most likely able to afford a nice studio without problems and save a solid amount of cash. 

Again, pat yourself on the back!! Great work!

 

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