Please provide advice on my career change

I am working as a senior associate in the public accounting firm providing auditing services. I always have personal preferrence to switch to finance areas which are more profit driven. Auditing is more like a legal compliance function and it kills my passion.

Would anyone kindly provide me some suggestions how to make this career transfer? I would still like to focus on financial statements, so something like equity research or M&A might be my interest. If you know some positions that might be better, please let me know.

I am a Licensed CPA and passed CFA level II. I have strong interests in the financial market. I am actively trading and I spend a lot of time on reading financial news and theories. I also had a 750 GMAT. May be a MBA could be helpful as well? I am being apllying for a while but no response yet.

I highly appreciate any advice. Thank you all.

 
Best Response

Since you are in audit.. Don't know which firm. Assuming you are in a Big4, I suggest you either:

1.) With your 750 GMAT scare and audit exp. you should be able to go to a Top 10 business school. Then major in finance and graduate, apply for an associate position in a BB. With your Level II CFA passed it should help you leverage among others.

2.) Try to get into transaction services within your accounting firm or the Financial Advisory division, work for two years and try a lateral move to M&A in BB. Although you will take longer years to try move up on the ladder compared to the first option.

 

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