Energy Banking in Africa and back to NA?

Hi guys,

I've been investigating my FT recruiting options for next fall and I have to say, although I'm spending the summer at a BB in the US, I'm not completely sold on working/living there full time. It may very well be my best option and it's possible I will find myself in the states come 2012 but I have been talking with a relative at a large UK bank in my home country (sub-Saharan Africa) in their oil and gas advisory group. This group is supposedly top in the region/continent (in the O/G space) and I've been told that there would most likely be a place for me in said group as an analyst. The idea of spending some time back home and living the ex-pat lifestyle again kind of appeals to me and I feel the work would be interesting.

My question to my fellow monkeys is if I were to embark on such an endeavor, how much would this hinder/disrupt my career progression should I choose to return to North America after my analyst stint? Would it be possible/probable to move into an associate role in NA? Would I have to go to b-school first?

N.B. I wouldn't mind using b-school as a pathway back if necessary, given that (I should hope) I have the credentials (780 GMAT, high GPA, extra-currics) to get into a pretty decent MBA program given a few years of solid deal experience.

Thanks in advance for any and all feedback.

 

bump.

‎"Until and unless you discover that money is the root of all good, you ask for your own destruction. When money ceases to become the means by which men deal with one another, then men become the tools of other men. Blood, whips and guns or dollars."
 

I hate being that guy who bumps his own threat multiple times but I'd love to get some feedback on this.

‎"Until and unless you discover that money is the root of all good, you ask for your own destruction. When money ceases to become the means by which men deal with one another, then men become the tools of other men. Blood, whips and guns or dollars."
 
Best Response

Thanks alot for the answer monty. I'm doing my SA in S&T (Energy) at a BB in Houston (I know that's your stomping grounds). As for the 780, I just received the score fairly recently, took my GMAT early because I was orgininally planning on doing JD/MBA out of undergrad.

As for why I'd want to come back... easiest to say is I don't know. I haven't lived in my country for a LONG time and I'm pretty westernized so I don't know if I could handle the whole gated compound ex-pat lifestyle, It's something I'd have to experience to know.

From all I've seen recently there's alot of upstream A&D going on in Africa atm and I'd love to be a part of it (Shell, Total etc.). I feel like the dealflow would be relevant should I want to return to NA (post-MBA I suppose)?

Also, since I guess the experience is seen differently, would I need more than an analyst stint to be competitive for a top MBA (not H/S/W but more like Sloan or Fuqua)?

Thanks again,

‎"Until and unless you discover that money is the root of all good, you ask for your own destruction. When money ceases to become the means by which men deal with one another, then men become the tools of other men. Blood, whips and guns or dollars."
 

IG -

Yours is an interesting situation, and frankly I'm torn. By way of background, I worked for 10 years in M&A since I graduated from college at a bulge bracket firm in New York, and now have recently moved to run one of their emerging markets teams.

The energy market in Africa is very active right now, and its a truly interesting place to work. That said, I don't think you can beat the training that comes from being a junior banker in NY or London. I suspect that it will be tough the get a great banking job in NA without getting a top MBA, but also that your experience should position you very well for H / S / W.

On balance, unless you know you want to be a banker in NY for a lot of your career, I would take the opportunity in Africa - its unique, and unlikely to be replicated. If you don't like it, you can always come back to the US, get a top MBA, and start off as an associate.

Questions?

 

Thanks alot for the response. I do see the value of analyst program training in NY/Houston but I just get the feeling that if I don't make an attempt to return home now I probably never will. I have every intention of returning to the US for an (H/S/W fingers crossed) MBA though, at which point I can decide further. I'm not American; to be honest I can't see spending a lifetime there, and Canada is a little too risk averse for me to stay in.

My question to you would be: Although indicators and some big deals are pointing towards heavy financial/corporate activity in emerging markets in years to come, what does the deal flow feel like from the front lines? I read tombstones of companies like Standard Chartered, EFG-Hermes, Stanbic, Renaissance and I see big deals but obviously spaced out and spread over regional EM offices. How much actual advisory work is going on in individual (non-Johannesburg/Singapore/HK) offices?

‎"Until and unless you discover that money is the root of all good, you ask for your own destruction. When money ceases to become the means by which men deal with one another, then men become the tools of other men. Blood, whips and guns or dollars."
 

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‎"Until and unless you discover that money is the root of all good, you ask for your own destruction. When money ceases to become the means by which men deal with one another, then men become the tools of other men. Blood, whips and guns or dollars."

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