(UK) ACA Qualified- looking to move into investment banking or asset management
I graduated from a target university in the UK (but not Ox/Cam/LSE) with a 2:1,
Have worked in a Big 4 company in London for 3 years, in FS Audit, with main clients being mainly hedge funds and a principal investments division of a large financial company.
(also worked on other clients consisting of mutual funds, investment managers and PE)
I finished working at my company in Oct 2010 as soon as I qualified,
reason being that I had to return to my country due to military service.
I am due to complete my miltary service in March and hope to return to UK at around June.
I am a CFA lvl 2 candidate (will take it in June), and also have passed FRM part 1 (will take part 2 in Nov if I have time).
I want to move into asset management.
(hedge funds would be better but I would expect the cut to much much higher to get in).
but would prefer not to do risk/compliance or accounting, but have a front office focus.
Given my ACA, I would think Research would be most appropriate.
But I have a 3 year gap in my CV (due to my military service). which is a big hole.
What are my possible options to move to asset mgmt or in a bank?
If making it directly into asset mgmt or bank is tough, I'm thinking of possibly gaining more experience at a Big 4, whether it be corporate finance or transaction services.
(Does Restructuring division also help gain experience?)
There is an Investment Advisory division in the Big 4 company I used to work in, which provides advice to institutional investors on investment arrangements.
Would working in this area help me gain some experience that could be utilized in asset mgmt?
I know moving from Big 4 Audit to front office is difficult, but I am wondering what is the best way for me to gain the experience that I need to make to transfer.





You don't have a big gap in
You don't have a big gap in your resume. You have 3 years of military service, which most find valuable. I advise you to reach out to headhunters.