Work in Fidessa VS prop trading firm

I have been working in a prop trading firm for about 2 years, managing IT projects as well as working closely with traders for catering their new requests. Recently there is an opportunity to join Fidessa, one of the world's largest trading software vendor used by quite a wide range of ibanks / brokers / hedge funds etc.

My eternal goal is to get into strategic positions in ibank. Not sure whether I should take this opportunity now, or to stay in my current prop trading firm until a direct ibank opportunity pops up. What would be the norm of exit opportunities in firms like fidessa? Please kindly share your thoughts, very much appreciated!

2 Comments
 
Best Response

Why would you want to leave a prop shop for Fidessa? Or even a bulge bracket bank? Prop shops are where the money and excitement is. Unless you're changing functional areas into more prestigious work or gaining a position of higher seniority, you're not adding value to your career by making the switch, imo. Are you going to be in a more business focused role in your new job? IMO, joining a firm solely for the exit opportunities can be a bad idea.

Can you clarify what you do right now? Connectivity? Position keeping? Risk? Do you currently work on a trading floor? That might shed light on how best you can move your career forward. What's stopping you from making a lateral functional area switch at your current firm?

When you say "strategic" position, do you mean strategy? I.e. quant work? I'm not sure any kind of career switch is going to guarantee that kind of position in the future. That requires graduate coursework. Maybe if that's your ultimate goal you should be looking more toward education than a career switch?

 

Saepe tempora inventore incidunt esse. Aspernatur nisi quis maiores tempora commodi aliquid dolorum. Nemo itaque reprehenderit consequatur magnam dolorem. Aliquid debitis quia voluptatem qui voluptas.

Ipsa qui nihil quia error. Ab eos officiis dolorem sit reiciendis. Perspiciatis sed cupiditate culpa distinctio.

Delectus aut sit necessitatibus necessitatibus fugiat. Pariatur quos omnis et quasi laboriosam voluptatum. Dolores minima delectus harum aut.

Corrupti magnam voluptatem deserunt. Omnis deserunt omnis omnis architecto sequi ab. Eligendi enim aut ab voluptas dignissimos.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 11 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (78) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”