Must Choose Between Corporate Strategy & Corporate Development -- Advice Appreciated

Hi everyone,

I would really appreciate some advice on a job dilemma I'm facing. I work at a F500 with a fairly active M&A operation. I have just completed a finance leadership rotational program, during which time I rotated with the company's Corporate Development (M&A) group.

Thinking that the Corporate Development group wasn't going to be hiring, I interviewed with and received a job from the Corporate Strategy group, which I was planning to accept. Right before, however, the Corporate Development reached out and offered me a job out of the blue.

I'm extremely torn between the two opportunities. I think I'm slightly more partial to the work of the Corporate Development group and I've got some very strong mentors/advocates in the group, but the Corporate Strategy group would likely expose me to new skills/experiences and get me involved on some very operational projects. From what I understand, the work/life balance is better in Corporate Strategy as well.

On the other hand, I'm concerned that if I join the Corporate Strategy group, I will have a tough time breaking back into Corporate Development without making a lateral or backward move if I do determine in the long run that I want to do M&A for my career.

Any advice at all would be really appreciated! Thank you!