Hi Everyone!
I am a sell-side research associate in Canada, covering the mining industry (quite big here). My two year term will be ending next June, and I wanted some advice on the different roles I have available to me. My strengths are writing reports and generating unique ideas. I am very open to moving to the US for work (especially California) or Australia. Keep in mind I am a young man and highly mobile. Here are the roles I am looking at so far:
1) Buy-side Analyst: Preferably a Canadian pension fund, or a reputable US firm if in California.
2) corporate finance Analyst in Mining Company: This would be a feasible transfer as I talk to many of the members of the companies we cover. I may be willing to move to Australia for this position.
3) corporate finance for Tech Giant or Tech Start up: I have always had an interest in Tech and I have a good friend working at Amazon, who can refer me. I think moving to California and working in a start up, or for a larger fund, would be an amazing experience. Can anyone who works in one (or who has worked in more than one) of these roles please comment on the pros/cons of each job? Things that are really important to me are: Working Hours, Location, Salary, and Workplace Benefits (eg. gym/cafeteria in tech firms)
Thank you!
In terms of pros/cons:
Canadian pension fund: Pros - stable, potentially a good learning experience if a large fund i.e. Ontario Teachers, BCIMC, etc., great benefits and work/life Cons - lower comp upside. Experience and quality of coworkers might be lower at a smaller fund. Arguably location isn't great for most of them unless you love Canada.
U.S. private manager: Pros - high comp, high upside potential, generally sharp peers, big industry Cons - industry most likely in secular decline, potentially high stress, lack of stability unless you're at one of the largest managers
Pros - lower stress, opportunity to learn an industry in depth, potentially high upside especially if you catch an industry upcycle and could eventually land in a CFO type role Cons - highly cyclical industry, lower initial comp. Some corporate finance roles are really boring especially if you're at a large company.
Pros: location, good benefits, decent comp Cons: finance people are some of the least important people at tech companies / you're a cost center, low comp upside
Thanks so much! I guess if I had to narrow it down, I'd pick salary and working hours as my two most important criteria.
Basing this off of your pros & cons (which I thank you for - very detailed) I think Canadian Pension Plans are the best? I like living in Toronto and they seem to pay well and have a good worklife/salary balance. You are right, I think working in a tech company for finance is like working in tech for an investment bank - you are not the forefront.
Most of the large Canadian pension funds are highly respected, so I think it would be a good choice assuming you could get an offer at one of them. Our firm manages money for several of them and I have been very impressed by the caliber of their investment team.
I'm still annoyed that bcIMC is based in Victoria.
Stick to CPPIB or Ontario Teachers. They are solid.
Is Victoria not a nice city?
I may be looking at OMERS. They have a brand new CIO and are revamping their investment team. I have heard bad things about CPPIB's public equity team
Victoria is beautiful but it's a sleepy town. Great if you have family and kids, not so much if you're single and early in your career. Personally I would live there in a heartbeat.
how high are beaches/surfing on your list?
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