Market Risk Management Analyst or Staff Accountant at Big 4?

I am graduating with an accounting degree in June. Currently, I have an offer from the Market Risk group at a global investment bank (bulge bracket) as well as from the audit goup at a Big 4 accounting firm. My ultimate goal (preferably within 2-5 years) is to get into equity research (either sell-side or buy-side). My questions are:

1) Is it possible to do an internal transfer from Market Risk Management to Equity Research at a BB i-bank? If so, how difficult is it?

2) Is it possible to get a job in sell-side/buy-side research after a year or two in audit at big 4 (without any financial modelling/valuation experience)? If so, how difficult is it?

3) For someone like me, what is the shortest/surest way to get into equity research (i.e. if I start from risk management / audit, what career changes are necessary to do equity research)?

I've looked at postings in other forums on how to transfer from ops/risk management to sales & trading and investment banking but haven't seen any postings on transfer opportunities/possibilities from risk management to research. I appreciate any feedback/thought on this.

Thank you.

3 Comments
 

Either job can get you in to equity research, but only if you don't stay too long. Employers will often look to hire people with 1 or 2 years experience for entry level positions. The longer you stay, though, the harder it will be to make the jump.

You are going to have to show an interest in investing if you want to make the jump. Take the CFA Level I exam - that would be my advice.

 

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