Big 4 Accounting w/MBA to HF
I'm currently in a Top 16 MBA program, and I want to do something front office related at a HF. I have a Big 4 accounting background so obviously I'm at huge disadvantage compared to the former bankers/MBB guys. I have a few contacts at a few funds that I can reach out to, but my school's general focus is on MF and sell-side research recruiting, which I don't think I have any real chance at. Should I just reach out to my contacts and try to gain references and talk to as many people as possible? Are there any good conferences in the New York metro area that's good networking? I'm willing to try about anything. Thanks all!
If your school's focus is MF and sell-side research, personally, I would pursue those jobs and get some relevant experience before trying to move to a HF.
dupe
Curious why you think that you don't have a chance at mutual fund or sell-side but that you do have a chance at a hedge fund. Part of the hedge fund business model is to hire people who are already capable analysts and that involves the kind of training and experience you get at sell-side firms or other asset managers.
I can tell you that I just transferred from a Big 4 Assurance practice to a research associate position in ER - no MBA - just two levels of CFA. Auditors are fairly competitive in ER - especially smaller ER firms that focus more heavily on fundamental analysis and in-depth accounting disclosure analysis. With an MBA, you should be competitive for any kind of sell-side, and subsequently a position at an HF.
I'd say that at least doing Level I of the CFA will give you a bit of an edge in ER (or rather, get you on par with most applicants in that area).
To add a little bit more detail to my situation, I'm in my first year and my school is not very competitive in MF or ER placement. Last year, nearly everyone that landed an internship had prior sell-side or HF analyst experience. These are the kind of guys that would've been competitive had they went to H/S/W or somewhere like G-Town. There was no Big 4 or BO/MO to ER/MF. In addition, last year's economic outlook was probably a lot better than what's unfolding right now.
I don't think I'm more competitive at HFs, but with Fidelity/Vanguard/etc's MBA intern classes being a mere handful each, it almost makes banking recruiting look sanguine in comparison.
But thanks Sovjet for your advice -- I have passed one CFA level. Do you mind elaborating a little more on how you networked?
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