Two job offers, who do I choose?

Hi guys.. so basically, I have two job offers on the table : 1). Ernst Young hedge fund audit 2) Credit Suisse hedge fund accounting. They are both based in Cayman Islands.

My career goal is to get to the FO for an analyst role eventually.

Thoughts??

20 Comments
 

More money won't make you happier. Find your partner and settle here. (don't care about the MS that would be thrown at this comment, but yeah, it's a great job in a great location)

Cayman Islands???? SICK LIFE BRO!!!!

"I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature."
 

CS any day

"I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature."
 

If you're aiming FO, the CS name means more than the EY name. More chances to lateral into something FO at CS versus trying to make the jump from EY.

However, I would just find a sweet Swiss CS girl and ball out with the manta rays.

Array
 

Nothing is wrong with balling out with the manta rays... when you're on vacation and/or retired. But when your goal is SS or BS ER, hedge fund accounting in the Caymans isn't the best path.

[quote=patternfinder]Of course, I would just buy in scales. [/quote] See my WSO Blog | my AMA
 
Best Response

True, although I thought that in the OP's case there is not much of a choice (i.e. CS or E&Y). Given that both jobs seem very similar there's not much scope for very insightful/useful answers.

Although personally (out of the two) would probably go with E&Y. Quite a few people in SS ER with an audit/accounting background from the Big 4, although haven't seen many BB BO people in ER. Not that this says much.

 
Simple As...

Nothing is wrong with balling out with the manta rays... when you're on vacation and/or retired. But when your goal is SS or BS ER, hedge fund accounting in the Caymans isn't the best path.

If she's female, she should go CS-Cayman and aim to fill out a bikini well.

Seriously.

@OP: do squats.

 

First of all, congratulations on getting the job offers!

This is certainly a tough decision but I think I might go with Credit Suisse. It is difficult but not impossible to start in a back office/middle office role at a firm like Credit Suisse and aggressively network your way into a front office role. I'm sure Credit Suisse also has a "mobility program" (probably not the precise name, but something similar) in which you can apply and move within the bank. Although I can only offer anecdotal evidence, I feel that this would be more limited at E&Y (based on conversations I have had with a number of former E&Y employees).

If you are open to the idea of working for a few years in either role > going to a top business school > then going to a FO analyst role, than I'd say either option is fine.

 

Agree with Simple As... and Deo et Patrie, rest are trollas.

[quote]The HBS guys have MAD SWAGGER. They frequently wear their class jackets to boston bars, strutting and acting like they own the joint. They just ooze success, confidence, swagger, basically attributes of alpha males.[/quote]
 

Totam dolore reiciendis corrupti quia non omnis consequatur. Saepe nam id amet cumque rerum. Nemo debitis ratione voluptatem illum.

Voluptatem sed adipisci libero eveniet officiis ea est facere. Aliquid optio est laudantium ut sed est molestiae.

Velit earum et dicta corrupti ut sit sit. Odit sapiente dolores id eos. Tenetur inventore nemo voluptatibus nobis dolorem quia. Quis temporibus non itaque id placeat velit quam ex. Quia qui voluptatem natus veritatis molestiae odit autem pariatur.

Sapiente doloremque eos quod iure. Sequi voluptas eveniet et dolores earum totam sequi. Provident temporibus est fuga. Totam ut expedita temporibus harum. Occaecati aliquid facilis rerum rerum iure consequatur vel. Vero excepturi tempora voluptatibus rerum quidem minus ratione iusto.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Point72 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.0%
  • Citadel Investment Group 97.0%
  • AQR Capital Management 96.0%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.0%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Magnetar Capital 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.0%
  • Blackstone Group 97.0%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.0%
  • Two Sigma Investments 94.9%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Hedge Fund

  • AQR Capital Management 99.0%
  • Point72 98.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.1%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.1%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Portfolio Manager (9) $1,648
  • Vice President (27) $464
  • Director/MD (11) $372
  • NA (9) $320
  • Engineer/Quant (83) $287
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (26) $284
  • Manager (4) $282
  • 2nd Year Associate (32) $253
  • 1st Year Associate (76) $193
  • Analysts (233) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (29) $145
  • Junior Trader (5) $102
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (276) $95
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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”