Big 4 (Audit/Tax) vs. Boutique IB

Hi Everyone,

With full time recruiting around the corner I'm contemplating re-recruiting for IB, specifically at a boutique. I am currently completing a big4 internship, and have gained valuable experience in their corp finance group; however I realize for f/t I'm likely to be put in their audit/tax group, at least for a year or two.

Given that, my goals long-term are to be in finance, and definitely in a large IB if possible (a guy can dream right?), what should I do?

Specifically, in terms of experience, and opportunities for skill development and exit opportunities, what would be better to do: stay at my current big4 or try to recruit for boutique IB?

I realize the option of recruiting with large boutiques and BB is there, but for the purpose of this question I am only concerned with big 4 vs. boutique in terms of experience and opportunities.

Thanks!

4 Comments
 
Best Response

I recommend boutique IB. To get into a BB IB job, it's important to get experience that they will find relevant. While you won't be in the weeds so much with the financial statements, if you can get more responsibilities driving a deal or a discussion with a client, BBs could find you valuable because of your qualitative skills. Of course, it is still a huge job because of the complexities that come with larger clients, but the approach to client management is similar.

That being said, if you can push for a transaction services-like group in a Big 4 group, you will have transferable skills and you will be working with investment banks. At that point, I would say it's a toss-up.

--Death, lighter than a feather; duty, heavier than a mountain
 

Boutique IB FTW. Experience and opportunities re: finance have to be much better (I only speak from B4 side so I'm not an expert on the finance/IB side).

If you've had a decent internship in Big 4, then that's a good fall back. If you're interested in finance, don't think twice about seeking a boutqiue IB. Sure, people will note you can get into Transaction Advisory at a Big 4, and gradually make your way over, but I'd view that as the path of most resistance/decreased odds.

On the other side, while Big 4 is a good fallback, you can get stuck in audit (I'm an example of this). I like the F500 role I chose after Big 4 but that doesn't sound like your desired route.

 

Hey you know f500 route would great too, and I would be certainly be grateful, but not sure if only accounting is what I want to do. Having had some audit experience, I can certainly say that keeping track of a company's internal finances is not something I would particularly enjoy long-term.

Good point on the T/S. I've heard from T/S people that its pretty challenging to get into their group given demand from audit side for people looking to switch over.

So any boutique, regardless of size is better than big4?

--> I guess my worry here is to some extent brand name....if the boutique is some small shop, do I really want to do that over big4? I guess what I'm asking is how much weight does big4 brand really carry and/or if that is relevant in banking at all.

Worst come to worse do big4, try for T/S or Corp Finance in big 4 after 1 or 2 years, and if that fails or doesn't quite work out, mba then associate at an IB?

 

Minima eos dicta sunt alias qui qui. Ut quasi eum repellat corporis rem voluptatum vero atque. Ipsam sunt ex incidunt debitis assumenda. Rerum qui sed cupiditate sit aspernatur itaque aut. Iste delectus a magnam modi facilis tempore. Praesentium odit sed velit ut enim tempore ut.

Perspiciatis nobis quos beatae laborum labore aut. Possimus fugit non velit esse aperiam magnam. Non consectetur dolorem assumenda tempora repellat asperiores consequuntur. Veritatis tempore neque illo.

Illo laudantium necessitatibus itaque enim earum sed. Ex aliquam quae expedita dolorum laudantium vitae dolorem. Voluptatem eius in qui a. Harum dolore animi nisi voluptatem sunt facere. Consequatur inventore aperiam maxime ea et expedita minus.

Qui voluptas placeat perferendis eligendi velit eos aperiam. Eum magnam modi reiciendis.

--Death, lighter than a feather; duty, heavier than a mountain

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (48) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $101
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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”