Big4 Audit vs Mid-Tier M&A (CF)

London, UK Based.

Quick opinion. Already graduated in 2017... Currently working in non relevant field (Market Research)

I have two options: CF - M&A Deal Advisory Grad 2018 Entry Mid tier (Think RSM, BDO, GT $25M Average Deal size) Audit - Grad Entry Deferred for Sept 2019 Big4

Long term goal is m&a at IB / boutique / middle market bank. Rothschild etc.

Which would you take? Wait one year then take audit for brand then move internally to TS / CF? Or take M&A Mid-tier?

Thanks,

4 Comments
 
"david1865" Always M&A.

In UK Big 4 will block you moving department into TS / CF until you have completed your ACA (3 years), and even then they make it as hard as humanly possible.

Better to be on the bottom rung of a ladder that you want to climb than to be halfway up one you want to get off.

Hey,

Thanks for the advice. Great analogy by the way! Love it.

So what do you think my next career moves would be? Move to big4 M&A asap then to MM?

Thanks.

 

Depends if you can move internally or not. If your end goal is M&A, then I recommend Mid-Tier Corporate Finance.

Usually paths are like this:

Big 4 Audit -> Big 4 CF -> Top M&A vs Mid-Tier CF -> Boutique/Mid Tier M&A

Too many people do auditing, the competition is too high. Plus, auditing is pretty pointless (and genera) if you're gunning a CF role.

 

Ducimus nisi minus culpa ut vero in. Voluptas praesentium omnis veniam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.7%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
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...”