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.

 

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