FP&A to IB Path?
Hi,
Started my career in accounting, recently over the last year have been working in an FP&A-adjacent position with a degree of valuation experience. Have an MBA from a no-name in ranked state school.
For the past year or so, I have been actively learning everything about valuation and modeling and DCF's, 3-statement models, etc. to the point I can do them competently. Along with my accounting background, I am confident I can do analyst or associate roles in IB well, and anything I do not already know I can quickly get up to speed on as I am a very quick learner. I know I'm sort of out of the traditional pipeline, but what would be the best way to go about breaking into IB? I've been sending out coffee chat emails to people's work emails (the people I find on LinkedIn), and have had several calls and some referrals from some calls to other people, but no real traction. I have also been applying to both summer associate and normal full-time associate IB jobs and have not gotten any interviews so far. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Edit - about to be 29, 6 YOE
Also, would trying to get into a well-regarded MBA program next fall application season help? I'm willing to do a fulltime program since I didn't know about the IB path or what IB was when I did my original MBA.
How many YoE? Age? Having an MBA already really hurts your chances if I'm being honest
AFAIK you can't get a second MBA to override your old one, unless you got your degree from a uncredited degree mill.
You can't apply for any internships at this point so you'll have to try your luck at FT recruiting. I would go so far as to say analysts' positions are also probably out of the picture at this point. I mean you could apply for a similar role at a place you want to work at then try and do an internal transfer, but BO to FO is a challenge as well.
Do you work with bankers or have more senior colleagues who can refer you to bankers? Direct references from close connections will be your best bet.
Alternatively, another path would be to move first to a corporate development type role.
If it’s the right fit, you should be able to move eventually, but may take some intermediate steps.
That being said, I wouldn’t underestimate how much you have to learn. Valuation is maybe 10% of the job.
How much experience do you have navigating the transaction processes? Business development? Putting sales docs together? Managing diligence?
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