Investment Banking UK - Unusual background

Hi everyone!

I'm brazilian, and really interested in breaking into investment banking in UK, but because of my unusual background I'm having a hard time trying to find out the best way to do that.

My background:

  • Graduated in a target Business School in Brazil
  • 4 years of Full-Time experience in Structured Finance (specially Securitization and Real Estate Project Finance) in an important local boutique (worked in some big deals, begin to end)
  • Just passed CFA Level I exam
  • European citizenship

Trying to choose between:

A) Move to London and try to break in with some help of connections I have there (some few friends working there as analysts/associates)

B) Applying to a Masters in Finance in a target school in Europe or US (Stockholm School of Economics is a good choice because it's almost free for EU citizens an seems to have good placement for London jobs)

C) Applying to a Full-Time MBA in a target school in Europe or US

It would be nice staying in Structured Finance/Project Finance because of my previous experience, but I am considering any IB jobs, or even something on the buy side (structured finance products investors).

It's important to consider that unfortunately I'm almost 100% iliquid (I made some RE investments last year, but right now the market is horrible to sell), so if a choose for a master the SSE program would be the best option.

I would really appreciate if anyone could help me!!

Thanks!

5 Comments
 

don't waste ur money on a Master if u intend to do 1. an MBA later on 2. Have connections at ur target banks that can land u a job without having to do further studies...

 

Illo sit et dignissimos qui. Sequi reprehenderit ullam deleniti numquam. Ratione hic aut aut officia quia atque. Facilis dolore veritatis reprehenderit nobis voluptate consequuntur. Saepe aut soluta eius dolores dolor. Ut qui sunt cum maxime et. Voluptas optio et ducimus magnam harum sunt. Et laudantium temporibus qui sequi ipsa ut mollitia repellat.

Voluptates officia quis placeat repudiandae. Ut hic in sapiente et optio sapiente. Eos eligendi quia sit rerum et.

Sed ab eum adipisci ut et sit architecto. Ducimus qui assumenda quia laborum. Deleniti nemo exercitationem sint rerum iusto exercitationem rerum exercitationem.

Explicabo voluptate omnis et fugiat. Exercitationem sunt non sapiente.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (56) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”