LMM/MM M&A or Stay in Corp Dev
Hi all,
Appreciate this isn’t the usual prestige battle, but I’d be interested to get a few views on the above.
I currently work in corporate development, focused on a professional / financial services subsector across the UK / Europe. Deal sizes are small (1 - 10m EV), but I’ve got a clear route to Head of M&A and an extremely lucrative compensation package for my age (low six figures annually at a relatively junior level).
I’ve recently received an offer from a lower/mid-market M&A advisory firm (think Clearwater / KPMG type) doing deals in the 30 - 250m range across various sectors. The trade-off is a significant pay cut (roughly half) though still enough to live comfortably.
I’m trying to rationalise whether the long term career benefits (exposure to larger, more diverse deals and better exit optionality) outweigh the short term financial hit. On the other hand, I could just stay put, progress internally, and continue earning very well, though perhaps at the expense of broader transaction experience.
I’m still unsure on my ultimate career goal (IB, PE, Corp Dev, CFO, etc.), so I’d really appreciate any thoughts from those who’ve been in similar positions.
Apologies for the vagueness, I’m keeping details light for anonymity.
It doesn’t seem to make much sense to me.
You are earning good money, seem to be exposed to transactions, and you have a clear path to Head of M&A.
Everyone at KPMG M&A is probably dreaming about your position.
If you really want to transition into IB, please do so in a respected bank/boutique. It will give you a strong deal flow and a name to put on your resume. So that the day you wish to come back to corp dev, you’ll have every door open!
Thanks - I think my hesitation is more around where I can go to next. If my experience is limited to small deals in a "relatively" basic sub sector, it doesn't feel like there's much wiggle room for anything?
Joining this other firm would allow me to eventually jump to MM/UMM M&A (common in my area) or to MM PE (again a well trodden path), or larger Corp Dev. But yes, I am in a very cushy position at the moment.
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