I'm looking for some input on a decision that has come my way. Looking to best position myself to transfer to MM firm in a year or two. Graduated 2014. Low-ish (not high) G.PA, BUS/ACC Major from good (non-target) state school.
Micro Boutique Investment Banking Shop -
Small less that 10 person office.
2 MD's
A ton of M&A / Valuation deal flow
Non major city
Good pay
Very specialized, -- Very
Private company work clients
Vs.
Big 4 Audit LA
Possible Valuation Transfer
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Had the exact same choice, go with the bank, transferring to a MM firm is totally possible (I did it within 6 months). The auditing won't be transferable at all, whereas the bank experience will be great in interviews, even if it is a no name shop.
labanker28 - Thank you, just what I was looking for. Congrats on the MM position.
Thanks man. Just study as much interview prep material as possible when your at the boutique, interviews can and will pop out of nowhere
In banking, experience > brand name. It is easier to lateral from a no-name boutique in the middle of nowhere than it would be from Goldman Sachs operations. The skills you will gain at a Big Four auditing position, although valuable, are completely irrelevant to banking.
Outside of banking, this may make sense, but in banking, even considering Big Four over a legitimate bank makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Good luck!
I agree with all of the above about going IB, but questions "Very specialized, -- Very." What does this mean? Sector focused? Product focused?
And by non-major city, do you mean somewhere like Des Moines or Philly?
Dingdong -- Sector focused e.g. Healthcare, Telecommunication, Oil & Gas. And somewhere like Duhram NC, but with a few less banks.
I would def take the boutique. If the other guys there are good to work with you may really like it.
You have to give more info on the boutique. Like others have said, you need to define what "specialized" means.
They can be "specialized" in lower MM M&A, or they can be specialized in community banks. The latter is much less transferable.
Is specializing in community banks viewed negatively? I'm debating on a boutique focused on community banks vs a non banking job. Obviously trying to transfer to a bigger ib within a year to two years
well if you want banking, obviously go with a banking job...
It's much easier to transfer from boutique to banking than from big 4 to banking.
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