Non-Target --> MAcc --> Public FInance?

I graduated from an extremely non-target undergrad with a degree in finance. Since then, I've worked at a small bank for a year assisting in the management of the bond portfolio which is heavily weighted toward munis. I'll be getting a Master of Accounting at a respectable program and graduating in 2017. From that point, my plan has been to work in Big 4 audit for 2 years and transition to TAS. However, I have become very interested in Public Finance Investment Banking since I have been working at the bank and am interested in pursing an analyst position after the MAcc.

So, my question... What are the chances of getting a public finance IB analyst position after graduation from the MAcc program? If that is not possible, would going into audit and then trying to make a jump to public finance make sense? Is there anything specific to focus on while back in school that would make me more appealing... like a financial modeling course even though the modeling is different in PF? I would greatly appreciate any advice.

2 Comments
 
Best Response

Getting a public finance analyst role out of undergrad is very possible, and a Macc is very un-necessary for public finance, but I see no reason a Macc would hold you back. The hiring managers in PF groups rarely encounter a young finance professional with a genuine desire to underwrite muni bonds, so if you can convey that it would REALLY make you stand out. I would not plan on doing audit or anything else as a 'stepping stone' for PF. I would just focus on networking...public finance groups aren't inundated with kids trying to get offers (such as IBD is), so they're probably much more receptive to networking efforts

 

Libero cumque incidunt porro iste minima quo. Occaecati quo repudiandae dolor cupiditate incidunt. Rerum consequatur deleniti quo adipisci.

Eaque praesentium dolorem officiis. Illum voluptas ullam dolor quidem earum tenetur. Non nihil omnis consequatur ut eveniet qui. Rerum nesciunt atque eum provident fuga rem est.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $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
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”