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

 

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