Private Credit or Corp Dev for IB/MBB (No undergrad degree)

Hey everyone, looking for advice on which offer I should take (if any) in order to eventually transition to a MBB or IB role. I’ve receieved 2 offers so far:

  • Private Credit Intern at a large asset manager (Think Alliance Bernstein, Invesco, State Street) focused on mostly senior secured although there is scope to get exposure to other areas of the capital structure. Mostly focused on providing funding for LBO’s and portcos. For context it’s a 12 month internship with potential for full time dependant on performance & headcount.

  • Corporate Development analyst at a mid sized renewables company focused on CCUS. This is a full time role not part time and they seem somewhat active in terms of acquisitions although, from what I gather the role isn’t exclusively focused on M&A.

Ultimately, I’d like to do a stint on the SS or as a consultant as my background is quite unique and I believe in the long term I’ll benefit from having at least some generalist experience under my belt at a solid brand name firm.

For context after A levels I joined a school leaver program at one of the Big 4 in their audit department. I spent about 2 years there, sat some of the ACA exams and got an offer to join the AM arm of an insurance company (Think M&G, LGIM). First 6 month rotation was as a credit product specialist covering HY & IG and second rotation (currently doing this now) was as a research analyst covering infra PE. The program I’m on is a 12 month program which is ending soon and from what I gather due to headcount there isn’t budget for me to be kept on despite good performance.

I am also studying an MSc Finance part time from a non/semi target (think Kings, Bayes/Cass, Nottingham, Exeter). I was only accepted onto the program due to a solid GMAT score and my experience but just to be noted I still don’t have an undergraduate degree.

Completely understand my background is unique but I’ve only just turned 21 and have about 3 years experience under my belt and now an accredited university on my CV. Do any of these offers place me better for an eventual role in IB/MBB? i plan on recruiting off cycle next year which is when my masters is due to finish and my internship will also end. Thanks in advance.

12 Comments
 

Edit: If the role I’m currently in is the best choice there is still a chance I could be kept on as I know the head of my team is pushing for me to get full time but it’s dependant on the senior people in the business who I have little to no interaction with.

 

there are firms which have an ACA path, evercore and rothschild, but not sure about their views on no undergrad degree -> i'm sure if you get in contact with a few people inside they might be able to help, after all you have all the relevant experience other than a degree

 

Not studying my ACA anymore as firm I’m at doesn’t sponsor. Also just for everyones benefit at a B4 a lot of the ACA programs at Roths/Evercore/HL require FDD/CF experience and you NEED to be newly qualified (i.e. upto a year after qualifying). Also it’s basically impossible to transfer out of audit whilst your on your training program (which is the main reason I left to be honest).

 

The team I’m joining is focused on senior secured lending that’s the strategy of the fund, it’s like in a public credit role some funds are exclusively IG while others are HY for example.

 
Most Helpful

SS and private credit is an oxymoron.
 

Only banks can provide SS, almost always ssRCFs in the LBO world. There’s no reason for a fund to provide SS tranches given its extremely low returns and the fact that it’s mostly illiquid, with banks only providing them for relationship purposes.

 

Quia itaque et suscipit molestiae et nihil delectus. Natus vel qui qui sed voluptas dignissimos sint. Quibusdam consequatur amet sint sint temporibus.

Distinctio perspiciatis corporis molestias ea voluptatum assumenda quidem. Nulla dolorem dicta quia eveniet et velit qui. Magni ea vitae fuga voluptas non. Et perspiciatis velit quos perferendis. Sit deleniti suscipit repellendus aliquid qui cum magnam.

Est velit rerum mollitia esse nisi a ea voluptas. Id et voluptatum omnis magni. Amet eos non ea autem dolor. Quis aut ea blanditiis quis corporis error nam. Porro odio soluta quo.

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
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”