RE: Big 4 to IBD - How does it happen in the UK?
As the title suggests, looking to learn how workers at the Big 4 transition towards EB IBs (or even BB if that's happened before?).
So far I know: Internal Big 4 mobility is relatively easy, so people go into transaction services division and from there -> EB.
Not sure on the step between though (networking, headhunters?). Was also wanting to know if it is a feasible back-up plan, if it's relatively common in the UK, what firms you can get to (is bb possible?) etc.
As I'm relatively new to linkedin, I have seen a few people move from B4 (after doing ICEAW) -> EB, but unsure on the frequency of this move/any other prerequisites for this.
Does anyone have experience with this first-hand, would love to know how you facilitate this move.
Thanks!
Idk where you’ve seen that the B4 internal mobility was any good but that wasn’t the case at all for (why I left). People doing audit or whatever have a hard time transitioning to deal advisory
Really?
Surprising to hear. My source came from a friend who wanted to move from Audit to TS (apprentice-level), and was welcomed in doing so.
0xf1b.zReally?Surprising to hear. My source came from a friend who wanted to move from Audit to TS (apprentice-level), and was welcomed in doing so.I was in the London office, maybe for smaller and not as competitive offices it's different. But it kinda makes sense - no one wants to do audit and the talent pool is so large that they've got no incentives to take a chance with someone doing audit who will then move to deal advisory before trying to lateral to an EB/BB. They know you won't stay in B4 forever.
From what I've seen on LinkedIn, big 4 to MM IB is definitely achievable, especially if you stick it out for 3 years and get your ACA.
I agree, I've seen similar. However, I'm wanting to know how peolpe go about doing that.
Honestly in my B4 it's pretty common for people to make this step post qualification and with 3-5 years experience.
In terms of the process itself there are headhunters who get in touch for these type of roles through LinkedIn which seems to be the main route.
One word of warning is that at least in my firm we are now are lot less fond of letting people move Audit-Deals than previously. So if you are doing a grad scheme, get on a Deals scheme that offers your accountancy qualification
Thank you for helping me understand that. What sort of IB firms have you seen people go to from yours/what roles would they take up from there (Straight to Associate)?
Also, if you don't mind me asking are you London-based? I'd assume it is most common to make this switch as a London-based B4 worker (due to the overlap between majority EB presence being in London)? Saying that, there is HL in Manchester/Rothschild in Leeds; probably even a few more outside of London - so if I am wrong in my assumption feel free to correct & let me know how large a factor location plays.
Sorry to add another Q - but I had just checked and you're in the consulting arm.
Have you been seeing anyone move to MBB from Big 4?
As the MBBs are beginning to incorporate other offerings outside strategy consulting, I was told that it was a case of just getting your foot in the door (as internal switches are *supposedly* easy), so would be interested to know.
Im London based so can only speak to that location, albeit I do know a couple of people who are now in IB at Roths Leeds. Although both were a two step process e.g Big4-MM/specialist advisory-Roths.As others have said, it's mainly MM exits I've not really seen anyone go BB direct from Big4.Ignore my title I sit in the Deals practice, but having done a lot of work in Consulting , you do get exits into MBB, although most commonly into their digital or technology practices rather than pure strat consulting.
Oh and to answer your previous question, if you go direct from B4 the majority I've seen go in as Analysts.
if you left university within the last year, apply for an off cycle internship providing you already have previous ibd experience
I'm nowhere near finishing (only just beginning), just wanted to think about the options available to me tbh & plan in case of no summers/conversion etc.
That's a good suggestion though, thank you.
Will bare it in mind.
My understanding is that internal transition at the Big 4 has become more challenging in more recent years as, largely due to pandemic lack of staffing, there was internal pushback from Partners (especially in Audit) who were reticent to see their teams get pruned. I don't know if this has changed.
I'd consider exploring FDD as well - my partner transition from Audit to FDD, and then moved to a MM PE shop - this is actually quite common.
Now, Big 4 to BB is relatively uncommon, even from Transaction Services / Corporate Finance, just because the BBs have a very broad range of banks they can recruit from. I'd encourage you to be open-minded to MMs - you'll get good training there and can make the step to EBs / BBs (if that's what you want - do consider what is important to you and why you're focused only on BBs / EBs).
Make sure to get your ACA and be at / near the top of your cohort to maximise your probability of internal transfer.
Make sure to make your LinkedIn clean and straightforward for recruiters. They don't want to spend more than 30 seconds on your profile. Make their lives easy.
Network with recruiters once you've transferred internally. Have a look around these forums for the recruiters that focus on the junior end of the market (there's plenty of threads), but an example would be Dartmouth (Greenwich, though it has its problems, does seem to post a lot of ads asking for ACAs).
Note that the BBs / EBs tend to recruit internally - they don't use external recruiters. The "spotters" here usually have job titles like "Sourcing Specialist", so you'd need to try to find them on LinkedIn and reach out. I think that will be hard candidly.
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