Should I move to a BB?

Just started the 2nd year of my analyst program at a European bank. Doing really well, considered a top performer across the floor and the place has great culture and work-life balance, plus I'm at an HQ office in a rotational program with the chance to rotate in different sectors within M&A and other products as well.

Got an offer to start at an American BB in a Southern European country. in June as a generalist with the 1st year class (small office, so it's only me and another analyst that converted his internship that would start). 

Unsure about what to do. Below the pros and cons that I could think of. 

Pros

  • Much better brand and exit opps
  • Higher long-term comp
  • Chance to excel as a 1st-year analyst as I have plenty of experience across the whole spectrum of tasks, from origination to execution
  • Analyst program is 2 years vs. 3 years at my bank -> should get promoted to associate at roughly the same time
  • Rare opportunity: very competitive to get an IB job in that country due to extremely few spots, even more so at an American BB

Cons

  • Lose all the goodwill I built at my bank, where I am on the fast track for early promotion and very well considered
  • Place is much more hierarchical and less flexible there. I am getting a lot of freedom where I am working now and can often work quite independently on pitching and modelling on execution. That would completely change
  • Seniority discount to again 1st-year analyst does not feel great, especially now that "the worst" period is behind me...
  • Much worse work-life balance and culture from what I hear (higher pressure, average 1-2am vs. 11-12 at my bank)
  • Need to move which is never nice
  • Not even sure I want to stay in the industry long-term even if I am seemingly really good at it. Very passionate about value investing and sometimes daydreaming about starting my business

Keen to hear the thoughts of someone who went through a similar decision.

3 Comments
 

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