Big 4 FS Audit to Portfolio Analyst

Considering that most opportunities in the market are internal audit, senior accountant, SEC Reporting, etc. would this be considered a decent move? Esp if it's a very reputable hedge fund?

8 Comments
 

What are the lateral options generally for portfolio analysts within hedge funds? It would be more of a middle office type of role, rather than the more traditional back office fund accountant.

 
Best Response

Depends on the firm, but generally lateral options within PE/HF are slim. The skills you learn in the middle/back office are not directly applicable to front office roles.

If you want to get into a front office role (which it sounds like you do), I'd advise you to either: 1) get an MBA from a top school or 2) try to transfer internally at PwC to FDD or val. Your best hope is to then get into IB as an analyst/associate and then make a move to the buyside. You also could jump directly to IB from audit (would most likely require a personal connection already in IB who is willing to pass your resume along, either within his own bank or at another bank that may have a hiring need)...I have a few friends who have done either val-->banking-->PE and audit-->banking--PE.

The chance of you getting a front office role by circumventing the above are slim but doable. I did none of the above, but I wouldn't recommend my path to anyone wishing get into PE/HF.

 

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