Exit Opportunities - Big 4 Audit to Finance (NYC)
I know this is a question the community has seen before, and yes I have read them all, but times change and new insight is always appreciated.
I am currently a Big 4 Auditor in the firms Financial Services market in NYC. I only note NYC because it adds to by experience with high finance. I have been with the firm for 3 years since I graduated, and have advanced to a Senior role. I always knew I wasn't looking to stay until Partner, but the experiences and opportunities have been valuable enough to keep me around a few years.
That being said, I am looking to transition my career into Finance. I spent the last 3 years working with clients and understanding their business, and know that my experience as an auditor can transition well into a finance position, but I am looking for guidance from those who have done it before. If anyone out there is open to answering a few questions for me I would greatly appreciate it. Added some background and questions below, thank you!
Background:
Senior Associate in Big 4 Audit Financial Services
CPA Certified
MBA (Not a top-tier school)
BS in Accounting
Looking specifically in NYC where there are a lot of finance opportunities.
Questions:
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What kind of Finance jobs can I be targeting? FP&A, Corporate Finance, IB, Hedge Funds, PE? I need to determine what field I want that is realistic before I start targeting myself in that direction. Where do I have the best chances and where is possible but more difficult?
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I know Investment Banking would be a challenge, but is it possible in today's market? I am a high-performer, early promotions, top performance reviews, and work directly in financial services, but from an audit perspective.
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I have a Senior role in audit, and I oversee a team of associates. Would I have to take lower level finance position?
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How do I express that my experience is not a typical Big 4 Auditor? The clients I work with are major financial entities, banks, broker-dealers, etc. I don't want the title "auditor" to come with an assumption that I count inventory shelves.
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Since I don't have direct experience some finance jobs look for, are there any courses/certifications I can get while im looking that recruiters would actually appreciate on my resume? There are hundreds of online courses in investment banking for example, does anyone care if I complete something like that? Any specific courses or certifications that hold some weight on a resume?
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Perhaps the most important question for last, I know this transition will take a significant amount of networking. Once I set myself on a specific field I plan to start with alumni and Linkedin. Any other recommendations for how to network or what to say when cold calling?
I am considering trying to transition to an advisory role at my firm to gain additional finance experience, but that would only be a stepping stone to my goal and usually receives a lot of restraint from Big 4 firms who don't want to lose a Senior Auditor with my experience.
If you made it this far I really appreciate your time, and any advice you can give. While I wouldn't say I am starting a new career, I am really excited to start looking at positions in an industry I find way more exciting than audit.
Thank you!
Pm me
Take my comment w a pinch of salt as I am currently a student but based on what I know, IB recruits MBA’s for an associate level role, right out of MBA however the bigger banks go for the top schools normally as there are less associate than analyst hires given that you need less associates on one team and analysts get promoted. However if you are set on IB I would consider looking at more MM or boutique banks hiring first year associates. Or I would also consider leaving NYC. I understand the allure of NYC , however a lot of that is also for the buy side and also it may just be easier to break into IB at a regional office. I can’t speak to HFs , but both PE and probably HF seem a bit of a stretch unless you go LMM PE or smaller because it is hard enough to break into PE post MBA even from a top program and with banking experience as most PE associates go before MBA.
My personal (and not necessarily right) opinion/advice would be to look at Corporate Finance roles. You mentioned that you work with many clients and some in the financial space. Hopefully you have been able to build relationships with senior members at those firms and could hopefully maybe try and transition into a role at those firms in a similar way to how people leave PE to go work for a portfolio company
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