How Do I Get Back Into Finance?

Hi All,

I am in a very unusual position. Essentially, subsequent to graduation in spring 2019 I joined a MC firm as a Business Analyst. It is not Tier1 / Tier 2, but a large and reputable player. More importantly, my background is all finance. I went to an extreme non-target but was able to offset my average GPA (3.4) by explaining that I worked finance internships almost every semester I was there. Most of them were at small IB boutiques, or at LMM PE shops. The issue is, when I interviewed for this position at my current MC firm, I emphasized my desire to work on M&A consulting, and on S&O Finance projects. I was assured I would be given that exposure. I even chatted with ex-banking guys that joined the firm, and was given reinforcement that the work matched my expectations. So where is the issue?

I have been there over a year and have not touched any finance work. Even worse, none of it has been M&A or even business focused. I have been doing exclusively Data and Analytics work (I was told to build out the skill set while on the job, and have been lucky with good mentors). I have received great feedback from everyone I have worked with, but I am not doing any of the work I expected to, and my skill-set that I worked tirelessly to build in undergrad is dissipating right in front of me. I am not exaggerating when I say that I worked for over 2.5 years straight during undergrad as an intern, mostly at the same firms, and was asked to stay on at each. I worked tirelessly so that I would always have the ability to pivot within finance, because I have always been afraid of getting stuck in a role I cant stand. 

I took this job knowing full well I was not familiar with MC, but due to a health condition I realized I cannot work IB/PE hours.

Headhunters and HR teams are reaching out for IB / Corp Dev positions, but lose all interest when they see my resume highlighting the D&A work I've done for the past year. I acknowledge my mistakes in taking a job that I wasn't familiar with, but my network that I worked so hard to develop from scratch was in IB / PE, and I simply could not risk working in an industry that severe (my neurologist said I must sleep an avg of 7 hours per night, and this is nonnegotiable). I get straight up rejected from FP&A / IB / Corp Dev roles once my resume is exposed. They love my LI profile until they realize I haven't touched finance in a year. I tried to wait until the 1 year mark to be patient, as I was constantly assured I would soon be placed on a finance project. And I have been aligned to a couple, but it has never worked out due to COIVD.

My goal is to end up in Corp Dev. I can work on M&A transactions without putting my health at risk. However, I cannot make it to a single second round (within any finance role). I am a good interviewer and in the past for almost every full time position I interviewed I would consistently make it to the final round. I can't lie about my experience, but cannot seem to pivot. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

I would love to get my MBA some day, and have been considering that option as well. Looking for any advice regarding how to get past my terrible past year of experience. I refuse to give up, but I need guidance from someone wiser than myself.