Big 4 vs. Banks for Finance Graduate?

I am a recent Finance graduate in Canada and am torn between pursuing career in Big 4 on the Deals side or international banks (HSBC, citibank etc.)

I currently have an offer from commercial banking but would like to hear the pros and cons of pursuing the banking path vs. Big 4. Planning to pursue CFA as well. Feel that the dynamic on the Big 4 is much more team oriented than the banks. Thoughts?

6 Comments
 

Hi There, fellow Canadian at a Big 4 as well.

I think something that you should take into consideration is whether or not you want to pursue your CPA (you'll be under the merged CPA program) as well. Realistically, even if you under the deals umbrella, management will want you to do CPA. Would you mind that?

Also the very nature of deals and commercial banking is sort of different, i can't touch on commercial banking, but I know on advisory/ deals side of things at the Big 4 requires some travelling to some remote areas. Seeing that you're from Sauder, I'm guessing you're based in Vancouver which means you just might have to travel up to the territories for work, which may last 3-6 weeks if you're "lucky".

Let me know if you have more questions!

 

Canadian here - if you have the choice between working at a commercial bank (this includes the commercial banking arm of an international bank) VS on deals, I recommend you work on deals because it'll be easier to spin your story later on.

- V
 

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