Getting into Corporate Development - Tech

Does anyone know people who have made entries into corp dev without the traditional banking or consulting experience? I really want to get into corporate M&A, but don't think IB hours or consulting travel is the life for me, and it seems that's the path to corp dev. What's out there and how do I get there?

Thanks!

7 Comments
 
Best Response

get into a corp fin rotational and then push for that role if ur company has one.

another route ive seen is big 4 audit/tax -> corp fin/accounting role for one of your clients -> move into a corp dev role.

idk how many companies will be focusing on M&A this year so ur role may be more focused on cutting costs, project finance, market strategy, etc.

the point of doing 2-3 years banking/consulting and then corp dev is to get into corp dev at a more manager level role with a base salary of around $100K.

If you go through a rotational, and end up as analyst in corp dev, i would expect something like 45-60K + 2.5 to 10k signing + 2-3K year end bonus.

We're about to enter a Great Depression. Don't you want a president who's already dressed for it?

------------ I'm making it up as I go along.
 
Corneliusget into a corp fin rotational and then push for that role if ur company has one.

another route ive seen is big 4 audit/tax -> corp fin/accounting role for one of your clients -> move into a corp dev role.

idk how many companies will be focusing on M&A this year so ur role may be more focused on cutting costs, project finance, market strategy, etc.

the point of doing 2-3 years banking/consulting and then corp dev is to get into corp dev at a more manager level role with a base salary of around $100K.

If you go through a rotational, and end up as analyst in corp dev, i would expect something like 45-60K + 2.5 to 10k signing + 2-3K year end bonus.

We're about to enter a Great Depression. Don't you want a president who's already dressed for it?

Thanks. Much appreciated. Regarding Big 4, I'm not interested in the tax/audit side but could see myself doing TAS. Does that seem like a possible path as well?

 

In most companies, corporate development is a finance function under the CFO. I've seen it where individuals come through a more functional finance role like financial analysis, financial planning, etc. and - because of flexible corporate culture and performance based - have made the jump to M&A.

There are two sets of risks, one you can control and one you can't. You can control your performance and internal relationships, the risk is you don't perform and get stuck. The other risk is market-based, e.g. right now, when there will simply be less M&A activity and a slot or timing window might just not be there.

A word of caution though: you will work long hours and travel. It's not 100 hour weeks but it's not 9-5 either and you will need to visit targets on the ground. Don't think it's a laid back way to get in...

 
raider4everIn most companies, corporate development is a finance function under the CFO. I've seen it where individuals come through a more functional finance role like financial analysis, financial planning, etc. and - because of flexible corporate culture and performance based - have made the jump to M&A.

There are two sets of risks, one you can control and one you can't. You can control your performance and internal relationships, the risk is you don't perform and get stuck. The other risk is market-based, e.g. right now, when there will simply be less M&A activity and a slot or timing window might just not be there.

A word of caution though: you will work long hours and travel. It's not 100 hour weeks but it's not 9-5 either and you will need to visit targets on the ground. Don't think it's a laid back way to get in...

Thanks for the input. What do you think about making the jump from Big 4 TAS?

 

from my understanding - tas - diligence role - ppl jump into pe/pe diligence firms.

im sure its possible especially if ur clients are f500.

Deloitte consulting might be a good way as well. anyway, corp fin/cfo is probably the best alternative to banking.

We're about to enter a Great Depression. Don't you want a president who's already dressed for it?

------------ I'm making it up as I go along.
 

Asperiores quos tenetur adipisci quia voluptas. Dolor pariatur dolor omnis animi. Repellendus voluptas quia aspernatur aut unde et repudiandae occaecati. Magni unde illo soluta rerum. Aut sunt officia aut atque.

Ab inventore quidem accusamus consectetur dolor. Eos odio sit est praesentium. Sequi voluptas aspernatur saepe et maxime porro.

Dolore adipisci animi assumenda eum recusandae consequatur. Minus odit voluptatem eos cumque facere quae velit. Consequatur reprehenderit dolorem delectus ducimus quibusdam voluptatum quas.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (78) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”