Best path to PE - Big 4 (E&Y) TAS or Boutique Firm

I have worked with a public consulting company for 2-3 years mainly doing M&A strategy work. I have recently received offers from E&Y's TAS group in business integration, and a small boutique firm which focuses in the tech space - which pays 35-40% more and offers a more entrepreneurial environment (doing strategy and M&A consulting; buy and sell side advisory).

I already have my MBA from a top 25 school, and want to know which of these two options would be a better option if I want to get into the PE space in a couple years. (I have always figured I rather be working directly for the PE making the $$$ vs helping them throughout the transaction life-cycle via a consulting firm).

Anyone with experience or thoughts on this would be a huge help!

 

I was 23 when I finished, (went straight from undergrad), so I would be looking to switch over to PE before I am 30; currently 27. My thought was with all of my operational experience working with PEs, and my understanding of the M&A life cycle, it could be valuable to a PE firms. Is this non-traditional approach one that is destine to fail? I appreciate everyone's input.

 

That helps a bit that you were so young when you got your MBA. I assumed (given the more common route) that you were already in your early thirties. You can make the same case to a recruiter that you just made to us but I think you know it will be an uphill battle. At 29-30, you will be joining most Private Equity Firms as an Associate and almost all of your competition will have had 2 years of pre-MBA experience in PE. I'm not terribly familiar with the E&Y position but my first impression would be that you are best off in any investment banking setting as compared to that role so I'd take the boutique.

 

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