FP&A to PE...really?

I've read on a seemingly-reputable finance careers site that "approximately 10%" of FP&A analysts eventually transition in to either IB or PE, but I can't see much evidence of this elsewhere. How common is this, and would a FP&A background only qualify you for the back office of a PE firm or is front office a possibility?

7 Comments
 

So it's not the standard budgeting/forecasting/reporting that's useful for transitioning, but the M&A exposure in certain FP&A roles? That makes sense, thanks.

 

That's why I was sceptical, surely every mid-to-large company will have FP&A roles but there's precious few PE jobs to go around.

The full quote from that site regarding FP&A was:

"A majority of corporate financial analysts remain in the industry but pursue new challenges (and higher salaries) by moving from one company to another. Approximately 10% of corporate financial analysts eventually transition themselves into the fields of either investment banking or private equity. Another 10% move into some other area of corporate management, such as sales and marketing or human resources. About 20% of financial analysts end up going into business for themselves, becoming private business consultants."

How much of that do you think holds water?

 

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