Just completed EY Audit apprentceship gaining my ACA / CPA wihtout an undergraduate. Can I get into an Elite MBA/MFin (HYPSMIT) without a BA ? Can I break into MBB/T2 or IB as an associate?
Just gained my ACA (Non-London Office) but don't want to develop my career as a back office barry. 4.5 YOE in Big4 Audit/Assurance straight out of high school. No undergrad. How do i break into MBB/T2 or IB/PE? I feel like going into TAS for another 2 years and trying the conversion to M&A is a bit too risky.
Thanks in advance
Move to the deals side at your firm before anything. Then start connecting with people at boutique banks or pe firms locally. Apply for ACA grad schemes as and when they come up too, provided you passed first time. No real risk as you're still young and can sell that story
Do you think the most feasible route is pretty much the ACA Grad schemes? I've heard BB/EB's have an unspoken rule of requiring an undergraduate just for branding purposes for clients.
Afaik, the more trodden path is from B4 TS --> IB, ACA grad schemes seem newer (fact check this). Gives you more options either way.
So it sounds like what you mention is more in your head than reality off first impressions. Befriend and ask HR/Recruiters at the banks for a better answer.
My dad did B4 ACA —> IB in about 1980.
Not so sure about an ACA grad scheme given he already has his ACA - probs better to move straight to TAS or try and get a university education (bachelors or masters).
The market sucks right now.
The reality is, applying to analyst IB/Consulting programs, you will be a degree-less ACA with audit experience coming up against Oxbridge undergrad talent with spring weeks and internships. Your ACA will open a few doors, but you’re facing one hell of an uphill battle.
Your absolute best bet is to transfer internally to M&A > Strategy > FDD/TAS (in that order of preference). That will give you the relevant work experience you need to compete. A year of experience in one of those teams gives you a much more relevant profile (and hopefully a better market). You may even be able to join as a 2nd year analyst at some places.
I’ve followed a similar path and seen others do it too. This really is your best option imo.
Hell of an uphill battle :/
What if my management isn’t agreeing to TAS
They do that because people join Audit as Apprentices and do what you're trying to do. But you can just apply to another B4 firm.
Common at Big 4. Everyone joins audit with the intention of transferring, and audit ends up haemorrhaging talent at Y3 once everyone finishes their ACA.
That doesn’t mean it’s not impossible. You would have to network your way in. Otherwise, look to transfer to other B4, or even a BDO/GT/RSM.
Again, this is a difficult but possible path. I did it. I know many others that did it.
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