Which job looks better for MBA admissions?

I have been in Big4 Audit for 2 years now and am looking to leave soon. i've been trying to switch into TAS/Valuations but that is a little difficult at the moment so I am looking to other positions that will teach me something new as well as position me well for a top 15 MBA program. the following three are positions i should be able to easily move into, but i wasnt sure of how these are viewed by adcoms. can anyone comment on these?

-Fund Accounting (actually working at a PE/HF doing accounting work there not at a BONY or State Street) -Financial Reporting -Product Control (get to learn about a specific product inside and out)

i find product control to be the most interesting, but i realize all 3 are pretty much dead end type of jobs unless you get your MBA which is what i am planning on. how would 2-3 years of working at these positions be viewed when applying for top 15 (specifically the bottom half of the top 15) MBA programs? Thanks.

8 Comments
 
valuationGURUSwitch into Val/TAS
Didn't he start by saying he was trying to do that but its been difficult so, assuming it didn't work out, what was the second best option?
If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 
happypantsmcgee
valuationGURUSwitch into Val/TAS
Didn't he start by saying he was trying to do that but its been difficult so, assuming it didn't work out, what was the second best option?
There is no second option. Major drop-off and worth the risk. Even second-tier valuation shops (Duff and Phelps, Grant) would be better.
 

i agree that given those options you should continue in the big 4. maybe spend another year in audit, and then push very hard for a transfer into M&A/FDD. After three years in audit it really won't make sense to jump to valuation because you would essentially be starting over. two entirely different skill sets. after three years in audit, you will also be a very solid external candidate for other big 4 M&A/FDD groups.

if you don't want to do that, then i would try to land a dynamic SFA role at a brand name company. preferably one that is respected with adcoms.

in any case, it seems like you are definitely on a 5 year pre-mba work experience path.

 
Best Response

i have been trying for some time now to get into TS/Valuations at my firm and at others, but either there are no openings or my experience is too light or my skillset isn't really transferable (for experienced valuations positions).

i have started looking into FA and SFA roles at Fortune 500 companies that are a mix of both accounting and finance (think forecasting, budgeting and reporting) but i'm holding out for one that has a little more analysis in the role before i commit anywhere otherwise it will essentially be a financial reporting type of role.

would you change your opinion on the 3 jobs listed above (fund accounting, fin reporting, product control) if i were able to land them at a BB like GS, JPM or BAML? I know job function always trumps company name so i dont expect to get the same kinda love the IBD guys at these banks get from adcoms, but do BO/MO guys at BB's get a decent bump from bschools at all? thanks for all the respones, i really appreciate it!!

 

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