Hi Everyone, British Monkey here!
In a slightly complex situation that I would appreciate some thoughts on,
I'm a student graduating from a semi-target uni in the UK this summer. Secured a Big 4 Graduate Position in Advisory - work is closer to RX but there are still elements of FDD and TS involved.
Has anyone managed to go from Big 4 Advisory directly into PE/VC/SWF without the IB stint in the middle? I would like to have the ACA too but given that it takes 3 years (which is fast for what it's worth), that would be a lot of time I would have to remain in Big 4 firm only to be up against 2nd year/3rd year IB analysts.
My question: Is it worth getting an ACA and jumping directly to PE or should I jump to IB asap before moving again to PE? Secondly, is the ACA rare in PE/VC?
I have mixed feeling about ACA, in the US a CPA is good, but it can also send the wrong signal to employers, unless you were in a role that required it (i.e. full-time.) I have seen many employer think (along the lines of) "if this person spent all this energy going after a CPA/ACA, then they must be committed to a career in acct. and not in PE/VC/IB/etc."
At the same time, it can also help you as it shows you can learn independently and discipline yourself.
For the Big4>PE, I think the industry is becoming more open-minded (at least in the US) where I have seen one or two folks jump over. Ofc, PE right out of school would be the best, but IB wouldn't be a bad route as it gets your more exit options, and who knows, you might be more interested in other finance roles after IB.
I would recommend interviewing for both PE and IB roles and take the best offer, if not, go FT at Big4 and jump over the first chance you get.
Appreciate the comment! Unforunetly I have to do the ACA alongside my daily work at the Big 4 firm.
I'll try to network and approach a fewMM PE firms as that seems like the most realistic path I can see (although this is tough regardless).
It's a fair point, I thought an ACA demonstrates some level of competency and shouldn't be looked "down" upon per se, but as you say, could equally raise a few eyebrows... Hopefully because I am not in Tax/Audit I should have an easier time that others looking to exit?
Edit: Grammar & spelling
In response to your question, probably best to move as soon as possible to IB if your goal is PE. It's just much easier to make the move from IB to PE.
On whether you can jump straight to PE from Big4 Advisory in London, it's definitely doable, more likely after ACA. The best part of advisory to be in is CF/M&A and then move to a MM PE. I've seen this done in the 5 years I was in Big4 in London. Second best team is FDD/TS.
In terms of ACA vs CPA, I found ACA in the UK to be more common in PE than CPA in the US. Quite a few PE partners in the UK are ACAs, because they started at the Big4 (or big5, big8, or whatever the number was when they were there). It won't raise any eyebrows if you want to go from Big4 to PE with an ACA.
Quia molestias alias eveniet quo tempora. Quasi numquam ipsa laboriosam. Eligendi voluptas dolor sunt soluta aspernatur doloremque. Ut illo qui repellendus sint. Nihil consequuntur possimus ducimus inventore. Itaque exercitationem voluptas velit non.
Explicabo praesentium ducimus voluptas ut est exercitationem consequatur ut. Voluptas nihil et praesentium iure. Fuga nostrum quia aut. Voluptate quis iusto voluptates vitae adipisci est quia tenetur.
Fuga non voluptatum voluptates. Voluptatem dolores sunt earum dolorum odio et. Nemo nostrum qui atque consequatur. Iure provident molestiae exercitationem pariatur.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...