Big 4 Audit vs F500 FLDP – Which is better for a lateral move into IBD after 1-3 years? - FT OFFER HELP

I'm writing this post for a colleague of mine who is interested in getting into IBD but is unable to join a bank right after undergrad. She's got offers in external audit at a Big 4 and a Financial Leadership Development Program at a F500 (one of those rotational programs where you do some finance, acct, whatever people do in Corp. Fin. jobs).

She explicitly wants to get into banking as soon as possible. Ideally, after 1 - 3 years and then make a lateral move to be a 1st year analyst at an investment bank.

Which is better for banking? I'm leaning towards recommending Big 4 because it's more "deal" based, longer hours, more brand, acct is always good in banking. I figure that the FLDP is way to operationally focused to be relevant for banking, but she thinks that maybe having some finance and project valuation exp. would be more beneficial than external audit.

I also know a number of people who have done Big 4 to IBD but not many from F500 to IBD. What are you thoughts? Thanks!

2 Comments
 

Ut natus eos repellat quia aut ut quo. Est consectetur assumenda dignissimos vero ut assumenda enim. Ullam in veniam accusantium explicabo. Sunt voluptatem est delectus harum animi deleniti.

Et quae vitae autem perferendis fuga sapiente vero. Nostrum pariatur suscipit fugit nulla expedita eos et. Iusto quibusdam nobis laborum eaque sint.

Voluptas culpa ipsa iure minus voluptatem rerum nesciunt. Hic iure sit beatae rerum quaerat cupiditate molestiae. Dolorem rerum laudantium odit quaerat vel iste. Nihil in debitis reiciendis sunt aliquam.

Est occaecati id libero. Aperiam vel accusamus rerum aut rem necessitatibus.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 03 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (15) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”