Big 4 M&A/CF Salary/Progression (with ACA)

NotMilxn:

I have seen the following exits immediately after qualification to the following places: - Lateralling into larger banks Analyst programs as Analyst 2s (I've seen both BB and EB) - Lateralling to MM /LMM Banks as a Senior Analyst or Associate - LMM/MM PE as an Investment Analyst/Associate

If you stay on for a few years post qualification to get to Manager, I have seen the following: - LMM/MM PE Investment Associate/Manager - Various Banks (BB/EB/Boutiques) at Associate / VP depending on the firm

This is by no means an exhaustive list but these are the exits I've seen from my friends and colleagues.

Source: I left to a boutique after qualifying in the Big 4 and have friends who have made the above moves.

Thank you very much for your help and insight given your personal experience. Would you be able to shed some light on how you managed to move and how difficult you found the process? For instance it through networking / referrals or applications through recruiters/websites. Also, did you find that it was extremely difficult or did you feel as if you had an edge? Lastly, without diving into personal details, was the salary jump (once qualified) as large as people make it out to be or do Big 4 start to pay higher comp to employees in M&A/CF after qualification? Also, do you see working on the buy-side either as a PM or in HF as a viable option?

Thank you very much again.