Boutique IB or Transactions Services at Big4

I have an offer from both a small boutique M&A shop as well as an offer from a TS group at a Big4 firm. I really want to go into IB but concerned this shop isn't as reputable. Also not sure if I want to work for an accounting firm, but this one is big.

Any suggestions?

 

I'm going for an analyst position. The only real concern I have about the boutique is that it might be too small. They have good deal flow but the transactions they work on are in the double digit millions rather than billions...

Would it be better to work on bigger transactions and then hope to switch over to a analyst position at a bulge bracket? Just thinking out loud.

Colin Casey
 
Best Response
Young Money:
I'm going for an analyst position. The only real concern I have about the boutique is that it might be too small. They have good deal flow but the transactions they work on are in the double digit millions rather than billions...

Would it be better to work on bigger transactions and then hope to switch over to a analyst position at a bulge bracket? Just thinking out loud.

As said by one Greenhill analyst with whom I networked, "In M&A it's all same sh!t." The most complicated model I've seen was done by a Partner of a boutique where I did my internship. The final price tag was around ~$20MM.

Go for boutique. You can always lateral later. To be honest, getting a bil deal experience on your resume requires tremendous amount of luck: 1) Your bank has to win the deal 2) Your group has to be the lead advisor (product vs coverage) 3) You have to be assigned to that deal. If there are 15 analysts, and MDs need to pick 1-2, who will they pick, a fresh know-jack-crap analyst or been-there-done-that 2nd year?

P.S.: obviously some groups are exceptions

 

Hi guys,

I think my long term goal would be getting into PE, I think (I used to think it is the best option during my university years, but after meeting some people in the industry, I am not really sure any more), and both firm are in the same city (literately 5 mins apart) Both the big 4 TAS and the 16 ppl IB have quite a bit of public private partnership work. Both firms have very nice people. (at least from what I gather during interviews)

Tbh I am more interested in the IB, but then if I go oversea, surely everyone would recognise big four TAS (There is no major financial hub in my country) but not so much the boutique IB.

 

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