CFA with technology and operations management background- Career Options?

Folks,

I am curious what all career options do I have post CFA L-3. I am a L2 candidate and plan to complete the charter in 2011 (I said plan..). About my background: I have a Bachelors and Masters in Computer science and Engineering. Working for past 4-5 years in technology operations (back office) for a large financial services company as a service manager.

I am considering all options such as management consulting, I-banking, Equity research (sell leading to buy side, eventually) and private equity.

Do I need a top school MBA after completing all three levels of the CFA program??? I am sure MBA will help but I am also thinking what all options can I pursue without going to a B-School. Any advice would be helpful.

Btw.. I am already 29 and cannot go to school for 2 more years due to family reasons. Is it worth getitng into a Bschool at the age of 31/32 and graduating at 34.. to pursue one of the above career choices???? I feel it will be too late so trying to explore non-MBA options. Please advice.

 
Best Response

can you try to network with people at your current firm and check out the internal listings? maybe you're at another office from the people you would be interested in talking to...

when you describe your experience as "back office", a lot of people will significantly discount it- without lying or misrepresenting yourself, you need to spin your story to make your experience seem important and relevant for the job you want- i.e. either "saved the company x amount" or "grew business by x". These figures will not be audited of course so you just need to be reasonable.

so remember all the options you are considering are highly competitve- passing L2 of the CFA is certainly no walk in the park and you're surely smart enough to get one of these jobs but that doesn't guarantee you will (especially in the current environment, where just about every company is reluctant to bring on anybody new and untested...)

another thing is that all these careers are not as great as they were in the past... Goldman Sachs is showering its employees in record bonuses but you wonder how much longer the days of front running their clients and milking their government contacts/alumni can last.

 

Ipsam reiciendis quia doloribus ut. Quia minima reiciendis dolor voluptatem quas. Odit in totam amet dolore.

Est labore itaque harum ullam minima. Aut voluptatem blanditiis voluptatem quia aut laboriosam eius modi.

Enim tempora totam eligendi laborum blanditiis. Facere ea quod sint nesciunt cupiditate. Tempore quo cum excepturi temporibus facilis dolores sunt. Reprehenderit provident soluta ratione corporis similique sunt.

Neque enim voluptas reprehenderit consequatur. Cum consequatur consequatur fugit ipsa a est.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (87) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
numi's picture
numi
98.8
10
Kenny_Powers_CFA's picture
Kenny_Powers_CFA
98.8
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...”