Decisions, Decisions: Consumer Products - Treasury Analyst or IBD M&A Analyst?

So, here's the deal: I've recently completed the second and final round of the interview process for a Treasury Analyst position at one of the world's largest private spirits companies, based outside of the U.S.. Although I don't yet have an offer in hand, recent emails with the new Global Treasurer and Director of HR indicate that I will bring " a lot of value to the new team." Either way, I will be notified of their decision next week (fingers crossed).

As a Treasury Analyst, my responsibilities would include:
Monitoring Cash/Debt Levels to ensure compliance w/ corp. guidelines and uses of financial resources; Participation in Treasury projects, providing analyses and developing models; participating in Group reporting (interest expense, FX G/L and cash position analysis); analyzing cash flow forecasts for Cash and FX Mgmt, and participating in monthly closing of Treasury activities and reporting for the Company.

The Good: Breakfast & Lunch provided; $2500/yr contributed to gym membership of your choosing; Happy Hour every Friday (open bar); work hard/ play hard corporate culture; work life balance (think 7:30 as a late night); interesting work; low $100k base + bonus

The Bad: Career development; potential exit opportunities

My concerns regarding the Treasury Analyst pos:
I'm worried that if I want to one day make it to C-suite, this path may contain quite a few obstacles, as employees tend to camp out and become complacent in their roles, opposed to IB / Public Accounting, that promote the "up or out" culture. I also am not to sure where I could exit to, should that time come.

M&A Analyst
I've also just completed my first round interviews with an Associate/VP and MD of a fairly unusual, however lucrative, financial services company also based outside the U.S. I would like to add that almost every member of this Company is a former Goldman Sachs partner/employee.

This afternoon I received a call from their HR informing me that the two gentlemen with whom I met earlier this week very much enjoyed our conversation, and as such, would like me to come back to meet with 4 additional members of the Company sometime next week.

As an M&A Analyst, my responsibilities would include:
Tracking M&A opportunities; developing/maintaining origination progress, deal pipeline and client outreach efforts; working on new business development; valuation of transactions; quantitative / qualitative analysis of acquisition opportunities, et al.

The Good***: Working with some very intelligent people, interesting work; fast-paced corporate culture; $80-100K base + bonus, career development / potential exit opportunities

The Bad***: Work-life balance; potential exit opportunities

My concerns regarding the M&A Analyst position***:
Work-life balance will be virtually non-existent.

***I can't give specifics on this position yet, as I truly don't have any basis upon which to draw any conclusions.

I welcome any and all thoughts/comments as they pertain to the above.

Thanks guys.

 

No. I'm currently 1.5 years out of school, having spent that time with a Big 4 firm in both the Advisory practice (in Chicago) and Financial Services Assurance practice (in the same location as the two new positions). The TA is meant for someone with 1-3 years of experience, per the Company, whereas the M&A Analyst role is invites candidates fresh out of school and also ranging from "1-2 years or more of experience," so the experience requirement is rather broad.

 

Yes, as @very.chipper said.

But also because my exit opps would be very limited given my current geographic location (hardly any IBs) and should I ever want to leave that position in the future, I'd literally have to pick up and move out of the country. And I mean, living in a tropical paradise is pretty nice. Although, at the same time, NYC is on my list of places to live as well. So yeah, I personally I consider it as both a pro and a con.

 

Sounds like you have neither of these offers in hand - go get the jobs then come back. One of these companies may make the decision for you. If you end up getting both, then the interview for the M&A analyst position should give you more color on the firm and help you make your decision. No use in making making decisions before the decision is yours to make.

 

Update (finally): Alright so here's the formal offer terms for the TA position: $110k net + bonus 12% target; 24% cap (according to them they typically pay at the higher end of the bonus range), breakfast & lunch provided, $2500 paid gym membership (wherever you'd like to join), 2 hour open bar happy hour every Friday, 5 weeks vacation, Company Christmas holiday December 24 - January 3 (I.e., no vacation required to be taken), 8% employer match pension, 12% when over age 50. Still waiting on the other Analyst offer, but should be coming through tomorrow or the next day

 
spear50:

Update (finally): Alright so here's the formal offer terms for the TA position: $110k net + bonus 12% target; 24% cap (according to them they typically pay at the higher end of the bonus range), breakfast & lunch provided, $2500 paid gym membership (wherever you'd like to join), 2 hour open bar happy hour every Friday, 5 weeks vacation, Company Christmas holiday December 24 - January 3 (I.e., no vacation required to be taken), 8% employer match pension, 12% when over age 50. Still waiting on the other Analyst offer, but should be coming through tomorrow or the next day

Those are some amazing benefits.

 
Dingdong08:

Bacardi in Bermuda? I'd have a hard time saying no to that but it's a really expensive place to live. I've had a few insurance friends live there and loved it but it's very pricey.

Haha, I can neither confirm nor deny that, however, I will say that that's an excellent guess.

 

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