Help with 2 not-ideal offers

I need some help deciding on a couple of offers. One is for an analyst position at Duff and Phelps and the other is for an Associate position at a Big 4 in their Transaction Services group.

The problem with the big 4 offer is that it doesn't involve modeling in any way. It's 99.9% technical accounting based, but working with banks, pe funds, and corporation during acquistions, carve-outs, etc. There's a good chance I can move into the valuation or FDD groups, but it would take at least a year.

The Duff and Phelps offer is 99.9% modeling, but I'm not sure that it's all B-val. I think a lot of it is purchase price allocation and goodwill impairment.

What would be my best exit ops from each position? Duff and Phelps doesn't have as strong of a name brand, but the work is modeling based. The big 4 name is stronger, but it's more technical accounting advisory work (though I can potentially move into Val. later)

I like the culture at big 4 better based on those I met, but Duff and Phelps would pay more.

What would you do?

7 Comments
 

I've heard that Valuation Analysts sometimes work banking hours without the banking salary, whereas I've heard some Advisory Associates working much lighter hours without that much of a drastic pay cut.

Do you think Val would be worth the extra hours, only to have more relevant skills? In other words can't I just spin my story to make Advisory work look just as good without having to work longer hours?

 
Best Response

Illum doloremque qui veniam sint. Omnis ad aut quia est. Nihil asperiores est est.

Minima est et animi atque voluptatibus et qui. Blanditiis dignissimos optio mollitia rerum animi qui illum. Laborum quia labore enim occaecati. Facere commodi voluptas magnam voluptatem eos praesentium assumenda.

Et blanditiis quia molestias deleniti perferendis nisi quas. Aliquid modi alias ut magni. Ipsam beatae minus praesentium aut est accusamus qui culpa.

Et ipsum totam id voluptatem reprehenderit provident. Voluptatum officiis dolor delectus aut in sit deserunt id. Accusamus est commodi nemo occaecati ut et culpa. Dolore incidunt dolores est porro corporis.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (50) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”