Hello!
Long time WSO reader here, but first time poster.
Story: Currently an audit Senior Associate in a Big 4 midwest office looking to move into investment banking.
Background: I've had this goal since college, but I didn't go to a target school (went to a midwest public school that has minimal BB/ MM placement) so at the time Big 4 seemed like the most prestigious/ best learning and work experience. Been auditing a Fortune 25 company for 3 years and feel like I can spin my experiences to be relevant in IB. Most notably worked on a $1B acquisition and $2B spin-off, as well as many debt offerings, ($1B+), but all from the audit side - these are what really caused me to begin seriously considering IB. I want to be at the forefront of these transactions. I feel like the time to make my move is now, before I continue down the audit path too far and am pigeonholed. I'm not considering MBA at this point b/c I want try breaking in through other means first.
College: Midwest public
Accounting major, information systems minor. Dean's list (x2)
3.5 major and overall GPA. Could have been higher but I had my full time Big 4 offer after only two years of college so I didn't have the intense motivation to work extra for a higher GPA.
Passed all parts of CPA exam on first try within 12 weeks.
Questions:
1. Should I look to make the internal move to Big 4 Corporate Finance first? I am in the US. I know Big 4 Corp Fin is huge internationally, but unsure of its place/ size in the US and how competitive this compares to breaking into IB?
2. If Corporate Finance is not possible, would the next best move be Transaction Services, such as Deals or Financial Due Diligence for a couple years then jump to IB? Or should I network hard and jump straight from audit to MM due to my acquisition/ spin-off experience? Is M&A from the audit side relevant at all?
Any and all help/ opinions are greatly appreciated!
Easiest route would be an MBA. Gun for Kellogg/Ross/Booth.
The answer is going to be different for many people. I just had a great conversation with a guy who went Big4 audit to Top MM IB directly. I’m currently trying to network and hope to make a similar move but have also initiated a transfer to Big4 transaction services.
I am a believer that anything is possible if you try hard enough to get it done. You will need to network your ass off to make it work direct from audit. You might want to consider boutiques and local IBs first and then potential lateral to a larger firm after a year or two. It’s a numbers game, so just throw your resume out there to as many positions as you can.
As for Big4 corporate finance, they are equilivent to a MM IB but I’m not sure the reputations these groups.
This is absolutely accurate. With that said, an elite MBA gives you so much more than investment banking placement in the long-term relative to a few years in a Big 4's transaction practice. YMMV.
I definitely agree with that statement. I've been in audit for a long time now, so for me personally, an MBA is last resort!
Thanks to you both for your posts. MBA is definitely my last resort and I want to exhaust my other options first.
Anyone have insights into Big 4 Corporate Finance in US? How big are these groups? How hard to get in? Do they take internal transfers, especially from audit? My thought is it's mostly advisory people. I'm having a discussion with my mentor next week where I'm going to express my interest in this group and try to get started on an internal transfer. It's hard to find info on corp finance, even on the firm's internal website, so any insights are greatly appreciated.
Officiis dolorem asperiores quia odio. Magnam delectus dolores mollitia impedit atque repellendus. Nostrum blanditiis sed atque et. Officia quis sit consequatur quia error architecto blanditiis. Eos rem iste ut nisi quo qui.
Sed ratione cupiditate eum et aspernatur. Soluta sint similique dolor adipisci laboriosam et sapiente. Eum voluptas eveniet molestias velit facilis numquam. Assumenda praesentium ut exercitationem assumenda ut. Officiis accusamus qui at et voluptatem quisquam illum. Tempora quos earum sit laborum. Sed sunt ea recusandae est.
Sapiente amet fuga veritatis ea doloribus officiis exercitationem quod. Corporis eos veniam quo aut eligendi. Quia mollitia aperiam sed sed dolores aut odio quia. Consequatur reiciendis provident eum voluptatibus expedita praesentium aperiam. Omnis laborum soluta quis et sapiente.
Impedit aut animi ipsam blanditiis iusto omnis id qui. Architecto nihil quis nihil voluptatibus. Vel molestias fugiat rem ut. Distinctio debitis ipsa necessitatibus et numquam sequi. Modi ipsum aut dolorem occaecati velit voluptatem.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...