Dear Job Doctor,
I previously posted on your forum about 2 years ago. At the time I was not yet ACA qualified and stuck in the assurance division. Fast forward to now, I am now ACA qualified and have moved into the corporate finance (valuations) team at a big 4. I undertook the CFA level 1 exam last year but unfortunately did not pass. I am currently considering my future career paths. What options are available?I have looked at moving into the M&A sector but the hours appear long despite the lure of high payI have also considered pursuing an equity analyst role with a view to becoming a funds manager a fair way down the trackTraditionally where would a big 4 valuations person go? Would it be an easier transition to move into M&A or down the funds path?
Thanks,
Ben
About the WH Marks Sattin Job Doctor
WH Marks Sattin is a specialist recruitment agency dealing with accountancy, finance, tax and consultancy professionals. This is our Job Doctor forum/blog.
Looking for a career change? Want some advice on which industries are good to get into at the moment?
Go on, ask our consultants some questions! If you want you can comment on our answers... We hope you find it useful!
To ask a question follow these steps:
1. Click "comments" on any of the previous posts (even if it isn't related to your question
2. Type in your question in the box
3. Select "anonymous" if you don't have your own account
4. Click "Publish your comment"
We will try to answer your question in 3 to 5 days.
http://www.whmarkssattin.com/
Looking for jobs in IT? Why not talk to our sister company Greythorn - specialist IT recruiter.
Looking for a career change? Want some advice on which industries are good to get into at the moment?
Go on, ask our consultants some questions! If you want you can comment on our answers... We hope you find it useful!
1. Click "comments" on any of the previous posts (even if it isn't related to your question
2. Type in your question in the box
3. Select "anonymous" if you don't have your own account
4. Click "Publish your comment"
We will try to answer your question in 3 to 5 days.
http://www.whmarkssattin.com/
Looking for jobs in IT? Why not talk to our sister company Greythorn - specialist IT recruiter.
2 comments:
From your background it would be easiest to move into sell side equity research, most likely in a bank or stockbroking firm depending on whether you are interested in large or mid / small sized stocks. Once you have established yourself as a sell side analyst it is relatively straight forward to cross over into buyside research and become a fund manager if that is where you see yourself in the long term. Pursuing a CFA qualification is more relevant for research than for M&A.
Corporate finance is still a very real possibility as well, though you may struggle to compete against other candidates coming from the transactions teams. You will have to really impress at the interview stage to stand a good chance!
As you have pointed out the hours are often very long in M&A (in their first few years in M&A analysts are often expected to be working until midnight most nights of the week as well as working weekends too). Hours in equity research are much less intensive as it is tied to the stock markets, though most analysts will be early starters and in the office by 7am to be ready for markets to open.
Bonuses will be slightly lower in equity research, you can still expect to earn as much 50% of base salary in your first year.
If you are looking to move now, we currently have several roles in both equity research and corporate finance which you may be suitable for so we would love to hear from you!
For a more detailed conversation, please give Fred Cooke a call +44 2077479667
Post a Comment