24yr old Corp Finance Financial Analyst Looking to Get Into IB
Hey everyone. I am currently a Financial Analyst at a large Fortune 500 manufacturing company and enjoy it for the most part but my passion is for investment banking, private equity, trading etc.
My experience is mostly in the corporate finance world and I feel this sets me apart and allows me to analyze investments from another perspective. I am always eager to learn more about anything related to private equity and investing and I have worked hard to learn about this industry in my free time. With that said, I cannot emphasize enough how passionate I am for the industry and how hard I will work to be successful in it.
My main experience within corp finance relates around financial statement analysis, journal entries, internal controls, cost accounting, financial reporting and variance analysis.
I am currently in Charlotte and looking to make the switch. I have 2 years experience in corp finance and had 5 internships in school - only one of which was investing related - at a small 2 person consulting firm. What are my best bets for getting into this industry and how can I best position myself? The problem I'm running into is most positions I am seeing listed require 1-3 years of IB specific experience rather than any corp finance experience. I'm getting a little worried...
What would you do in my shoes?
Thank you so much guys.
Hate to give generic-ish advice, however...
You're going to likely fall into the slot of being "too experienced to be an analyst/too inexperienced to be an associate." I'd recommend either getting set up for b-school, OR contemplate Equity Research.
2 quick questions...
1) If I work up the ladder for a few years in corp and then get an MBA what are the odds that an IB bank or PE firm would select me over someone with previous IB experience? Would that be realistic?
2) Where would I begin looking for an equity research role? Those are very intriguing to me but I don't see them too much on any job boars or company websites. At least not in Charlotte... Although my corp finance background may help me out quite a bit in that role.
The chances for PE is very low as they recruit people from IB or top FMP such as GE. I agree with Paul, your best bet for IB is bschool and break in as an associate.
But I would recommend you network internally within your company and see if you can switch to the corporate development department. Spend two years at CD will allow you to truly set yourself apart from the crowd and get you ready for the very top schools. If you apply bschool now, you are competing with those two years IB analyst and LOTS of two year corporate finance analysts. At this point you don't have comparative advantage.
So I suggest you start to network internally RIGHT NOW. Show your interests in CD and move to there.
Good luck, feel free to ask any follow up question.
I am in a leadership development program. Is that what you are referring to?
Yes. I believe some people will exit to the corporate development department after the program?
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