Career advice needed - Finance

Water Cooler Careers
#1

Hello guys and girls,

I would like to ask you for a career advice.

Keeping things short: im 23 old, recently graduated with high 2.1 in Economics from respected UK uni. Got exceptional grades in economic subjects (top 10% of a group usually). Doing Pricing Analyst job for 1 year currently (not accounting/finance related) and learning VBA at the moment. Also, I have recently started ACCA course hoping that it could take me somewhere in to finance. (and add weight to my CV when applying to jobs)

My goal is to do equity research, which I find interesting. HOWEVER, at the same time, I do believe that it is a right time to switch positions and gain some relevant experience in the finance field.

And my question is: to what positions I should be looking to? which ones would be realistic to get in to in terms of my experience/background… OR Should I go for a graduate programme (pwc audit etc. )… or try internal financial analyst positions: finish acca and do cfa level 1 and then switch the field. - this option quite appeals to me.

Or try funds/venture capital firms and try get junior analyst position? Do Masters in Finance in respected uni (Warwick , Nottingham etc.)? - I am based in London.

Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge!

#2

Hiya… Which uni did u go to?

Speaking from experience here : Forget acca, do ACA (more prestigious)… Try and do ACA + CFA simultaneously if you’re super ambitious…

i think ink audit is ok to go into but corporate finance/ management consulting or restructuring business lines ( in a “prof. Services” firm a.k.a “we’ll let you get away with anything”) would be better.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to get actual company experience rather than auditing investment management companies. ER recruiters want sector experience and knowledge of the internal workings of a company … Start thinking about which sector you would want to cover most…

And most importantly stay on top of your game and be at the top of your league! Hope that helps… All the best!

#3

^ Sup girl, how you doing?

#4

hey hey… see u on the other thread ("hustlin’…)

#5

A not so blatant attempt at selfless promotion.