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07-24-2014, 01:59 AM
I'm looking for some career related advice. I have some questions I'd like to ask you over PM.
valhalla
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07-24-2014, 05:28 AM
"Finance related career" is a very large set. You should be more specific.
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07-24-2014, 08:00 AM
My data sheet on Accounting (link in sig below) could be helpful to you.
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07-24-2014, 08:09 AM
Agree on the CFA. Even better if you have a company that will pay for further education. Definitely research what licenses you're taking. Some are far better than others.
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07-24-2014, 10:20 AM
I do agree that it counts more than a standard, sub-top 10/15 mba program. However any of those top tier mba programs open a lot of doors and build a lot of connections. It would help if the author clarified what area of finance he's interested in. If it's corp. fin, skip the CFA and get your CPA, especially if a CFO position is the end goal.
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07-24-2014, 10:13 PM
Yeah you need to be a little more specific as to what type of career as for example corp finance is a lot different than a job on the street, and sell side is different than buy side of the street. But overall go to a top 15 mba or CFA if you want to be in portfolio management.
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07-28-2014, 09:56 PM
Quote: (07-24-2014 05:28 AM)Peregrine Wrote:
"Finance related career" is a very large set. You should be more specific.
Exactly. There's accounting, investment banking (e.g., corporate finance, IPOs, M&A), trading (commodities, currencies, derivatives, equities, fixed-income), risk management, structured finance, etc.
Traders and investment bankers have very little in common in terms of personality and skills. Quants have very little in common with investment bankers and traders, too.
Those who are interested in investment banking should read
The Epicurean Dealmaker's blog.
"The great secret of happiness in love is to be glad that the other fellow married her." – H.L. Mencken
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07-28-2014, 10:37 PM
I'm working in finance/hedge fund industry and doing the CFA program. I can speak to "Finance-Finance" but not much to accounting, fortune 500 stuff. 'Finance' is indeed to broad. But don't let that intimidate you. Just be sure to understand every niche you're seriously applying/interviewing for. Know what the business is. Know how they make money and who they make money from. Talking to people in the niche is a good place to start - see: linkedin.
Understand the appropriate professional accreditation to aspire to (if any). For example, if you tell me you want to get your CPA and work in the research side of my company, you probably have no idea what's going on. Similarly, If you tell a derivatives trader you're interviewing with that you want a Harvard MBA eventually, you're probably out of luck.
For better or worse, Finance is mostly a pedigree industry - school, accreditation, grades are important. Coming in from the 'outside' not having family friends, etc... you tend to really need to have played the game right....and poor scores on all these basics are fairly difficult to overcome for a variety of reasons. But at the same time, finance attracts 'weird' folk who value the 'weird' side of people. Perhaps less so than the 90s, but Finance-Finance (not accounting) does leave doors open for those who have hard technical skills, legit intellectual curiosity, some knowledge, and an ability to learn.
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07-28-2014, 11:13 PM
So far, only trader has actually answered your question, and plenty of people have said things that are either purely subjective or just plain false.
I work at an investment bank. PM me if you have questions that I might be able to answer.
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07-29-2014, 12:54 AM
I work in finance / middle office function in an investment bank currently. 7 years experience in investment bank finance and also 1.5 years corporate finance. In addition I am also a qualified chartered accountant with 4 years in a big 4 firm. If any of that experience seems relevant please free to PM me with any queries you have
Irish
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07-29-2014, 12:55 AM
Feel free to PM me as well.
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07-29-2014, 08:31 AM
Is anyone here working in asset management?
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08-12-2014, 09:14 PM
I do M&A for a boutique, PM me if interested.