London M&A/Corporate Finance Landscape
Hi Everyone,
So I've just qualified as an auditor here in London this past month. Started at the Big 4 but I'm at a smaller (but still somewhat large) firm now.
I always knew that I wanted to go into finance after I qualified, and now I'm gravitating towards M&A or perhaps corporate finance if that's not possible straight away. I just wanted to know:
A. What the landscape is for recruitment right now. I know it's been a really rough year but what should I be expecting going into early 2024?
B. What can I do to maximise my chances of landing one of these roles at a boutique bank? I went to 2 semi- targets (St Andrews/UCL/Warwick/Durham) so university-wise I've still got a shot, even though I know that audit isn't the greatest background to have and that my back is up against the wall a little bit. Willing to grind hard to get this over the line , especially between now and the next busy season.
Would appreciate any and all information and/or advice. Thank you in advance.
Mate just say you went to St.Andrews or Durham hahaha
Delete
Lol only a UCL graduate could cope with a joke like this -- how did it feel getting rejected from the good universities in London?
It’s a very common route from Big4 Audit ACA to Corporate Finance. To answer your questions:
1) 2023 has been a bleak year for M&A and there are no strong signs suggesting that 2024 is going to be a real bounce back. Banks are still just ‘hoping’ that things will be slightly better, but no one can say for sure. Would only see something tangible at the end of Q1 or start of Q2.
2)Speak to headhunters and make a strong CV where you’re not showing your audit talent. Focus on transferable skills and consider doing a financial modelling course like FMVA or WSP. Focus on IB interview questions (WSO redbook is a good start)
If I were you, I’d focus on getting into Corporate Finance asap. Like any reasonably sized firm or bank, e.g. Big 7 or Big 8 accounting firms in M&A or TAS, financial modelling, valuations, etc. Keep working on preparing hard and working as much as you can and keep a tab on who’s hiring. Make a list to do that. Once things start looking slightly better, hiring will resume and then I’d just try using any network I have built or reconnecting with headhunters and apply.
Good luck.
May you please share the names of Recruiter companies to approach in Ldn?
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