2025 CFA Level I Exam: CFA Discussion Topic: Career advice needed. Thanks!

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Topic: Career advice needed. Thanks!

Author	Topic: Career advice needed. Thanks!
cfacpa @2019-07-12 09:32:12	I am a L3 candidate, and have about 6 month experience in business valuation at one of the big4s. Prior to valuation, I had 3 years in international tax. I also have CPA. My goal is to move into Investment Management. I am going to have an interview next week for a positon of Mutual Fund Accountant/Admistrator doing accounting, reporting... The company is doing mutual fund/hedge fund on non investment grade bank loans, and have about 4-5 years history with $3B under management. This position is not where my ultimate goal is, but the company said it is possible for me to move to the investment side sometime in the future. My question is: Should I stay where I am doing valuation and gain some more experience and then move to IM directly next year, or take this position and then move into IM? Which experience will get me closer to IM, assuming I don't mind doing equity or fixed income? Your advice is greatly appreciated. Of course, I understand I may not get this position anyway if they offer less than how much I am making now, due to my lack of related experience, and my request to move to another area.
sloth @2019-07-29 11:11:53	I would stay where you are. Once you get trapped in operations you will find that everyone has the same story about how one day they are going to transfer out. Its the oldest scam in the book. You have a far better chance transferring in directly from a valuation group in a big 4 then you do internally from there. Think about what skills you need to get in the next year to be successful in a role on the investment side, it certainly isnt more accounting. If anything you may have too much. Hope that helps, good luck!

Author

Topic: Career advice needed. Thanks!

cfacpa
@2019-07-12 09:32:12

I am a L3 candidate, and have about 6 month experience in business valuation at one of the big4s. Prior to valuation, I had 3 years in international tax. I also have CPA. My goal is to move into Investment Management. I am going to have an interview next week for a positon of Mutual Fund Accountant/Admistrator doing accounting, reporting... The company is doing mutual fund/hedge fund on non investment grade bank loans, and have about 4-5 years history with $3B under management.

This position is not where my ultimate goal is, but the company said it is possible for me to move to the investment side sometime in the future.

My question is: Should I stay where I am doing valuation and gain some more experience and then move to IM directly next year, or take this position and then move into IM? Which experience will get me closer to IM, assuming I don't mind doing equity or fixed income? Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Of course, I understand I may not get this position anyway if they offer less than how much I am making now, due to my lack of related experience, and my request to move to another area.

sloth
@2019-07-29 11:11:53

I would stay where you are. Once you get trapped in operations you will find that everyone has the same story about how one day they are going to transfer out. Its the oldest scam in the book. You have a far better chance transferring in directly from a valuation group in a big 4 then you do internally from there.

Think about what skills you need to get in the next year to be successful in a role on the investment side, it certainly isnt more accounting. If anything you may have too much.

Hope that helps, good luck!

CFA Discussion Topic: Career advice needed. Thanks!

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I just wanted to share the good news that I passed CFA Level I!!! Thank you for your help - I think the online question bank helped cut the clutter and made a positive difference.

CFA Discussion Topic: Career advice needed. Thanks!

Edward Liu