Hi all,
I'm deciding between an Analyst role at J.P. Morgan (not in Investment Banking) and an Advisory role at a Big 4 firm.
In terms of brand name, pay, and exit opportunities, which option would give me a better shot at eventually breaking into a bulge bracket investment banking role?
Would appreciate any insights- Thanks in advance!
J.P. Morgan (Analyst) wins for brand prestige and finance-centric exposure, boosting direct networking with IB teams. Big 4 Advisory offers broader operational/consulting skills but requires aggressive pivoting for IB.
Pay: J.P. Morgan likely higher.
Exit Ops: J.P. Morgan’s name accelerates BB IB prospects vs. Big 4’s consulting-heavy path.
P.S. Pair either role with ACCA via Mirchawala’s to sharpen financial acumen and stand out in IB recruitment.
Succinct, highlights key trade-offs, and ties ACCA to career agility.
Hey there,
If your goal is to break into IB at a bulge bracket, J.P. Morgan is the stronger brand, even if it’s not in IB. The JPM name carries more weight on your resume than a Big 4 advisory role, and internal mobility within the bank could be a solid path.
That said, which non-IB role at JPM matters. If it's something finance-related (corporate banking, markets, risk, etc.), you’ll be closer to the action. If it’s a back-office role, the jump to IB will be much tougher.
Big 4 advisory can also be a path to IB, but generally, it’s a longer and less direct route than being at a major bank.
Bottom line: If the JPM role is even somewhat relevant to finance, take it. If it’s totally unrelated, then a strong Big 4 advisory role could be the better move. Hope that helps!
