J.P. Morgan (Analyst) vs. Big 4 (Advisory)

Question

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!

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

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!

Answer 3

Having worked in both consulting and finance, I’d say the main difference is the focus. In consulting, it’s about big... (read entire answer)

Having worked in both consulting and finance, I’d say the main difference is the focus. In consulting, it’s about big-picture problem-solving, like helping a client expand into... (read entire answer)

Answer 4

What helped me was looking beyond just the big names and focusing on the actual culture and vibe at each firm. Some p... (read entire answer)

What helped me was looking beyond just the big names and focusing on the actual culture and vibe at each firm. Some places were super intense, while others felt more collaborati... (read entire answer)