Getting into Funds/Asset Management

[kickstart]

I've just about finished my degree...except it's in Accounting, not Finance, and my marks are sloppy.

I'm having a hard time getting a graduate job.

The thing is, I have 2 years full time experience at a Big 4 Audit firm (doing Audit AND Tax). I'd like to move into some sort of research assistant / junior analyst type role for equities.

Has anyone got any tips for breaking into the industry when I have the wrong qualifications, and they aren't brilliant either?

I'm thinking about doing a Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Finance....that will take 6 months, if i put my head down and study I should be able to manage some good marks...then will it be a matter of just sending out letters and resumes to every boutique asset manager in my city?

There doesn't seem to be a lot of focus on funds management, everyone either wants to be a banker or a consultant....

 

[eez]

Originally Posted by kickstart

I've just about finished my degree...except it's in Accounting, not Finance, and my marks are sloppy.

I'm having a hard time getting a graduate job.

The thing is, I have 2 years full time experience at a Big 4 Audit firm (doing Audit AND Tax). I'd like to move into some sort of research assistant / junior analyst type role for equities.

Has anyone got any tips for breaking into the industry when I have the wrong qualifications, and they aren't brilliant either?

I'm thinking about doing a Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Finance....that will take 6 months, if i put my head down and study I should be able to manage some good marks...then will it be a matter of just sending out letters and resumes to every boutique asset manager in my city?

There doesn't seem to be a lot of focus on funds management, everyone either wants to be a banker or a consultant....

Yes there. The reason you haven't been much exposed to funds/AM/PE is that it is more geared towards post-MBA or CFA level designations. It is a VERY competitive field, firms usually have a number of target universities they recruit from, all top ranking b-schools.

After rereading your question however, do you mean ASSET management? Many large asset managers outsource the research departments, so again those jobs would be more MBA-level.

 

[kickstart]

Thanks for the info eez. This is what I suspected having spoken to a few people I know in the industry!

 

[aravenel]

+1 to eez, he's dead-on. Wish I had more for you...

 

[Concordia]

One big problem when it comes to breaking in to the business is that money managers generally like their jobs and they have long careers. Unlike I-bankers and consultants, who get flushed out about as regularly as NFL running backs. (Which, BTW, is why schools spend a lot of energy creating I-bankers and consultants.)