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COMPARE ROLES

Compare Roles

Pick 2-3 finance roles and see them side-by-side: daily work, exit options, comp, employers, and full learning journeys.

Comparison Tool · 613 roles available

Decide between paths, side-by-side

Pick up to 3 roles from any side of finance (sell-side, buy-side, risk, corporate, fintech, public sector). The comparison highlights where the roles differ on daily work, exit options, comp, and entry route. Each role header links directly to its full five-tab learning journey.

Pick up to 3 roles · 3/3 selected

Selected

M&A AnalystM&A Advisory

PE Buyout AssociatePE Buyout

Quantitative TraderSystematic Trading

How to read this

▶ Highlighted cells (amber background) show fields where the roles differ. Same value across all roles → not highlighted.
▶ Open the full learning journey for any role using the Open full journey → link in each column header.
▶ Comp ranges shown are annual base + target bonus; deferred/equity/carry not included. See the role’s full journey for the regional breakdown.
▶ Want to share this comparison? The URL preserves your picks, just copy the address bar.

M&A Analyst

Sell Side

M&A Advisory

Open full journey →

PE Buyout Associate

Buy Side

PE Buyout

Open full journey →

Quantitative Trader

Buy Side

Systematic Trading

Open full journey →

Pitch

Build the models that price billion-dollar mergers and acquisitions.

Source, diligence, and execute leveraged buyouts of mature companies.

Own live systematic strategies, translate research signals into P&L under real market frictions.

Daily work

Construct DCF, comps, precedent transactions, and accretion/dilution models for M&A deals. Draft pitchbooks and CIMs, manage data rooms, support MD client meetings. 80–100 hour weeks during live deals.

Build detailed LBOs, lead financial DD, draft IC memos, support portfolio company boards. 2–4 year associate programme typical → MBA → VP.

Operate and supervise systematic strategies in production: monitor execution quality, manage risk and capacity, calibrate parameters, intervene during regime shifts. Sit between research and execution, interpret signal decay, costs, and microstructure. P&L is attributed directly to the strategy and the trader on it.

Seniority focus

entry

mid

Regions

Europe · NorthAmerica · Asia · MENA

Market types

developed · emerging

developed

Base salary range

GBP £60–95k

USD $200–300k

USD $200–400k

Bonus range

GBP £30–80k

USD $150–500k

USD $400–4M+

Top employers

Goldman SachsJPMorganMorgan StanleyBank of AmericaCitiBarclays+4

KKRBlackstoneApolloCarlyleTPGEQT+3

CitadelTwo SigmaDE ShawJane StreetJump TradingHudson River Trading+4

Entry route

Target university + summer internship (Spring Week → Summer) + on-cycle recruiting

2 yrs top-bucket IB analyst → on-cycle recruiting (NY/London)

MFE/MSc Quant Finance or PhD in STEM + strong coding + interview battery (math, probability, microstructure)

Exit options

›Private Equity Associate
›Hedge Fund Analyst
›Corporate Development
›Growth Equity

›VP at same/different fund
›Hedge Fund
›Portfolio Company CFO

›Senior Quant PM
›Pod Lead at Multi-Strat
›Crypto Quant Trader
›Launch own systematic fund

Source

Goldman Sachs Investment Banking Division, Analyst Programme

KKR Private Equity, Associate Programme

Jane Street / Citadel Securities, Systematic trading desks

Loading…

Comparison Tool · 613 roles available

Decide between paths, side-by-side

Pick up to 3 roles · 3/3 selected

Selected

M&A AnalystM&A Advisory

PE Buyout AssociatePE Buyout

Quantitative TraderSystematic Trading

How to read this

▶ Highlighted cells (amber background) show fields where the roles differ. Same value across all roles → not highlighted.
▶ Open the full learning journey for any role using the Open full journey → link in each column header.
▶ Comp ranges shown are annual base + target bonus; deferred/equity/carry not included. See the role’s full journey for the regional breakdown.
▶ Want to share this comparison? The URL preserves your picks, just copy the address bar.

M&A Analyst

Sell Side

M&A Advisory

Open full journey →

PE Buyout Associate

Buy Side

PE Buyout

Open full journey →

Quantitative Trader

Buy Side

Systematic Trading

Open full journey →

Pitch

Build the models that price billion-dollar mergers and acquisitions.

Source, diligence, and execute leveraged buyouts of mature companies.

Own live systematic strategies, translate research signals into P&L under real market frictions.

Daily work

Build detailed LBOs, lead financial DD, draft IC memos, support portfolio company boards. 2–4 year associate programme typical → MBA → VP.

Seniority focus

entry

mid

Regions

Europe · NorthAmerica · Asia · MENA

Market types

developed · emerging

developed

Base salary range

GBP £60–95k

USD $200–300k

USD $200–400k

Bonus range

GBP £30–80k

USD $150–500k

USD $400–4M+

Top employers

Goldman SachsJPMorganMorgan StanleyBank of AmericaCitiBarclays+4

KKRBlackstoneApolloCarlyleTPGEQT+3

CitadelTwo SigmaDE ShawJane StreetJump TradingHudson River Trading+4

Entry route

Target university + summer internship (Spring Week → Summer) + on-cycle recruiting

2 yrs top-bucket IB analyst → on-cycle recruiting (NY/London)

MFE/MSc Quant Finance or PhD in STEM + strong coding + interview battery (math, probability, microstructure)

Exit options

›Private Equity Associate
›Hedge Fund Analyst
›Corporate Development
›Growth Equity

›VP at same/different fund
›Hedge Fund
›Portfolio Company CFO

›Senior Quant PM
›Pod Lead at Multi-Strat
›Crypto Quant Trader
›Launch own systematic fund

Source

Goldman Sachs Investment Banking Division, Analyst Programme

KKR Private Equity, Associate Programme

Jane Street / Citadel Securities, Systematic trading desks