Do you need an MBA for private equity?
Smaller firms prefer candidates with an MBA, but it's not always a requirement. If you don't have an MBA but have work experience in private equity, finance, accounting, or consulting, you likely stand a better chance at landing a job over someone without any experience.
Although many people are able to succeed in private equity without an MBA, Aggarwal says that for candidates who may not have been exposed to the full range of functional areas in their prior roles, an MBA can round out their skill set and help set them up for success in private equity.
KKR is committed to hiring early career talent from both undergraduate and MBA academic programs for internship and full-time roles across our investing and distribution businesses in the U.S. The bedrock of KKR's culture is our spirit of partnership and a shared sense of ownership across the firm.
Harvard Business School: Number One MBA Program for Private Equity. Harvard Business School is widely considered to be the best MBA program for private equity. The school boasts a world-renowned faculty, a diverse student body, and a strong alumni network that includes many private equity industry leaders.
Entry Point: Mid-Career or Post-MBA Roles
This is a rarer path into PE than the entry-level positions, but it can still be done. It's much easier to recruit from an MBA program if you've already done buyside investing of some kind before MBA (e.g. private equity, hedge fund, venture capital).
Smaller private equity firms sometimes hire candidates with only a bachelor's degree. It can also be easier to get hired without an MBA if you complete an internship with the company first. Your chances of landing a job at a top private equity firm may still be relatively low, unless you attend a top business school.
An MBA is only worth the expense, time, and effort when the graduate plans to work in a business-related field, in management, or as a company founder. An MBA may not be useful for those working in other industries unless they are in management or leadership roles. Not all MBA degrees are created equal.
Last year, KKR was exposed for allegedly keeping fees that KKR Capstone, its consulting arm, collected from KKR portfolio companies. The fees, paid by the companies for getting discounts on group purchases of such items as office supplies, should have been shared with outside investors. KKR insiders kept all the fees.
Landing a career in private equity is very difficult because there are few jobs on the market in this profession and so it can be very competitive. Coming into private equity with no experience is impossible, so finding an internship or having previous experience in a related field is highly recommended.
KKR's chances remain bleak at 12 points with a game to spare. However, it can take down LSG and jump to 14 points. However, KKR will need a few more results to go its way to stand a chance. It would require MI to beat LSG while also hoping that RCB falters in both of its remaining games (considering its healthy NRR).
What is the hardest MBA to get?
- Harvard Business School.
- Stanford Graduate School of Business.
- Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
- MIT Sloan School of Management.
- Chicago Booth School of Business.
- Columbia Business School.
- Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
- MBA in Operations. ...
- MBA in Human Resource Management. ...
- MBA in Rural & Agri-Business. ...
- MBA in Product Management. ...
- MBA in Strategy Management. ...
- MBA in International Business. ...
- MBA in Tourism & Hospitality Management. ...
- MBA in Public Administration & Government.
PE Job Title | Base Salary with Bonus | Experience |
---|---|---|
Pre-MBA Associate | $98,000 - $144,000 | 1-2 years |
Analyst | $100,000 - $150,000 | 2-3 years |
Associate | $150,000 - $300,000 | 3-5 years |
Senior Associate | $250,000 - $400,000 | 5-8 years |
Private equity firms usually seek someone with a strong sense of numbers. As such, the majors they generally look for include Finance, Accounting, Statistics, Mathematics, or Economics.
As of Feb 6, 2024, the average annual pay for a Vice President Private Equity in the United States is $157,532 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $75.74 an hour. This is the equivalent of $3,029/week or $13,127/month.
To break into private equity, a strong educational background is essential. Most professionals have degrees in finance, business, or related fields. Relevant experience in areas like investment banking or consulting is highly regarded.
Private equity funds are illiquid and are risky because of their high use of debt; furthermore, once investors have turned their money over to the fund, they have no say in how it's managed.
One potential route to break into private equity without a banking background is via management consulting. It's slightly more difficult than breaking in from investment banking, but it's common enough that you'll still be able to leverage headhunters and participate in standard on-cycle and off-cycle recruiting.
Fully agree with Pedro here - CFA is not necessary and doesn't really give you an advantage. Most of the work is CDD, as you point out, so as long as you can read and interpret financial statements, you're good.
- Banking & Financial Services. ...
- Business Analytics. ...
- Marketing Management. ...
- Human Resource Management. ...
- International Business. ...
- Financial Management.
Is an MBA still worth it in 2023?
The MBA is considered a good investment for most people who are pursuing a career in business, but it is only a good decision for you if it fits with your goals, education level, and how quickly you wish to advance in your career. Choosing the right program matters.
Career aspirations: While there is certainly overlap in how business school graduates and charterholders apply their expertise, MBA programs are generally ideal for professionals who want to pursue management positions in any industry. A CFA designation suits professionals dedicated to working in the finance industry.
Of the top 3 common jobs between the two companies, KKR salaries averaged $6,482 higher than The Blackstone Group.
The Quality Grade Winner: Blackstone Inc
As you can clearly see from the Quality Grade breakdown above, Blackstone Inc has a better overall quality grade than KKR & Co Inc.
Largest private equity firms by PE capital raised
Each year Private Equity International publishes the PEI 300, a ranking of the largest private-equity firms by how much capital they have raised for private-equity investment in the last five years. In the 2023 ranking, Blackstone Inc. regained top spot back from KKR.