MBA vs Msc in Finance and Accounts


Sushant.B

I have 10 years of work experience and for last 4 years have been working in Finance and Accounts along with exposure in Financial modelling and analysis. I am currently pursuing ACCA and plan to get Financial Modelling and Valuation Analyst certification as well before I start my Masters in September 2023.
I plan to apply for an MBA (triple accredited) among the top 20 Universities in UK but I am confused whether MBA is a good option or should I opt for an Msc. Also, I already hold an Msc in Finance from University of Glasgow which was awarded in 2012, post which I returned back to India.
1. Which would be a good bet (MBA vs Msc) to go for in order to get into Consulting or Banking in UK (I would require sponsorship) ?
2. Would going back to University of Glasgow be a wise decision or should I be more selective ?

I have 10 years of work experience and for last 4 years have been working in Finance and Accounts along with exposure in Financial modelling and analysis. I am currently pursuing ACCA and plan to get Financial Modelling and Valuation Analyst certification as well before I start my Masters in September 2023.
I plan to apply for an MBA (triple accredited) among the top 20 Universities in UK but I am confused whether MBA is a good option or should I opt for an Msc. Also, I already hold an Msc in Finance from University of Glasgow which was awarded in 2012, post which I returned back to India.
1. Which would be a good bet (MBA vs Msc) to go for in order to get into Consulting or Banking in UK (I would require sponsorship) ?
2. Would going back to University of Glasgow be a wise decision or should I be more selective ?
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Duncan

Is your primary goal consulting or banking,  and if so what area of consulting or banking? What sort of role would you primarily target? 

You should target the best attainable school for your primary goal. That will be a better school than Glasgow.  

Is your primary goal consulting or banking,&nbsp; and if so what area of consulting or banking? What sort of role would you primarily target?&nbsp;<br><br>You should target the best attainable school for your primary goal. That will be a better school than Glasgow.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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Sushant.B

Thanks for the reply Duncan. My primary goal is progress into consulting with the likes of Big 4 in fields of FP&A analyst and Financial Controller. In my current job I have a relevant exposure into both of these fields. 

My secondary goal is with help of my current experience and with completion of MBA, ACCA and FMVA certification I find place in Investment Banking, as having a strong knowledge of Financial Reporting and Corporate Reporting and current exposure I would be better equipped to interpret the financials of a business/company, leading to the better judgement of forecasting for valuations.

Please guide which Universities and course (MBA or Msc) would be a good mix.. 

Thanks for the reply Duncan. My primary goal is progress into consulting with the likes of Big 4 in fields of FP&amp;A analyst and Financial Controller. In my current job I have a relevant exposure into both of these fields.&nbsp;<br><br>My secondary goal is with help of my current experience and with completion of MBA, ACCA and FMVA certification I find place in Investment Banking, as having a strong knowledge of Financial Reporting and Corporate Reporting and current exposure I would be better equipped to interpret the financials of a business/company, leading to the better judgement of forecasting for valuations.<br><br>Please guide which Universities and course (MBA or Msc) would be a good mix..&nbsp;
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Duncan

Take a look at How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571 I used this method to review 26 in these roles. Only two have MBAs. That confirmed (for me) my belief, having been a senior manager in one of the big four firms in the UK, is that ACCA, ICAEW or CIMA qualifications are much more relevant for those roles than an MBA. Financial controller can be a relative junior role, attainable without an degree to an AAT qualified professional. Oxford Brookes (who run the top-up degrees for ACCA), Manchester (which has a part-time MBA aimed at accountants) and Strathclyde have undergrad alumni. 

I would recommend to you:
- First class: The post-experience MiF degrees at LBS or Oxbridge
- Business class: The ACCA-accredited MScs at Bayes or LUMS, if you don't already have completions for SBR and AFM.
- Economy: MAcc degrees organised to articulate with the CIMA gateway. I think - but check - this includes MAcc degrees at AACSB-accredited schools like Durham, Edinburgh, MMU, Newcastle, Queen's, RGU, Strathclyde, Westminster. The first two are obviously the better options. 

Take a look at How to use LinkedIn to find the best school&nbsp;www.find-mba.com/board/33571 I used this method to review 26 in these roles. Only two have MBAs. That confirmed (for me) my belief, having been a senior manager in one of the big four firms in the UK, is that ACCA, ICAEW or CIMA qualifications are much more relevant for those roles than an MBA. Financial controller can be a relative junior role, attainable without an degree to an AAT qualified professional. Oxford Brookes (who run the top-up degrees for ACCA), Manchester (which has a part-time MBA aimed at accountants) and Strathclyde have undergrad alumni.&nbsp;<br><br>I would recommend to you:<br>- First class: The post-experience MiF degrees at LBS or Oxbridge<br>- Business class: The ACCA-accredited MScs at Bayes or LUMS, if you don't already have completions for SBR and AFM.<br>- Economy: MAcc degrees organised to articulate with the CIMA gateway. I think - but check - this includes MAcc degrees at AACSB-accredited schools like Durham, Edinburgh, MMU, Newcastle, Queen's, RGU, Strathclyde, Westminster. The first two are obviously the better options.&nbsp;
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