Chartered Accountant
194 Points
Joined November 2011
Manoj,
First of, I'm assuming when you mean "Banking" you're talking about Invesment Banking, since Investment Banking is related to the Stock Market which, in common jargon, is called Sales & Trading. So I'll be focussing on Investment Banking and Sales & Trading.
If you want a career in Investment Banking & Sales & Trading at a leading Investment Bank, the only way you'd be able to break-in, is by getting an MBA from a leading business school, like IIM/XLRI/ISB.
A CFA isn't really a sought after qualification in many Investment Banks. A CA should generally suffice for the knowledge part, as is evident, after having a look at the profiles of leading Investment Bankers in India.
If you take a look at indigenous I-Banks like Avendus Capital, Veda Capital, etc., you'll see that most of the individuals comprising the Executive Team/Lead Team have a Chartered Accountant's designation with/without an MBA from a leading business school.
The question is, those with just a CA take a whole-lot more time to break into I-Banking, and it depends more on luck. If CA's are lucky enough to land a role at an I-Bank and they get promoted into a position of I-Banking, they'd be able to make a career in it.
If you choose to follow a fast-track route into I-Banking, your only savior will be an MBA.
My Final Attempt is due in November 2014 as well. I'd love to get into I-Banking/ Sales & Trading as well. The only way I think it'll be possible for me is to get hired on the Campus for a Financial Services firm like JM Financials, Credit-Suisse, Deutsche Bank. Work in the back-office for a while, say 2-3 years, prepare for CAT and get into a top notch Business School. After having completed MBA, go back to your old Company and apply for a front-office I-Banking role there, or sit for Campus and test your luck in getting hired by an I-Bank. Either way, it's a lot more simpler to find a way into I-Banking after having completed your MBA.
With just a CA, you could only make a career in I-Banking/.Sales & Trading if you have a strong network of relatives already working in one of the leading Companies or by sheer luck.
Anyways.
I hope you found this information useful.
Cheers
Sam