Pros
-Great place to gain front office finance experience
-I learned more about finance than most CFOs will ever understand
-Axiom provides the opportunity to contribute ideas during engagements (I had to prove myself, but I felt that any ideas I had were genuinely considered; if it wasn't a great idea, it was explained to me why it was not)
-Axiom is always looking for ways to develop new business (analysts aren't responsible for this, but when I was interested in developing new products/services, the ideas were welcomed and some were actively pursued)
-I had multiple opportunities to contribute to research, both for active engagements and for academic-style research which the Chief Valuation Officer undertakes
-Dress code is very progressive (I felt comfortable and work-appropriate wearing short-sleeved shirts (button-up, polos, even t-shirts) on hot days)
-Management is very personable
-Whole office works together as a team on big engagements (everyone is extremely competent)
Cons
-Learning curve is extremely steep (you will hit the ground running)
-Workplace is very traditional (hours are strict, but if I had something important to do, management worked with me to find a flexible arrangement to make-up time)
-Getting used to traditional front-office finance management style can be tough at first, but it teaches discipline and ultimately makes a better analyst in the long term
-Company is small (like a start-up), and there is no set growth path; those that require career guidance/regular advancement should consider a larger company