OPT Private Equity Jobs
Private equity jobs on OPT are available but competitive. Most firms hire for analyst and associate roles requiring finance or business degrees, and STEM OPT extension eligibility depends on your specific program. Roles in financial modeling, due diligence, and portfolio management are common entry points for F-1 students.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM) is one of the largest global asset management organizations of any full-service securities firm, with more than 40 years of history, a presence in 26 countries, and a total of $2.0 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2026. MSIM strives to provide outstanding long-term investment performance, service and a comprehensive suite of investment management solutions to a diverse client base, which includes governments, institutions, corporations and individuals worldwide.
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Solutions (the Team), an investment team within MSIM, seeks to deliver innovative private markets solutions to a global client base across a variety of asset classes within private equity and related strategies. The Team is comprised of over 70 investment professionals based in suburban Philadelphia, New York, London, and Hong Kong and manages a global program across primary fund investing, co-investing, and secondaries in developed and emerging markets. The Team also has a strong and growing leadership position across impact-oriented strategies, including social impact, climate solutions, and racial & gender equity. Overall, the Team has invested over $30bn across over 1,300 opportunities, as of December 31, 2025.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Team is seeking candidates, preferably with previous experience at investment banks, consulting firms, private equity firms, or private equity fund of funds for an Associate position on our Private Equity Solutions team, focused on secondaries investments, predominately LP-led.
Investment professionals at the Associate level work closely with senior investment professionals on 3-4 person deal teams and are responsible for investment analysis, research, and investment process management. The private markets program spans asset classes from venture capital to leveraged buyouts. The position is available in New York.
Responsibilities:
- Contribute to investment sourcing, opportunity diligence and evaluation, and portfolio monitoring by reviewing inbound investment materials, meeting with private equity fund managers, and assessing performance of specific companies and funds
- Contribute to the creation and execution of financial analyses in support of the secondary investment process (e.g., secondary fund pricing analyses, comparable company valuation analyses, LBO models, investment return projections with sensitivity analyses, track record analyses, etc.)
- Contribute to the creation and updating of secondary-specific marketing materials and initiatives
- Contribute to strategic initiatives with cross-functional teams related to technology, data/systems, marketing, business development, sourcing, and business planning
QUALIFICATIONS
- An undergraduate degree from a leading university
- 2-3 years of experience in private equity or investment banking. Secondaries experience is a plus
- Highly motivated self-starter with a team orientation
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Extensive quantitative modeling experience with an excellent understanding of financial concepts and valuation
- Exceptional project management and execution skills with an ability to meet challenging deadlines while maintaining a high degree of quality and accuracy
- A high level of intellectual curiosity in developing knowledge of private equity and capital markets
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:
At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients – helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way that’s differentiated – and we’ve done that for 90 years. Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren’t just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work-life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There’s also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work.
COMPENSATION
- Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $110,000 and $150,000 per year at the commencement of employment. However, base pay if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, incentive compensation, discretionary bonuses, other short and long-term incentive packages, and other Morgan Stanley sponsored benefit programs.
Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workforce that is diverse in experience and background. Our recruiting efforts reflect our strong commitment to a culture of inclusion, where individuals are hired, developed, and advanced based on their skills and talents.
Our workforce reflects a broad cross-section of the global communities in which we operate, bringing a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences.
INTRODUCTION
Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM) is one of the largest global asset management organizations of any full-service securities firm, with more than 40 years of history, a presence in 26 countries, and a total of $2.0 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2026. MSIM strives to provide outstanding long-term investment performance, service and a comprehensive suite of investment management solutions to a diverse client base, which includes governments, institutions, corporations and individuals worldwide.
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Solutions (the Team), an investment team within MSIM, seeks to deliver innovative private markets solutions to a global client base across a variety of asset classes within private equity and related strategies. The Team is comprised of over 70 investment professionals based in suburban Philadelphia, New York, London, and Hong Kong and manages a global program across primary fund investing, co-investing, and secondaries in developed and emerging markets. The Team also has a strong and growing leadership position across impact-oriented strategies, including social impact, climate solutions, and racial & gender equity. Overall, the Team has invested over $30bn across over 1,300 opportunities, as of December 31, 2025.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Team is seeking candidates, preferably with previous experience at investment banks, consulting firms, private equity firms, or private equity fund of funds for an Associate position on our Private Equity Solutions team, focused on secondaries investments, predominately LP-led.
Investment professionals at the Associate level work closely with senior investment professionals on 3-4 person deal teams and are responsible for investment analysis, research, and investment process management. The private markets program spans asset classes from venture capital to leveraged buyouts. The position is available in New York.
Responsibilities:
- Contribute to investment sourcing, opportunity diligence and evaluation, and portfolio monitoring by reviewing inbound investment materials, meeting with private equity fund managers, and assessing performance of specific companies and funds
- Contribute to the creation and execution of financial analyses in support of the secondary investment process (e.g., secondary fund pricing analyses, comparable company valuation analyses, LBO models, investment return projections with sensitivity analyses, track record analyses, etc.)
- Contribute to the creation and updating of secondary-specific marketing materials and initiatives
- Contribute to strategic initiatives with cross-functional teams related to technology, data/systems, marketing, business development, sourcing, and business planning
QUALIFICATIONS
- An undergraduate degree from a leading university
- 2-3 years of experience in private equity or investment banking. Secondaries experience is a plus
- Highly motivated self-starter with a team orientation
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Extensive quantitative modeling experience with an excellent understanding of financial concepts and valuation
- Exceptional project management and execution skills with an ability to meet challenging deadlines while maintaining a high degree of quality and accuracy
- A high level of intellectual curiosity in developing knowledge of private equity and capital markets
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:
At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients – helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way that’s differentiated – and we’ve done that for 90 years. Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren’t just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work-life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There’s also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work.
COMPENSATION
- Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $110,000 and $150,000 per year at the commencement of employment. However, base pay if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, incentive compensation, discretionary bonuses, other short and long-term incentive packages, and other Morgan Stanley sponsored benefit programs.
Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workforce that is diverse in experience and background. Our recruiting efforts reflect our strong commitment to a culture of inclusion, where individuals are hired, developed, and advanced based on their skills and talents.
Our workforce reflects a broad cross-section of the global communities in which we operate, bringing a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences.
See all 30+ OPT Private Equity Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Private Equity
Target firms with a history of visa sponsorship
Large PE firms like Blackstone, KKR, and Apollo have established immigration pipelines and are far more likely to sponsor H-1B visa than boutique shops. Prioritize your applications toward firms with dedicated HR and legal infrastructure.
Confirm your STEM OPT eligibility early
Finance and business degrees are typically non-STEM, limiting OPT to 12 months. If your degree is in financial engineering, quantitative finance, or a STEM-designated program, you may qualify for 24 additional months of work authorization.
Highlight financial modeling and technical skills
PE firms screen heavily on LBO modeling, valuation, and Excel proficiency. Demonstrating these skills clearly on your resume reduces perceived training risk, which is a common hesitation employers have around OPT candidates.
Address OPT proactively, not defensively
When sponsorship comes up, frame it clearly: you have current work authorization and are eligible for H-1B sponsorship when the time comes. Avoid ambiguity. Firms that hesitate often do so because the process feels unfamiliar, not because they are opposed.
Network into deals, not just job postings
Private equity hiring is heavily relationship-driven. Alumni at target firms, informational interviews with associates, and MBA-network connections often surface roles before they are posted publicly. Your strongest leads may never appear on a job board.
Consider PE-adjacent roles as a pathway
Investment banking, corporate development, and private credit roles at larger institutions are more OPT-friendly and serve as credible on-ramps into PE. Two years of structured finance experience improves both your candidacy and your H-1B petition strength.
Private Equity OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work in private equity on OPT?
Yes. OPT authorizes F-1 students to work in roles directly related to their field of study, which covers finance, business, and quantitative programs for most PE positions. Your job function must align with your degree, so a financial analyst or associate role supported by a finance or economics degree is straightforward. A mismatch between your degree field and the role can create compliance issues, so confirm alignment with your DSO before accepting an offer.
Do private equity firms sponsor H-1B visas for OPT candidates?
Larger firms do. Blackstone, KKR, Carlyle, Apollo, and Ares have well-established immigration programs and regularly sponsor H-1B petitions for strong performers already on OPT. Smaller and mid-market boutiques are less consistent. The best way to identify firms actively open to OPT candidates is to browse Migrate Mate, which filters for employers willing to sponsor work visas.
Does a finance degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
A standard finance or business administration degree does not qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. However, degrees in financial engineering, computational finance, quantitative economics, or similar STEM-classified programs do qualify. Check your degree's CIP code on your I-20 or with your DSO to confirm. The distinction is significant because it determines whether you have 12 or 36 total months of OPT work authorization.
What PE roles are most accessible for OPT students?
Analyst and junior associate positions at growth equity and private credit funds tend to be more accessible than traditional buyout roles, which often recruit through investment banking analyst programs. Roles in portfolio operations, fund accounting, investor relations, and financial due diligence also appear regularly and carry less restrictive hiring pipelines. Each of these functions requires a direct connection to your academic background to satisfy OPT employment requirements.
What happens to my OPT authorization if the firm does not sponsor my H-1B in time?
If your employer does not file an H-1B petition by the April 1 deadline for the following October cap season, your employment authorization ends when your OPT period expires. If you are on STEM OPT and a timely H-1B petition is filed but not selected in the lottery, you may be eligible for a 60-day cap-gap extension. Planning your timeline with your DSO at least six months in advance gives you the most options.