The bottom line is that if you are not getting an analyst role straight out of udergrad then you better have a plan for how you are going to break into the field–taling about the buyside here.
My advice is if you can get into an operations role with a smaller asset management firm then do that, if you can’t get that gig straight out of school, then you need to start somewhere and fund accounting is as good as any entry level position. Take your one year in FA then parlay that into your next position–which would be at a buyside firm. Work hard, make it be known you want to get into research, network, pass CFA exams, and create your own luck.
You would be amazed at how many research analysts start this way–I personal no several, even a few other State Street BOM’s that went through the FA grinder.