I am 31 years old, for 6 years I have been working a back office job that I have been desperately trying to get out of. I have 4 finra licenses, a degree in finance, and have (regrettably) completed a coding bootcamp where I created a plethora of python projects related to trading. A few of which were forecasting projects using statistical models like SARIMA models. I have automated a majority of my work, gotten a large pay bump at one point, but still haven’t been able to move anywhere else in the firm. I have applied to hundreds of jobs outside of the firm. Haven’t been able to land any of them. I got close earlier this year with a risk role at a hedge fund but was ghosted after the 5th and final round interview. I just can’t take it anymore. I’m going crazy due to the monotony of my job and my coworkers. I can’t stand working back office, and the longer I work in it the more hopeless I feel. Any help would be appreciated. Grad school seems as if it’s my only option but my higher ups don’t want me to go. Yes my manager literally told me once “don’t go to grad school”. So tuition reimbursement might not even happen. I know I’m definitely sounding like I’m rambling and I’m not looking for a pity party. Just am too frustrated with the way the job market is right now. My goal is to work on a trade/quant desk but at this point I'm open to anything mentally stimulating.

EDIT: don’t want to make it sound like I need my manager’s permission to go to grad school. The tuition reimbursement would help out a lot.

EDIT #2: I recently was offered to take the series 24 by my higher ups. Upon passing I won't get a pay bump and I probably won't have any new duties. Seeing as how I'm already burned out I have been thinking about telling my manager that I won't take the series 24, just to focus on grad school. Will the series 24 help in any way?

EDIT #3: the masters will be in applied stats or financial engineering.