Moving from Big4 to Management consulting firms

How easy is to change from big 4 firms to management consulting firms? Please take into account into your description the experience, and the consulting field (audit, taxes, finance, advisory, IT, sustainability, risk), requirements in studies and/or certifications.

 

I've seen during my internships ; Big 4 MC switch to MBB. I've even seen Big 4 Audit go to Big 4 MC but I haven't seen a Big 4 audit switch to MBB. (At least in Australia);

For the first, Generally you would have built expertise or do projects in an area the MBB need someone. E.g. alot of consulting work with Retail perhaps, and they're looking for a retail expert (More of an experienced hire 2-4 years) (However it would be advisable to know someone in these firms prior so you know if they have shortfall which you can fill). You can generally apply even with up to a years experience for an MBB firm in Australia as-well however you will start at the UG level. In both cases you would be in their "Consulting" practice not an expert/research/industry position to my knowledge. I find the US is alot more flexible with this option, as here in Australia it's quite rare for this happen.

For the second option, To my understanding (It seems the US is alot more anal about this) but it would just depend on your networking within the firm. Do you get along well with your partners, and do you have friends in the other team. To my knowledge generally the first steps would be having a coffee with the Partner in the other team explaining why you want to do S&O, they will then refer to your Partner if he's a good worker XYZ and then hopefully if theirs a vacancy you'll get moved. For this scenario I find Australia is more flexible than the US but I could be wrong.

Note: I've had a friend try this with another one of the Big 4 who I wont mention and literally they then changed his compensation to be under average of his starting class and were just generally in regards shitty to him for him simply mentioning "He wanted to transfer" from an accounting function to an consulting/advisory function. He ended up going to a competitor for a better package.

So in the end, it's definitley possible will just depend on your offices culture and the people. YMMV

Quand on veut, on peut.
 

From Big 4 advisory, happens all the time. Big 4 audit/tax, it's a very long shot. But it's happened before. Shitload of networking, preparation and luck.

"You are neither right nor wrong because the crowd disagrees with you. You are right because your data and reasoning are right." -Warren Buffett
 

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