Big 4 Advisory vs McKinsey Knowledge Center

I work as an internal consultant for a large bank doing data science related projects. I recently received two offers, one from McKinsey to work in their Knowledge Center as a Senior Analyst and the other is from a Big 4 in their advisory branch as a Senior Consultant. Both base salaries are pretty much the same, except the location for McKinsey is in a higher cost of living area, but McKinsey has an automatic 12% 401k deposit.

I love my current job, because I get face time with senior managers form various depts, get to solve problems utilizing my statistical modeling and programming skills and present my solutions to them, so I get the whole spectrum, of getting the problem, building the model, and presenting it. I'm trying to leave because there's a ceiling in terms of my salary here. I did some research on the forum and saw a few comments on the McKinsey Knowledge center role. From what they told me, my role isn't the traditional role at their knowledge network, I'll be going to client sites and 80% travel,

The Senior Consultant role at the Big 4 Advisory sounds more like the traditional consulting. I've talked to my colleagues and they're offering different advice. Some say I'd be an idiot to turn down McKinsey, while others say I should go to the Big 4 because I'd just be a 'numbers' guy at McKinsey. Any thoughts?

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

That's a good question. I asked a related question yesterday on the AMA McKinsey topic here if you want to take a look. I would chose McKinsey especially given the fact that you will travel a lot plus networking internally and externally. It all depends on your career goals(assisting in strategy consulting research vs consulting in operations/software implementation/staffing).

I have seen a few people transferring to consulting in Europe so not impossible especially if you are good and develop an expertise in a specific vertical.

 

McKinsey. No doubt. Even if you're not in the traditional consulting part of McKinsey, you still have the brand name and that will carry a lot of weight and open many more doors for you in the long run. Even though it's knowledge center, you will forever be known as a "McKinsey guy", which give you a lot more credibility when you apply for the next role.

 

Dicta vel aliquam voluptate ipsam consequuntur laudantium. Tempora magnam minima animi voluptatem. Doloribus vitae sit aut magnam aut. Nemo error earum autem sint modi itaque sint nam. Et id dolores temporibus officia asperiores quo consequuntur saepe. Consequuntur eum inventore est officiis nemo.

Aut porro rem molestiae sed et consectetur vel. Aut nihil dolore impedit itaque ex reiciendis fugiat. Facere et reprehenderit ex quia. Consequatur cum quo eligendi ipsam numquam et voluptate. Consequatur non expedita architecto corrupti. Qui sit sunt in ducimus ratione soluta ea ut.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.4%
  • McKinsey and Co 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group (BCG) 98.3%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.7%
  • LEK Consulting 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2024 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.4%
  • Cornerstone Research 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group (BCG) 98.3%
  • McKinsey and Co 97.7%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2024 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.4%
  • McKinsey and Co 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group (BCG) 98.3%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.7%
  • LEK Consulting 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2024 Consulting

  • Partner (4) $368
  • Principal (25) $277
  • Director/MD (55) $270
  • Vice President (47) $246
  • Engagement Manager (100) $226
  • Manager (153) $170
  • 2nd Year Associate (158) $140
  • Senior Consultant (331) $130
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (108) $130
  • Consultant (588) $119
  • 1st Year Associate (539) $119
  • NA (15) $119
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (146) $115
  • Engineer (6) $114
  • 2nd Year Analyst (345) $103
  • Associate Consultant (166) $98
  • 1st Year Analyst (1050) $87
  • Intern/Summer Associate (190) $83
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (552) $67
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”