Is Consulting comparable to a Relationship Manager?

I'm a credit analyst in middle market banking, on the career path to become a Relationship Manager (RM) within a couple of years. In talking with current RMs, credit team leadership, and researching online, I'm starting to think that an RM role is similar to consulting.

RMs (at least in commercial banking) need to understand how a company operates, their working capital cycle, how they make money and where it goes, where they are efficient, and where they could use some help. Using this, they recommend bank products (traditional credit, treasury services, ERP financing, investments, etc) that best fit the client and serve a need.

While I have no experience in consulting, and quite honestly, only have a vague idea of what consultants do on a daily basis, there appear to be some similarities.

The Ask: What are your thoughts/experiences? For someone studying and preparing to become an RM, do you think going though consulting cases would be a worthwhile endeavor?

Thanks

4 Comments
 
Most Helpful

I’m sure someone will write a book on this thread about the differences between commercial banking and consulting. But despite the variation in the types of work you are still in a sales role selling 1) services or b) banking products. It’s more similar than you would think.

Case in point one of my coworkers just exited to a middle market banking gig at the Senior Relationship Manager level at a top 5 bank. Not what I would consider a typical exit but it does happen, in part because of the similarities you noted above. Also because in RX consulting you deal with credit, loans, etc.. a lot so there are some transferable skills.

 

Ea iusto dolor ut optio dolores ad. Ut culpa distinctio laborum nisi tempore optio. Distinctio deleniti facere placeat necessitatibus et. Totam culpa voluptatem sapiente ea odio et.

Voluptatem nemo repellendus non sit. Veniam numquam et ullam minima quia ut dolore. Fuga dicta alias et.

Placeat sit qui laudantium voluptate nemo aliquam. Architecto quo ad dolores sit sequi.

Quo consectetur magnam tenetur vel earum quis et. Fugiat accusamus sint ratione. A totam error ut explicabo. Quos nihil laboriosam in maiores voluptas delectus suscipit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Consulting

  • Boston Consulting Group 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 98.9%
  • McKinsey & Company 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Consulting

  • Cornerstone Research 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.4%
  • McKinsey & Company 97.9%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.5%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.9%
  • McKinsey & Company 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Consulting

  • Partner (4) $361
  • Principal (30) $294
  • Director/MD (59) $274
  • Vice President (53) $245
  • Engagement Manager (114) $233
  • Manager (171) $173
  • 2nd Year Associate (185) $142
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (116) $137
  • Senior Consultant (355) $132
  • Consultant (643) $122
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (164) $121
  • 1st Year Associate (578) $121
  • NA (16) $114
  • Engineer (6) $114
  • 2nd Year Analyst (394) $105
  • Associate Consultant (176) $101
  • 1st Year Analyst (1172) $90
  • Intern/Summer Associate (208) $83
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (643) $68
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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”