Why does a firm need internal department of Corporate Development when there's already consulting firms?

Especially when they can do the job for them just as well if not better. According to my research, keeping an in house corporate development operation is just as costly as seeking consulting services from third parties such as the MBB and the other top consulting firms.

Secondly, I've also noticed that some firms still consult MBB/others when they have an in house corpdev ongoing operation. Why is that? Why do you need someone from outside when you're employing the best professionals who can carry out the assignment just as well. Help me understand?

4 Comments
 

1: Information Control

2: People running it are internal to the firm and have a better understanding of the culture/strategy/etc.

3: It's MUCH cheaper to hire the MBB consultants forced into other jobs due to "up or out" policies than it is just to hire the firm. Upside is you're actually going to get guys with 3 years or so of experience that way vs. the MBB firm staffing some new MBA on your case (who most likely isn't any smarter than your own MBA hires).

 
"anachistgt3" Especially when they can do the job for them just as well if not better. According to my research, keeping an in house corporate development operation is just as costly as seeking consulting services from third parties such as the MBB and the other top consulting firms.

Secondly, I've also noticed that some firms still consult MBB/others when they have an in house corpdev ongoing operation. Why is that? Why do you need someone from outside when you're employing the best professionals who can carry out the assignment just as well. Help me understand?

Your research is wrong. For instance, our in house legal personnel is as little as $40/hr. Our outside legal counsel is $400+/hr plus all expenses.

 
Most Helpful

Voluptates dolor adipisci doloribus dolor occaecati expedita tempore. Asperiores quo fuga aliquam nihil maxime commodi accusamus maiores. Enim sed ipsam tenetur. Sit ex atque placeat ut corrupti.

 

Quia sapiente cupiditate et. Doloribus vitae debitis corporis exercitationem quidem consequatur.

Cum aut similique non veritatis incidunt earum ratione. Quam voluptatibus possimus ab ad.

Velit quis velit blanditiis quasi nulla inventore. Doloremque vero porro cupiditate eveniet dolore porro. Sequi cum commodi eius sed aut. Eius vitae in natus dignissimos aut necessitatibus totam eum.

Velit qui veritatis quod laboriosam porro voluptatem fugiat. Nisi sapiente animi pariatur accusamus reprehenderit corporis iusto. Eligendi dolore eligendi unde vitae quia dolor voluptas. Qui exercitationem aut nihil non ut non voluptatem. Quia et ipsum sequi ducimus. Impedit rerum saepe velit sequi.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $101
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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
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
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...”