ZS Associates Business Operations Associate vs. Deloitte Risk and Financial Advisory

Hey Everyone,

I am a former Air Traffic Controller and Air Force veteran who will be graduating from the University of Southern California in 2021 with a dual degree, BS in Business Administration and MSc in Industrial and Systems Engineering. I currently have offers from both Deloitte in their Risk and Financial Advisory [internal audit] division (in LA office) and another offer from ZS Associates as a Business Operations Consultant (in NYC office). 

I am really struggling with what I should do here as Pharma/Life Sciences doesn't seem too interesting to me, but I haven't worked in the industry before. ZS definitely exceeds Deloitte in terms of pay, but I also know ZS works you much harder than Deloitte. My end goal would be to end up doing strategy/management consulting at MBB or Deloitte S&O/Strategy&/Parthenon.  Here are a couple of burning questions that I would be very grateful to whoever could answer them:

  1. What specific roles firms outside of MBB would a ZS Business Operations Consultant exit to? Would I only be limited to "Business Operations" roles or would I also be considered for Management Consulting roles etc.? 

  2. Because I am currently based out of LA, would I be better served to take the Deloitte offer and continue to recruit in LA for a role at Deloitte S&O or other consulting firms? I didn't make it past Bain first round.

  3. Is there any possible chance if I took the ZS gig that I could switch gears and exit to roles in finance or PE? I am just wanting to know what options I will be eliminating if I chose ZS.

  4. Is the ZS New York office more "prestigious" in terms of work and will it look better on my resume than Deloitte LA office?

  5. What are the most important transferable skills I will be attaining at ZS vs. Deloitte?


I have plenty more questions I could ask, but just wanted to get the discussion started. Any information would be incredibly helpful!

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