Accenture (SI) vs Deloitte (BTA)
So in the process of recruiting and so far my options seem to be Accenture SI and Deloitte BTA.
My future goal is to go to bschool (hopefully paid for by the company), grab an MBA and then get into strat/ops consulting then eventually go into industry or start up.
So I'm trying to decide on which position to take, and after doing a lot of research, they're both kinda even, but im leaning towards Deloitte
--Accenture seems to be the leader in tech industry (esp with possible acquisition of booz) and currently ranked #1 for tech consulting. Deloitte is definitely top 3 at tech consulting, but theyre better known for non-tech consulting.
--Accenture does have a tuition reimbursement program but only for the very top performing MC's (informal numbers from managers said around 8 get selected). Deloitte on the other hand offers GSAP to both S&O and Tech positions.
--both cultures are very demanding, but the whole partnership vs public ownership is the tipping point. Accenture seems very shareholders/stock-price driven, while Deloitte has a more "do better, so that we do better" kind of mentality (which i think i favor more).
Which option seems like a better option for top bschool and exit opps to a non-tech position?
also, i know its possible to switch to MC from SI at Accenture (currently trying to do that now before going FT, going thru interview process).
Does anyone know people who switched from the tech to s&o at Deloitte? How likely/possible is it to make the switch?
I recently had to choose between Accenture SI and Deloitte BTA. Even though ACN was paying me a significant amount more, I ended up choosing Deloitte BTA. The main reason was the service line I was placed into at Deloitte.
I got placed into Information Management Service Line which is a very good field to get experience in and I think it will help me out in the long run. Also I heard from lots of people that Deloitte has better name on your resume for future jobs. You also get to start with over 100 analysts that are your age so it will be easier to make friends and enjoy work.
At the end of the day they're both great firms and you'll be fine at either. I would recommend you call your recruiter and ask what service line you were placed in.
where did you read that Accenture is number one in tech? Vault places them well below Deloitte
Vault's ranking is on management consulting if I am not mistaken. Accenture is very high up there in terms of technology consulting, implementation. Not just on size but also the qualities.
I am actually on the same career path/plan as you are. Tech consulting -> rebrand with MBA -> MC -> industry or start up.
I mean if Technology consulting is not your ultimate goal, you want to take a look at which options gets you into better MBA school. I think they both offer very similar experiences if you are in technology groups. Accenture might even offer better experience in terms of technology projects just by looking at its size and the diversity of its projects and options. At the end of the day MBA admission will look at how you add value to your work, not necessary if your work is closer to MC. There are many cases where an Accenture team had to finish off what Deloitte couldn't accomplish in a project. That being said, if you are looking at getting reimbursed in MBA, I believe Deloitte will be a better bet. Both firm have IT strategy work which is more similar to what MC does.
In terms of lateraling from tech -> mc, I know people who have done it in both firms. Though I gotta say the relative proportion of MC work in Accenture is smaller (again, due to its sheer size in technology, not necessary the absolute size of the group though).
You are very right about the public/partnership mentality in the two firms, though there are pros and cons in both style. Accenture being bigger, it might be easier to navigate your way or find a project you have more interest in. However that is also a con since you would be almost like a fish in a big sea. Deloitte looks after you a bit more, though that also could mean that if you screw up once, your rep may not be able to let you have a second chance.
Either way, both firms will offer you great learning experience. Just need to build your case as you progress in your career and get in a top MBA, then the rest will be history.
Ping me if you have more questions! :D
@keepitclassy So vault's listing actually did put accenture on top, but I'm assuming most of us dont have the gold pass so we cant see it by ranking, but this site talks about how accenture is number 1. http://www.itbusinessedge.com/blogs/from-under-the-rug/accenture-ibm-de…
@uphone do you usually get placed into a service line before you start working? i feel like they place you in after you start training because they want to address the needs of the company before the interest of the employee. at both companies i feel. also, if you dont mind me asking, what were your offers for both places? you can ping me your answers if its more comfortable than posting in public space.
also, anyone have personal insight to what its really like to work at either of the firms? is work/life balance addressed as seriously as the recruiters said it was?
I just called up the recruiter before accepting and he told me the service line they are most likely going to place me in initially. You get placed into your first project and then you have the opportunity to switch after that, but it's better to get placed in something you think you'll like than to get placed somewhere you don't know about at all.
Accenture and Deloitte's starting salaries should roughly be the same (75k - 85k depending on location), but since I don't go to a top school, Deloitte is paying me less than other kids who go to better schools for the same position! (Although I paid a lot less tuition than those kids). Hopefully after two years I can renegotiate my salary to atleast match those kids.
Accenture offered me what Deloitte should have offered me. (80k)
Starting salary won't matter in 5 years. Pick the best company with the best opportunities and the best fit.
Deloitte. It has better placement into top MBA programs, a well-established program that pays full tuition for MBA (GSAP), and a much larger, more established strategy consulting group that your should have no problem transferring into after your MBA. For your career goals, Accenture simply can't compare.
@theboss Would Deloitte be willing to send you to bschool knowing that you'd transfer to S&O? Wouldnt they want their top performers in their tech division to stay in their tech division?
also, does anyone know what the compensation/bonus is like at deloitte? I keep getting mixed answers that they do or dont have year end performance bonuses. I know accenture has a pay increase (3-10%) and bonus each year depending on your performance (3-25% depending on if its promotion year or not)
No, bc they know you could potentially leave for another strategy consultancy once you're in at a top MBA program. I don't know a lot about comp. structure for undergrads except analysts do not get bonuses. However, they will bump up your post-MBA pay to what they are offering to new candidates. Right now, roughly $165 - 175K all in.
This is all really great information. It was my impression that in Deloitte BTA you rotate between different service lines such as SI, IT Strategy, Application Management, etc. and eventually you focus on one service line, while it seems Accenture will siphon you into SI straight off the bat?
@Jmeister For accenture, you apply into either, MC, TC, or SI.SI itself is a position rather than a dedicated service line. deloitte kinda combined the TC role and SI role into their BTA position.
Within accenture SI, there are different "specializations" that range from analytics, SAP, oracle, microsoft, etc. your first project will most likely be random and depend on business needs. after your first project, you can either stay in the same line or you can branch off into a different specialization.
from what i gathered from deloitte recruiting, they operate in the same way. you dont actually "rotate" between the different service lines. your first few projects may be btwn different ones, but after a while you tend to specialize in a service line as well.
For both firms, there will be room to navigate between projects to find what you want to specialize in, though business need is also a factor. The sweet spot is the overlap between what you want to do and what the firms need.
Deloitte BTA people who are sponsored at my MBA are going back to BTA, not S&O. S&O people are going back to S&O.
@abacab
How many BTA's are in your MBA program? Which school or program level?
^I agree. Your going to be kicking yourself 5 years down the line when the job you turned down actually would have set your career in a better position. Maybe you will make more money over time with the job that pays less now. It's a marathon, not a sprint, and you want to be a winner at the end.
I have spent a bit of time at Accenture on the Management Consultancy side. From what I understand, it is easier to go from SI to MC at Accenture than it is to go from BTA to S&O at Deloitte. That being said, you have a much higher chance of getting Deloitte to pay for your MBA than Accenture.
Also, what do you guys think would be a better choice in regards to project, exit opps, etc?
Accenture MC for AFS (federal services) or for SI non-AFS (commercial)?
Deloitte BTA vs. Accenture SI (Originally Posted: 11/10/2012)
Hey guys! I received offers from both Deloitte (Business Technology Analyst) and Accenture (Systems Integration Analyst) and am having a really tough time deciding between both. I'd appreciate any input from those who have worked at either/both and can provide me with feedback. I've heard a lot on public vs partnership and culture differences and would like feedback on that as well.
If it helps, I'm about 60% sure I want to get an MBA in a couple years and I know Deloitte has GSAP.
Deloitte grooms their S&O guys for MBA's, they typically aren't as concerned with Tech guys getting one though
The culture between Accenture and Deloitte are very different. That should be your deciding factor.
Can you elaborate on that? I.e. what are the differences?
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