Hey fam,
Has anyone undertaken a manager/senior manager role at any of the big 4 specifically in the software technology consulting areas?
My friend has an opportunity to join PWC in a manager capacity but is questioning the levels of stress and expectations compared to working for a smaller boutique firm.
Any experience appreciated in advance
Cheers
Digital technology specifically within reporting and performance management automation
My friend has an opportunity to join PWC in a manager capacity
I think if your “friend” isn’t able to ask directly, given the role being applied, I don’t think it’s a good idea. Given the “competitive” nature of people in those companies vs smaller boutique firm.
I’d suggest you are spot on. But the perks following a few years at a big 4 then move to a smaller company in a senior role is the attraction for my friend
Get your friend to work for PWC and if they like it in a year they can stay there or choose to move elsewhere. Also comes down to the preference of the culture, pay, involvement in company politics etc.
Hey mike, good point. It’s not a life sentence. See what the grass is like on that side and jump ship if it’s crap…with added CV cred
hey. I've been a SM at a Big 4 many years ago but in a different area. I chose Big 4 back then over second tier for several reasons. Generally, although there are always exceptions: you are paid more, client base is larger (ie, get to work on more projects that are different), more co-workers so you get to work with more people. In terms of stress and expectations, I can't compare with a boutique since I've never worked in one, but can give some general observations: Big 4, law firms and presumably boutique (since they are just a smaller model of Big 4) all require employees to complete time sheets. Managers and above have targets to meet, eg, 6 billable out of 7.5hrs per working day. Sometimes you have to work longer hours to meet these targets. If you are good at your work, there should not be much stress coming from the work itself. I find most of the stress being created by certain individuals that I needed to work with. So, if your friend can suss out personalities of the individuals in the team s/he will be working in (and that should be possible through the interview process), then s/he (IMO) should choose whichever s/he is more comfortable with. If I had to do this again, I would still choose Big 4 for the pay expectations - I'm happy to grind in games if the reward at the end justifies it. Likewise, a few years of grinding at work and stress, etc, would be ok for me. After a few years, if your friend does not like it, s/he can always move to another Big 4 or industry - it also sounds more impressive (IMO) having a Big 4 on your resume. Is your friend's role external client facing or would your friend be working on the systems etc of PwC?
Hey transient,
Thanks for your detailed feedback!!
My mate is currently a mid tier consultant in an IT boutique. He’s looking to move up to manage teams and projects instead of writing code. And his experience qualifies for the move to a manager role at PWC.
The role is client facing, managing teams of senior consultants and mentoring grads/entry level consultants.
Can I ask you- as an SM, would your KPIs be more focussed on generating business and project delivery milestones over say, billable hours???
It's more to do with generating revenue for the firm, either through billing the client, bringing in new clients, ensuring projects are completed, etc. I was in advisory so billables was a KPI. In IT, KPIs could be more project based I imagine (he should ask that in the interview process). It depends on how the revenue is brought in, eg, for IT it should be more about project milestones. Yes you are also correct in that as a manager there would be more leadership KPIs and less basic tasks, eg, writing code or drafting advices (depending on the team you are in).
Thank you for this insight. Big help. My mate has a call next week with them to discuss further. Appreciate it!
In my experience, managers are still expected to do the dirty work at Big 4. It's only when you are a director that you'll be less hands on as you are expected to chase leads.
If your friend can use the experience and contacts to effectively build a network it can be a great career boost.
If they are more focused on doing the work and completing projects then they will be worked very hard.
So I think a big part of it comes down to if they have the personality to leverage the role.
Hey Keggs. This is also the attraction to joining the big 4, the career boost and street cred. Joining as a manger level and progressing to a director role in 5 years would set my friend up for life. This is why im trying to see how others have travelled the same road and how their experience was for him!
My mate wants to move out of a technical role and move into pre sales, project management, business development. The stuff that SM seem to focus on in big 4
Appreciate your comments
Disappointed - Thought this would be about running a caravan park.
….but is questioning the levels of stress and expectations compared to working for a smaller boutique firm.
Companies don't pay a higher salary for nothing.
I find that the more senior you get, the less actual physical work there is. But there's more mental work and responsibility. That responsibility can cause stress because you're relying on others. And then there are those that aren't able to switch off properly mentally.
I thought this was going to be a post about a job as a caravan park manager and was kind of curious.
should see what this manage role is
in EY even the junior staff are called managers.
it's is manager role as in director or partner. do they need to find business. in consulting that where the real managers are, when they need to find business and get a cut
rest are for show
From what I can see, the general heirarchy at PWC and Deloitte is
Graduate>consultant>senior consultant>manager>senior manager/associate director>director>principle>partner
So not exactly entry level but not director/partner either
Does this have anything to do with new payment rails?