Hi,I used to work in Accenture strategy for 8 years, almost ascend to senior manager when I left. I then joined a startup as a founder. I am thinking to move back to the consulting firm. I have 2 options, either going back to Accenture as a senior manager, or join BCG as a 2nd year consultant, both in FS industry. In terms of the package, they pay similarly.I am really hesitating that which option should I take. Obviously BCG have better brand name and may help open more doors when exiting it, but the career level is low, comparing to the senior manager offered by Accenture.Can someone give me some advises? Thanks!

"advises"?Anyway....The pay may be similar, but how does the hourly rate compare? What will either or both firms expect from you in terms of giving up your evenings, weekends, youth and so on for them?I used to work for a leading strategy company many years ago. The salary was very good. But I just couldn't handle the sheer weight of the hours I had to work. Nor did I especially fancy being uprooted every few months. I would rather have been a postman. In fact, if the pay was the same, I would have PREFERRED to have been a postman! If Jeremy Corbyn gets his way, I may well become a postman yet.

One of the recruitment guys will be best placed to advise how brand is percieved in teh job market. I've always been of the opinion it is the type of work you do, rather than who you work for, that is important. Spreadsheet monkey at MBB is still spreadsheet monkey, even if you can gloss it up with a fancy brand.I'd personally go for Accenture, with a good run you are 3-5 years from MD. If you don't make it at Acn then you probably wouldn't make it at BCG either so nothing lost really. Acn is still a good brand and at SM you'll be making plenty of connections in industry if you are any good.

100% take the SM role at Accenture.

[quote]"advises"?Anyway....The pay may be similar, but how does the hourly rate compare? What will either or both firms expect from you in terms of giving up your evenings, weekends, youth and so on for them?I used to work for a leading strategy company many years ago. The salary was very good. But I just couldn't handle the sheer weight of the hours I had to work. Nor did I especially fancy being uprooted every few months. I would rather have been a postman. In fact, if the pay was the same, I would have PREFERRED to have been a postman! If Jeremy Corbyn gets his way, I may well become a postman yet.[/quote]Sorry for the typo..The pay is relatively higher than postman of course, in fact, it's higher than many industry positions, and it may provide things more than salary, like the premium medical insurance.It's true when you compute the hourly pay, it sucks. Accenture will have better life work balance according to my previous experiences, however, the brand name is not as good as BCG here in China and the exit opportunity is also not comparable. After all, Accenture is imaged an IT service provider.

[quote]One of the recruitment guys will be best placed to advise how brand is percieved in teh job market. I've always been of the opinion it is the type of work you do, rather than who you work for, that is important. Spreadsheet monkey at MBB is still spreadsheet monkey, even if you can gloss it up with a fancy brand.I'd personally go for Accenture, with a good run you are 3-5 years from MD. If you don't make it at Acn then you probably wouldn't make it at BCG either so nothing lost really. Acn is still a good brand and at SM you'll be making plenty of connections in industry if you are any good.[/quote]Yes, Accenture is probably the safe choice, I am familiar with everything. One thing BCG impressed me is that the partner told to me, the world is big and wonderful, you should go outside to take a look...

accenture would be my choice looking head of heart. You could always take the ACN offer to BCG and ask them to match grade? Worth a shot.

[quote] Accenture will have better life work balance according to my previous experiences, however, the brand name is not as good as BCG here in China and the exit opportunity is also not comparable. After all, Accenture is imaged an IT service provider.[/quote]Accenture..IT service provider...and aside of finance staff, the actual bankers, what is the main area of investment for banks...? It seems strange that, while bankers themselves bemoan the phenomenon that increasing numbers of FS jobs are being replaced by IT, you want to oh sod it.Accenture SM. Its where the future of FS is.

BEP"I would have PREFERRED to have been a postman"This is a rarity - a partner who really wants to deliverDC

[quote]BEP"I would have PREFERRED to have been a postman"This is a rarity - a partner who really wants to deliverDC[/quote]But a postman who wants to be a partner is much more commonplace. That's what my mom told me anyway.