I posted the following on IBTalk but didn’t get a lot of responses. I’m trying to decide between Accenture Analyst Consulting Group and JPMorgan Business Analyst. Money is better at JPMorgan, but I feel training would be stronger at Accenture. “Hi,Any comments on the following...1) How much travelling (duration, destinations, frequency) can one expect as a Business Analyst (graduate) at JPMorgan Technology? 2) What is the expenses policy like for JPMorgan (food allowance, travel expenses, accommodation)?3) Would you have to carry out work at clients’ sites (JPMorgan)? 4) How are career prospects at JPMorgan and Accenture (3 yrs)?5) Job security (Accenture and JPMorgan)6) Culture (Working as a BA in the Tech dpt at an IB compared to working as a Consultant at Accenture)Thanks”Poncho

I would imagine you got no response as you come accross as clueless. Questions 1 ,2 and 3 in particularly are absolutely pointless when addressed to JP Morgan, as you haveWhy oh why do people seem to think working in IB is the same as consulting. they are totally totally different.

I have never mentioned that consulting is the same as working at an IB... and instead of just scanning the forum for any chances of criticising people why don’t you just use you time to make positive comments and by the way I think questions 1, 2 and 3 are relevant for any job.Why oh why do people seem to think that consulting is the only job where people need to travel?

You actually got job offers from both places?! Fuk me, that's a surprise... "Q3) ...at client sites (JPMorgan)"What client site?! What are you talking about? What client?

In response to Q3:As a business analyst for JP Morgan, your only client is and will always be JP Morgan. You may move around offices (London, Bournemouth, Edinburgh etc) but you won't be travelling to other companies.Although similar sounding, they are both very different roles. I'm surprised you got offers from these companies without having a solid knowledge of the roles, but good luck making your choiceTT

JPMorgan defines clients as “internal” and knowing the size of JPMorgan not all will be in the same location, sorry for the confusion.

Hi POncho,You will get some travel with JPMorgan, but only to JPMorgan sites. In terms of your starting point, ie what you will be doing, both accenture and JPM are likely to be much the same. It really boils down to where you feel you fit the best in terms of the culture of the places. If you're looking further ahead, having JPM on your CV will mean that the accentures of this world will be very interested in you, however the JPM's of this world may not be very interested in you having accenture on your CV. urge you to have a think about what you really want long term, and in what industries/sectors, then it will all become clear for you to make your decision.

I also always love this question on here. "2) What is the expenses policy like for JPMorgan (food allowance, travel expenses, accommodation)? "Lets end this once and for all. The expenses policy of all companies is that they reimburse your costs. They wont say go and work in Newcastle at your own cost, as an example. Its very very rare you will get a daily allowance due to UK tax law.Finally I didnt trawl through the posts as you suggested. It was the top post when I replied first and was offering you helpful feedback as to why on 2 forums you havent had any response. Not my fault if you choose to ignore it.

Your choice is between (1) a back office IT position and (2) a front office consulting position. Training, recognition and career development are likely to be better in (2). Plus, it is easier to move from consulting to industry than the other way around.

anon - "If you're looking further ahead, having JPM on your CV will mean that the accentures of this world will be very interested in you, however the JPM's of this world may not be very interested in you having accenture on your CV."What a load of crap. Don't comment on things you don't know anything about please. A huge number of people move from Big 4 to banking - in fact some banks actually ask for consulting experience.

accenture isn't big 4

5 and 4 are next to each other on the keyboard.Accenture has a capital A and Big 4 a capital B if we're being arses about this.

I know ACN guys who have left for JPMorgan. I don't know of any who come back in the direction (apart from an ill-fated outsourcing arrangement back in 1996.....)My interpretation based on imperfect data- Working conditions better at JPMorgan- Skills development in early years better at ACN (this could be contentious)In terms of job security, don't worry about it - you should worry more about the ability to find another job. Even if skills dev better at ACN no doubt JPM is better on CV.I think that broadly covers your questions. Good luck.

"Big 4" refers to the big accountancy firms, some of which have consultancy practices. Accenture is not in the Big 4. Since Arthur Anderson went bust, the phrase "Big 5" went out of common use.

They're now the Fat Four.

Thank you for stating the obvious yet again anon. Key word there I think is "common", as it's still used and (most) people know what is meant by it.http://www.independent-consulting-bootcamp.com/Big-5-consulting-firm.htmlUseful comments though, really...

What? - Accenture was never in the Big 4, the Big 5, or the Big anything. It's a large company for sure, however members of the "Big X" fraternity are accountancy firms. Accenture is not and never has been an accountancy firm. That website you posted seems to have made up its own somewhat confused definition of what a 'Big X' firm is.When the term "Big 5" used to be used, the 5th member was Arthur Anderson (which was an accountancy firm), not to be confused with Accenture's former name of Andersen Consulting (which was a different firm with a similar name and loose links to Arthur Anderson).

Thanks for the obvious yet again anon. Accenture never was a Big 4/5/8/whatever audit firm no. But the word Big is not copyrighted by the accountancy world and the term "Big 5 Consultancies" has been around for some time now.The fact that you haven't heard of it before doesn't mean it doesn't exist.Also it was Arthur Andersen, not Arthur Anderson. Andersen Consulting was the consulting arm of Arthur Andersen and changed it's name to Accenture a few years back. Hardly a loose link, rather the same company. Donut.As mentioned if you don't know, don't comment. It's been fun, but without knowing who you are to laugh at you, I see no point in continuing to post.