I have accepted an offer to work for Accenture in the strategy function.I am slightly concerned at the way ACN are repeatedly slated on these threads. Are they really as bad as everyone suggests, if so why?Be brutally honest as I want to know what I may be gettng into!One other question, I live in Leeds and am reluctant to move to London, how flexible are ACN on location?

Stay in Leeds and you will be working on the NHS project. There are blonde haired blue eyed girls in London too. Fake tans, shorts skirts .. the lot!

I didn't think Accenture were involved in the NHS project (NPfIt/CfH)...didnt they pass it over to CSC last year?Wherever you are based from- be prepared to travel a fair bit. When they say 'fully flexible' it generally means spending most of your time travelling across the UK, maybe even abroad.

I'd say climb aboard and make your own mind up. Theres a lot of bitter people there as in any large firm but there's some great work that will prepare you for all manner of interesting jobs in the future. Decent people there too.

My friend went to work for Accenture as a graduate. He said the new intake soon ended up in one of three categories; the Believers (who lap it all up), the Leavers (who don't), and the Grievers (who don't, but stay anyway)...

Just thought Id mention a lot of the opinion is generated from people who work within the Business Systems Consulting division rather than the Strategy arm. From what I understand, and what Ive heard, BSI peole can be treated like skivvies whereas Strategy grads have a betterand more predictable time.Dont forget there are only 20 strat grad recruited a year opposed to 800? BSI grads recruited. Unless you join an operating group like Resources, there is far less travelling with ACN strategy arm as BSI people do this bit...so as a Strategy analyst you wont be posted in Slough for 6 months programming some system

Jamie - any company with ~100,000 employees is bound to have its detractors, the rants of the few on here are unlikely to mean you will regret a move to such a firm. I have two friends who joined the strat practice at Accenture upon graduation; one is now a high-flyer in an investment bank, the other is a high-flyer at one of the world's most prestigious internet companies. So don't fret - you'll probably feel it was a great career move a couple of years from now - and if not you'll be eminently employable in lots of other sectors...Tony RestellTop-Consultant.com