Hi,I've been working as an analyst in Business Systems Integration Consulting for the past year and a half and am due to be promoted to Consultant level in the next couple of months. I have gained some valuable experience in this area and am now looking forward to branching out into other areas of expertise in the consulting industry. I am particularly interested in learning more about the opportunities available with regard to strategy based roles that provide more insight into the techniques used to help turnaround companies’ sales, profitability and shareholder value.Within the company there is a strategy division, but the size is small in comparison to the business systems consulting sector and therefore the opportunities are scarce. In addition, it is notoriously difficult to leave projects and the associated capability group if you have proven to become a valuable resource.1) is there capability specific training that helps develop new skills that would directly apply to strategy based roles?2) will strategy firms take on experienced consultants from a different background such as business systems integration?3) What strategy firms are actively growing at the moment and looking to take on new consultants?Any answers to the above questions greatly appreciated

My advice would be to leave Accenture, do a (top) MBA and then apply for Strat firms if thats where you want to be. The mba is a good way to transfer area's for people in your position. You'll need another year or two experience though.Failing that, network and get on a strat project.

Why does startegy appeal? why everyone wants to move? is the salary better?

Hi,Firstly, thanks to the first messenger for getting back. My thoughts exactly on how to proceed. To ask some further questions - do you know of others who have taken alternative routes into strategy? Are you based in strategy yourself, and if so how have you found the work to be so far?To reply to the second messenger; I could not really comment for the majority of people, but my own personal reasons for desiring a move to strategy would be because of the types of role you can get, not necessarily because the salary is better. ACN business systems integration consultants generally earn the same as strategy consultants at ACN itself. Having said that, I would say in all probability that firms specialising in strategy consulting tend to offer more money for the individual. I would think the reason behind this is that strategy firms can generate higher profit margins per person, but to justify that the work is high pressure, even longer hours than other types of consulting and strategy consultants can be the first to lose their jobs in an economic downturn. This would be all generalising however