Hi there,Where are the work assignments typically located for ACN's different operating groups? I have been looking through the forum and read that FS is mainly London based and C&HT around the outskirts of the London area, but can't find any information on the others. I am particularly interested in FS and resources and whether these involve international travel for BSI graduates. Any ideas?

Resources is mainly London-based, and I've also been out to Reading, Sunbury - places in commuting distance of London. There are also projects in Scotland (Aberdeen). Haven't been abroad or heard of anyone going from the '05 intake.

I'm about to start in BSI in the resources group but would have liked to be in FS. From what I gather, as an analyst there isn't that much international travel anyway.

Thanks for that. If anybody has anything to add, i'd appreciate it. Also, at what point are candidates asked which operating group they would like to join? I've been invited to the assessment centre and I'm wondering if they will ask me then.

ACN FS OG is split into 3 groups (banking, cap mkts and insurance). Cap mkts clients are mainly in London. Insurance clients may have their head offices in London, but their other offices will be spread out accross the country. I believe banking will be more of a mix. I know lots of people who have worked in places like the Netherlands, Turkey, Germany, Spain, and South Africa. But other have been based in some little town on the South Coast for the last 3 years. Its a matter of luck.I believe they ask you at some point during the interview process, but your reply doesn't guarantee a thing.

Assuming nothing's changed since I joined, they ask you to express a preference on a form that you fill in just prior to your final one-to-one interview. You put your top 3, in rank order. It's not used as part of the interview though - you don't have to justify your choice (at least thats what happened with me)I don't mean to be flippant, but I'm pretty sure these forms go straight in the bin. There were plenty of people in my start group with very clear reasons for wanting to join a certain OG (i.e. finance related degree, work experience in FS and a strong desire to work in that field) who were put into a completely different group. There doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to it, so don't pin your hopes on any one group!FS is mainly london based, but when i joined most of the new analysts went work as testers on the failing lloyd's registrars project in Worthing. It's a barrel of fun down there by all accounts

Jonny, I definately agree there. I've been put in resources. any ideas how I can change over to FS? How easy is it to do?

Generally it's not very easy to swap. You need to be sponsored by a senior exec from the group that you are trying to join. The catch 22 is that in order for a senior exec to sponsor you, you usually need to have worked for them - but how do you get the chance to work for them without being released by your own OG?Basically you need to hope that resources will hit a low patch at the same time as FS wins a couple of new contracts and is desperate for staff. At times like this, OG's frequently give staff to other groups "on loan. Once this happens it should be no trouble to transfer permanently, as long as you impress the right people.In summary, if you're in the right place at the right time then in it's pretty easy to transfer. If not then it can be pretty much impossible.

That's pretty dissapointing. I have no interest in resources and want to pursue a career in FS but i'll need to get networking and see what i can do.

I think the advice above is true as at the present time. But, and this is a big but, I would say all bets are off on this subject as the firm is introducing a new operating model which is meant to allow more effective load balancing between industry areas at the geographic level. This may all turn out to be theoretical with little or no change on the ground. However, the presentations I've seen put BSIC on a cross industry footing with the industry point-expertise residing in business consulting. Either way things will be a little different on this front in the coming months.

What is the timescale for rolling out changes to the operating model - i.e. between initial announcement and planned implementation on the ground? Will this be in place if I join in September 2007, or 2008?