Hi, Just a quick question (or two) about accenture as there appears to be some conflicting info on this board. After the overhaul at xmas by the management, is there now a second promotion period within accenture consultancy as well as the september round of promotions (Some on this board state that there is, but I asked the question to HR at accenture, (I'm starting in the summer) and they said that there is only the septemner round).Also - (sorry, should have written questions in the title!), Is there an up or out policy in accenture? To be more specific, in BSI. Which operating group is best for rapid promotion? Do people in FS work more hours than other groups?Why have a Manchester office if all the FS work is in London????Thanks a lot!

Promotion is always in September however there is an exceptional one-off promotion in March this year due to a rewards and benefits re-think.Accenture supports high performers - the "up or out" policy you refer to is rather, "perform or out". If you perform to the level expected, you will rise in the company. If you don't, then perhaps Accenture isn't the right place for you. (You'll find the same policy in any major consulting firm - Accenture is by no means unique) and you'll be supported to look elsewhere. The best operating group for rapid promotion is one where you have an interest, ergo you will perform at your optimum and thus rise as fast as you can. Choose based upon your own interests and what you want to get out of your career. No operating group stands out as working long hours. We have a Manchester office because there are many projects which are not based in London, and regional offices add flexibility. Plus Accenture is much more than FS work.

Thank you for your response, it promted a follow on question...Is accenture a good company with regards to promotion/career development etc? Is it fasterIs career progression faster, equal to or slower than other companies to reach the senior positions?Thaks again.

Accenture is a good company. How you succeed there, on indeed at any company, is down to you. The good people will be promoted wherever they go. And vice versa.

FS office in Manchester because Barclays are based near by.

From my 10 years ACN experience;- there is no fast track operating group for promotion...it is the same across the board.- FS do not work more hours than others. this is a myth. I am global service line and have worked across Products, FS, C&HT and Resources in my time.- many people in the firm question why have a manchester office. historically there has been work up there, but not much and certainly now not enough to warrant an office. A few years back the only thing that saved the mcr office from closure was the fact that a significant number of the UKs most senior partners were manchester based. To an extent, that is still true and as such the office is unlikely to close.