Hello,I'm currently a Senior Auditor at a big four accounting firm. The idea of management consulting appeals to me because I enjoy project-based client-facing work. To be honest though, I haven't had much experience in the industry to know whether it's the right path for me.I was hoping to get some guidance on how to make this transition...for example, I'm currently a qualified chartered accountant, but should I consider an MBA? I am facing a bit of resistance within my own office about making this move, but would consider transferring from the audit dept to the consulting line of the firm. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.Thanks!

Hi Zahra, The move from auditing to consulting is difficult and quite rare but also not impossible.Firstly, the skills between consultants and auditors are extremely different and it would help if you could get some experience in your current role to bridget this gap. Does your audit firm do any 'advisory' work, which delivers similar projects to consulting? If so, I would begin here. As well as presumably being an easier move, it would give you an opportunity to develop the required skills whilst seeing if you enjoy the work. (Although bear in mind it's still ikely to differ substantially from work in consulting)Given your audit experience and accountancy qualification I imagine you have a good understanding of an organisation's finance function. You could try and use this to enter a consulting firm's finance transformation or shared service practice.Do you know ANYONE in the consulting/advisory arm of your firm? If so, get in touch with them and ask them to point you in the direction of the relevant industry (if you have an industry alignment) or finance transformation lead. Explain to them your situation and offer your time to help with proposals/internal work. Then, after some time ask to be considered for open positions.Good luck,

before taking any leap, have you tried getting seconded (rather than transferring) into the consulting division for a defined period of time, for example onto a finance transformation project where your previous experience may also be directly relevant? I worked in a Big 4 firm where this was not unusual, and a number of former auditors (admittedly with a healthy dollop of advisory experience) eventually became consulting partners. If you can make the jump within your current firm, you have the benefit of retaining your existing internal network, which can be a major asset.