Hi,I have received an offer from ACN for a C3 position in their FPM division.A bit of background: I have close to 7 years finance experience in the context of FMCG. My experience is varied, having partnered with supply chain, sales and marketing over the years but my specialisation is probably in profit optimisation, having spent the last two years in an internal consultant role focusing on price and promotion strategy, supply chain optimisation etc...Enough about me. My conundrum is that I am now at Financial Controller level in industry with a large FTSE100 and whilst i understand progression in consulting goes fast (if you are good), I can't help but to feel apprehension about the speed at which I will potentially reach M1.ACN are telling me that my technical knowledge and skills are at M1 level no issues but due to the lack of consulting experience they decided to bring me in at C3.I must admit, what ACN say makes complete sense and whilst I think i could take the learning curve at M1, I am actually happy to come in at C3, get to know how things are done, get up to speed with the company etc... (that does mean I have to swallow a bit of pay cut on the way but I can leave with that for a year)However my question is. I understand there normally is a 12 months review period, where at the end of the 12 months, my performance against my objectives/ tasks will be reviewed and then a choice will be made as to whether to push me up to M1.Can this happen earlier than 12 months? Are there cases where people are promoted within 6 months?Thanks

As a FC, Acn are selling you very short by bringing you in below manager level - I personally would not agree to it.If you came in at C3, I have no doubt that that you will soon become very frustrated when you find yourself reporting to other Ms and SMs who do not have a jot of finance experience or any type of accounting qualification (but highly proficient in garbage work like testing, change and PMO).Reviews are every 6 months. Your path to promotion would depend on how many months at level Acn grants you at consultant level. Best to make this clear with Acn before you start. There is one general promotion round in September along with an "exceptional case" round in March.

If you come in at C3 you may be setting yourself up for failure. Not because making the jump to manager is rocket science but you may easily find that it will take you a while to figure out the good roles and what's expected of consultants. Basically, unless you get up to speed very quickly you're risking staying more than one year at C3, and getting killed at ratings sessions as homegrown C2s will end up looking better as they know how to play the game. Push for M1.

From what I hear, Accentureites are masters of "playing the game". Those smooth youngsters really have polish and finesse and know how to take everything they can from the corporate world.Tell me more about how people in Accenture "play the game".

7 years exp and an FC at a ftse 100? you would be crazy to accept less than M1.

Ah the classic HR gambit: "we think you can perform at M1 but because you lack <thing> we need you to demonstrate performance at a lower level which will ease your transition into M1, anyway we do two promotion rounds a year so it could be as soon as 1 year."a) it won&apos;t be 1 year.b) you&apos;ll be working just as hard at C3 for a bunch of 30yo smug M1s whom you could wipe the carpet with experience wise.c) <thing> is usually anything you lack in your CV, be it consulting experience, client facing experience, technical knowledge, industry focus, facial hair...If it&apos;s possible, tell them you feel you are strong M1 candidate and it would not be appropriate given your current level / skills to come in at C3, if they disagree ask to speak to the hiring partner?

"we think you can perform at M1 but because you lack *INSERT THING HERE* we need you to demonstrate performance at a lower level which will ease your transition into M1, anyway we do two promotion rounds a year so it could be as soon as 1 year."c) *THING* is usually anything you lack in your CV, be it consulting experience, client facing experience, technical knowledge, industry focus, facial hair... fixed. forgot this forum strips out GT and LT tags