Are you a student or recent graduate, thinking of breaking into the consulting world in New York City? 🗽This place is a major business center with some of the top consulting firms you can find in the world, giving you plenty of opportunities. That said, when people mention consulting firms, big firms like Deloitte, McKinsey, and BCG will often pop up. However, you can’t just apply to a couple of firms. We suggest casting a wider net to increase your chances of landing a job.
This list contains several top consulting firms in the Big Apple you may want to consider. ✨
New York City is the biggest city in the US with more than 50 Fortune 500 companies. This is where consulting firms come in. They help businesses improve their operations, increase productivity, and boost company revenue. Businesses come in various shapes and sizes, with different challenges. As such, consulting firms will offer different services including digital transformation, marketing consulting, financial management, and strategy consulting.
Take a look at some of the best consulting firms in New York City:
McKinsey is a big deal. This influential consulting firm was founded in 1926 in Chicago but is currently based in New York. The company has over 120 offices in various parts of the world and serves clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to emerging startups. Most of the clients are in industries such as financial services, healthcare, advanced electronics, aerospace, and defense.
McKinsey provides great learning, traveling, and networking opportunities. It’s a great option for people looking to build high-powered careers. The company’s culture is focused on continuous improvement. If you’re the kind of person always looking for ways to level up, you’ll fit right in.
👉 McKinsey Personal Experience Interview
👉 McKinsey Problem Solving Game
👉 McKinsey Internship Application
Next up is BCG, another leading consulting firm with a global reach of over 50 countries. The NYC office has worked on various projects including corporate development, digital economy, corporate finance, marketing and sales operations, and post-merger integration.
When it comes to engaging clients and employees, the firm uses a bottom-up approach which is ideal for anyone who enjoys working in a collaborative environment. BCG is also big on diversity, with programs supporting minorities, women, and veterans. Plus, they’re all about personal growth, so you’ll get plenty of opportunities to develop your career.
Bain & Company was founded in 1973 and currently has 58 locations in six different continents. The company’s culture is built on its values which include results-based strategy and implementation, collaboration, endless development opportunities, and mutual respect.
Bain has a mentorship culture that helps uplift the younger employees. In addition, one of the core brand strengths is career progression, opening up growth opportunities. The company is also invested in giving back to the society. As such, they offer pro-bono services, particularly to non-profit companies to help tackle issues like racial injustice, climate change, and social inequality.
👉 Bain & Company Employer Profile
McKinsey, BCG, and Bain, also known as the MBB firms, are key players in the industry. Check out our additional materials on this topic:
👉 MBB Consulting Salary – How Much Can You Make at MBB?
👉 Secrets from Behind the MBB Recruitment Curtain
👉 No BS, Evidence-Based System to Get MBB Offers
Deloitte is a prestigious consulting firm and one of the “Big Four” accounting firms globally. The New York office has over 5,000 employees working in various departments including consulting, financial advisory services, and audit. A heads up, the New York office has a transient system, meaning you won't get an assigned desk. If you get a job here, you may have to travel a lot. Unfortunately, this can be overwhelming and affect your work-life balance significantly. On the plus side, the company has several initiatives to help employees achieve balance.
Most employees at Deloitte are youthful, making it a great place for a graduate who is starting their career in consulting. The company has high expectations from its employees but also emphasizes teamwork, so that you won’t feel like you’re on your own.
PwC is also one of the ‘big four’ accounting firms, operating in over 155 countries and with more than 360,000 employees globally. The firm is considered a great place to start your career as it handles multi-sector projects. This allows employees to gain valuable exposure quickly. That said, the job comes with a lot of travelling hours, which can hinder work-life balance.
PwC is big on diversity, hiring people from diverse groups including those living with disabilities. They also have a strong mentorship culture allowing the younger talent to thrive through the guidance of the seasoned employees. This leads to opportunities for career growth.
KPMG is based in the Netherlands with offices in New York City. It’s among the ‘Big Four’ accounting firms and the top leader in risk management consulting. If you’re just starting your career, you’ll fit in the NYC office. That’s because of their robust training system. They also have a good work-life balance, attracting many recruits. The company values the wellness of employees, therefore providing options like remote work, job sharing, flex-time, sabbaticals, and compressed weeks. They insist on building a culture based on open and honest communication. Employees receive constructive criticism and are involved in the problem-solving process.
EY is a major professional services firm with over 270,000 employees spread across 150 countries and 700 offices. The company offers various consulting services including risk management, performance improvement, IT advisory, and financial services. Just like KPMG, the company prioritizes a good work-life balance. There isn’t much travel and employees can work remotely. However, this will depend on the project you’re working on.
EY supports diversity and inclusion, allowing for cultural exchange among employees. There are also opportunities for career growth as promotions are clear and structured, reducing ambiguity. In addition, you get raises and bonuses based on your performance.
The four firms mentioned above are also known as the Big Four, and we have relevant materials available on this topic.
👉 What Are the Differences Between the Big 4: KPMG, PwC, EY, Deloitte?
👉 What Is the Difference Between MBB and the Big Four?
Accenture is known for offering IT and business consulting services. The firm has worked with companies in the banking, insurance, and capital markets industries, helping them navigate the digital transformation journey.
The work-life balance at Accenture isn’t perfect, but the company is slowly adopting remote work and flexible hour options, which is likely to help with this. In addition, you have the option to work overtime if you please. The company is highly committed to diversity and inclusion ensuring all employees feel at home. In addition, they help develop young talent, making career growth easy for personnel.
👉 Accenture Application Process
Booz Allen Hamilton is one of the oldest consulting firms in New York, dating as far back as over 100 years. The company has about 20 offices spread over 14 countries and has employed about 29,000 workers. BAH has done a lot of consulting jobs for the federal government. For example, it has worked with the Department of Homeland Security, and military and defense agencies.
The work-life balance at BAH is quite strong. The company does a lot of federal consulting meaning there isn’t as much traveling compared to other consulting firms. Another benefit of working at BAH is that there’s room for career growth, thanks to its dense infrastructure. And if you put in optional extra hours, you can accelerate your career growth.
👉 Booz Allen Hamilton Case Interview
IBM is a global company, doing business in almost every country across the globe. They offer technology consulting and digital transformation services, helping companies innovate and optimize cutting-edge technologies. The hybrid work policy makes work-life balance much smoother. According to the ambition box, other factors like job security, skill development, and company culture got a rating of 4 out of 5, making it a great place to work.
Oliver Wyman is relatively new compared to the other firms mentioned above. It was formed in 2007 and has managed to grow fast. It now consists of over 60 offices spread across 27 countries, with their headquarters in New York City. That said, as the company is still growing, the work-life balance isn’t exactly perfect. In addition, as the company offers financial services, the environment can be quite intense. However, Oliver Wyman offers mentorship to young talent, offering opportunities for career growth as promotions are based on performance.
👉 Oliver Wyman Numerical Reasoning Test
👉 Oliver Wyman Employer Profile
Once you start working, a big part of your waking moments will be spent in the office. As such, it becomes important to find the right firm. Before you submit that application, here are some factors that can help you determine if a firm is right for you.
These top consulting firms in New York City offer a great place to start or continue your consulting career. Whether a work-life balance, benefits, or flexible work hours are what you’re looking for, there’s something for everyone. Take your time and research these firms, and pick one that feels right.
👉 For more exciting companies to explore, be sure to check out the following articles to discover additional opportunities:
