Accenture vs Big 4

Hi there,

I understand that deciding between firms like Accenture and the Big 4 (Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC) can be a tough choice, especially when your ultimate goal is to break into a top-tier firm like McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), or Bain & Company (MBB). Both paths have their own merits and potential drawbacks, so let me break it down for you.

Brand Name:
In terms of brand recognition, the Big 4 firms have a slight edge over Accenture, primarily due to their long-standing reputation in accounting and auditing. However, Accenture is widely regarded as a leader in the consulting industry, and its brand name carries significant weight, especially in the technology and digital transformation space.

Pay and Compensation:
When it comes to compensation, there isn't a significant difference between Accenture and the Big 4 at the entry-level. Both offer competitive salaries and benefits packages. However, as you progress in your career, the compensation at MBB firms tends to be higher, especially for top performers.

Exit Opportunities:
This is where the paths diverge slightly. While both Accenture and the Big 4 provide excellent exit opportunities, the nature of those opportunities can vary.

If you start at Accenture as a Business Analyst, you'll gain exposure to a wide range of industries and projects, with a strong focus on technology and digital transformation. This can position you well for roles in various industries, including technology companies, startups, and even MBB firms themselves. Accenture is known for its robust training programs and opportunities for rapid career growth.

On the other hand, if you join a Big 4 firm in an advisory role, you'll likely gain deep expertise in a specific industry or functional area, such as strategy, operations, or risk management. This specialized knowledge can be highly valuable for certain industries or roles, but it may also limit your options in other sectors.

Breaking into MBB:
Now, let's address your ultimate goal of breaking into an MBB firm. Both Accenture and the Big 4 can serve as potential stepping stones, but the path from Accenture may be more direct.

Accenture's consulting practice is more closely aligned with the work done at MBB firms, and there is a well-established pipeline for top-performing Accenture consultants to transition to MBB. Many MBB firms actively recruit from Accenture, recognizing the high caliber of talent and project experience.

While the Big 4 firms also provide opportunities to transition to MBB, the path may be slightly more challenging, as the work can be more specialized and less directly transferable to the generalist consulting model of MBB firms.

Ultimately, the decision between Accenture and the Big 4 will depend on your specific interests, strengths, and long-term career aspirations. If your primary goal is to break into MBB, and you're interested in a broad range of industries and projects, Accenture may be the more suitable choice. However, if you have a strong preference for a particular industry or functional area, and you're open to a wider range of exit opportunities, the Big 4 could be a better fit.

Regardless of your choice, I would encourage you to focus on excelling in your role, building a strong network, and actively pursuing opportunities to demonstrate your problem-solving skills, leadership potential, and commitment to continuous learning.

Remember, the path to MBB is not an easy one, but with dedication, hard work, and a strategic approach, it is achievable from either Accenture or the Big 4. Don't hesitate to reach out if you need further guidance or support along the way.

Accenture may be more helpful if you are looking to focus on IT and Digital, as this is a growing area you can use as a specialism to enter into MBB with some experience. 

However, you will still need a strong referal to break into MBB, and probably 3+ years of excellent performance at Accenture.

Hi,

I worked at Accenture and McKinsey and here are my observations:

• Accenture is very international and lot's of the projects will come from abroad since Accenture is leading the global accounts
• Salaries are a bit higher than in Big4, but much lower than at MBBs
• Accenture has very deep expertise in digital and IT. Lots of Acn people make it to MBB digital branches now even without a downgrade
• Accenture a has much better culture than any other company in the industry

Best!

Hi Alex,

if your goal is to end in MBB, neither would be ideal and joining a second tier strategy consulting (Strategy&, RB, OW, ATK) or doing an MBA before applying would be better.

If you really have to choose between the two, Accenture, assuming you are referring to the strategy division, would be better (it would be more likely for you to do strategy projects). However you will likely need a very strong referral to be invited at MBB.

Best,

Francesco

Both Big 4 and Accenture are independenlty nice places to be where you will learn a lot and be challenged at work. However using them to get into MBB may not be the ideal career path. I presume you don't want to go down the tradition MBA hiring route, in which case a better bet is to think about areas where you can build true expertise (either an industry vertical, functional knowledge or technical expertise) and leverage that in a few years to recruit as an experienced hire at MBB

Both Accenture (Business analyst) and Big 4 (advisory) offer strong brand names and good exit opportunities. However, for your goal of breaking into MBB, Big 4 advisory roles tend to align more closely with the consulting industry and may provide a slightly better chance.