ACA / Audit at Big 4 to Consulting

Question

I have recently completed my ACA qualification and I am looking at moving into consulting, particularly deals / corporate finance.

Is there a bear way to approach this with the aim to get into a mid to higher tier firm down the line?

I.e. Would it be more optimal to try to go through a very small boutique and then up the consulting tiers or go through another role to help 'bridge the gap' with more transferable skills? I say this as ideally I would not like to go through the grad scheme, unless this is the best way forward?

I only have work experience in big 4 audit, but have a strong academic background including an Economics undergraduate degree at a good university.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Answer 1

Hi there,

The optimal path to transition into consulting with a focus on deals and corporate finance depends on your immediate opportunities. A direct move to a boutique consulting firm specializing in M&A, valuations, or corporate finance is ideal, as it provides relevant experience and a clear pathway to mid- or high-tier firms. Alternatively, transitioning into a transaction services or corporate finance role within your Big 4 firm or elsewhere bridges the gap by building expertise in areas like due diligence and valuations, which are highly transferable to consulting. Avoiding graduate schemes is feasible by targeting associate-level roles in boutique or mid-tier firms where your ACA qualification and audit experience add value, using 1-2 years of niche experience to transition upward. A graduate scheme should only be a fallback option if direct entry roles prove unattainable.

Happy to help you prep for any consulting interviews that come your way! Good luck!

Best,

Evelina

Answer 2

Hi James,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

First of all, if you are primarily interested in deals and/or corporate finance, I would advise you to focus your efforts on the Big Four companies and the like, as this is not typically what strategy consulting firms cover.
Moreover, I would highly advise you to just apply to your target consulting firms and see what happens, as there is really no better or worse way.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming applications, pre-interview assessments and/or interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 3

Hey!
I would structure it as follows - acc. to your long term goal:

Direct Move to Consulting: Apply to deals/corporate finance roles at mid-tier or Big 4 advisory teams (e.g., Transaction Services, Valuations, Restructuring). These have strong exit routes to MBB/Tier 2 consulting firms.

Boutique to Higher Tier: If breaking into a larger firm is tough, joining a boutique advisory firm can be a stepping stone before moving up.

Avoiding Grad Schemes: You don’t need to go through a grad scheme. Instead, look for experienced hire positions in relevant consulting practices.

Good luck! Alessa

Answer 4

If you are already at Big 4, maybe you could try to pivot internally first. Then from Big 4 deals/M&A advisory, you could consider switching to the PE practices in MBB or another T2 firm.

Answer 5

Hi there,

It all depends on your full resume.

Feel free to send me a DM with your resume and I can give you a more tailored input.

All the best,

Florian

Answer 6

Hey there,

In short, apply to all and see where you are successful and then evaluate from there. Don't limit your opportunity set at this stage :-)

Then if all options are on the table for you, evaluate each against the ones that will give you more corporate finance opportunities (which I think would be Big 4) vs if you want more strategy work (which MBB would be most ideal), etc.

All the best