FTI Consulting - strategy & transformation

Hi there,

FTI Consulting’s Strategy & Transformation (S&T) practice sits between MBB (McKinsey, BCG, Bain) and Big 4 (EY, PwC, Deloitte, KPMG) in terms of project type, work-life balance, career progression, and culture. Here’s a concise comparison:

1. Type of Projects

FTI focuses on corporate transformations, restructuring, and operational strategy, often working with distressed firms or PE-backed companies. Projects tend to be longer (3–12 months) and more execution-heavy than MBB’s shorter, high-level strategy engagements (4–12 weeks). The Big 4’s S&O practices offer a mix of strategy and operational execution, often at a lower price point.

2. Work-Life Balance (WLB)

FTI offers better WLB than MBB but can be intense during high-stakes engagements (e.g., restructuring). Travel is less frequent than at MBB, where long hours and high pressure are the norm. The Big 4 generally provides a more predictable workload with fewer late nights.

3. Career Progression

FTI’s career path is financially and operationally specialized, with strong exits into corporate finance, PE ops, and senior finance/strategy roles. MBB follows a fast-paced, up-or-out model, leading to top exits in PE, VC, hedge funds, and corporate leadership. The Big 4 offers stable but slower progression, with exits often into industry roles and operational leadership.

4. People & Culture

FTI teams are leaner, offering more direct exposure to senior leaders. The culture is intense but collegial, with a mix of finance, operations, and strategy backgrounds. MBB attracts top-tier MBAs with a strong coaching culture but high pressure. The Big 4 is more structured and bureaucratic, with a mix of consulting and industry professionals.

5. Compensation & Exit Opportunities

FTI’s pay is higher than the Big 4 (however, not higher than the strategy houses EY-Parthenon and Strategy&) but below MBB. It offers strong exits into corporate finance and transformation roles, especially for those interested in restructuring and turnaround. MBB remains the best for compensation and prestige, with the most lucrative exits. Big 4 consultants often move into industry and operational roles rather than high-finance positions.

Final Thoughts

FTI is ideal if you want hands-on transformation work with strong finance exposure. It offers better WLB than MBB and stronger pay/progression than the Big 4, but fewer prestige-driven exits. MBB is best for pure strategy and top-tier exits, while Big 4 is a stable, execution-heavy alternative.

Let me know if you need further advice !

Best,

Evelina

Hi there,
While I personally don't have the answers, I found these topics below about the company.
Link 1, Link 2.

Best,
Mari

Hi there,

1. Projects: Not typical strategy consulting but very specialized in crisis management (all kinds), restructuring, turnaround. In that niche well regarded, still less high-profile than MBB.
2. WLB: Generally better than MBB, not sure how it compares to B4.
3. Progression: Similar progression through the ranks; may lack the global mobility or alumni brand of MBB/Big 4.
4. People: Not sure but you can do a quick LinkedIn filter search to figure out where people are coming from/going to.

Overall: Great for niche expertise and better balance, but not a full MBB substitute for brand or exit ops.

Cheers,

Florian