The 10 Most Prestigious Consulting Firms in the World (2025)

The top three management strategy consulting firms in the world serve nearly all Fortune 100 companies and are commonly referred to as MBB:

• McKinsey & Company
• Boston Consulting Group
• Bain & Company

The remaining six consultancies covered here include the strategy arms of the Big 4 and other mid-tier-sized firms known to be amongst the top management strategy consulting houses in the world:

• Accenture Strategy
• Oliver Wyman
• Strategy& (PWC)
• Kearney
• Roland Berger
• Monitor Deloitte
• Ernst & Young (EY) Parthenon

We'll discuss each of these firms in detail below. And if you're curious about how the MBB and Big Four firms compare to each other overall, you can check out our Big 4 vs. MBB article. 

Click here to talk to ex-MBB interviewers about how to become a consultant

Here’s what this article will cover:

• Biggest consulting firms by revenue
• Most prestigious consulting firms
• Why should you work for them?
• Preparing for interviews

1. Biggest Consulting Firms by Revenue ↑

The top fifteen biggest management consulting firms by 2024 revenue are:

1. McKinsey & Company: $18.8 billion
2. Boston Consulting Group (BCG): $14.1billion
3. Accenture Strategy & Consulting: $14 billion 
4. Booz Allen Hamilton: $9 billion (primarily focused on government consulting)
5. Bain & Company: $8 billion
6. EY-Parthenon: $5-10 billion
7. KPMG Advisory: $5-10 billion 
8. Oliver Wyman: $3.2 billion
9. L.E.K. Consulting: $1.5 billion 
10.  Kearney: $1.4 billion
11. Monitor Deloitte: $1-2 billion (part of Deloitte)
12. Strategy&: $1-2 billion (part of PricewaterhouseCoopers/PwC)
13. ZS: $1.3 billion
14. Roland Berger: $1.1 billion
15. Arthur D. Little: $0.8 billion

2. Most Prestigious Consulting Firms ↑

These are from Forbes’ List of Best Management Consulting Firms 2024 and Vault’s 50 Most Prestigious Consulting Firms (2023) ranking.

Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to come up with its list which is based on three national surveys of consultants (partners and managers at consulting firms) and clients (executives) in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. They also did a global survey of 8,500 consultants and clients in 29 countries across all continents.

Based on Forbes’ 2024 list, these are the top eight of the best management consulting firms:

• Accenture
• McKinsey & Company
• Deloitte
• Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
• Bain & Company 
• KPMG
• PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
• Ernst & Young (EY)

On the other hand, Vault, a leader in data-driven employer rankings and verified employee reviews, conducted its annual survey based on the rankings of perceived prestige from 9,000 practicing consultants at top consulting firms. 

The consultants were asked to rate the firms on a scale of 1 to 10 and they rated only those firms they were familiar with but they were not allowed to rate their own firm. Vault then collected the survey results and averaged the score for each firm.

Based on Vault’s list of 50 most prestigious consulting firms as of end-2023, these are the top ten most prestigious consulting firms and their average ratings:

• McKinsey & Company, 9.021
• Boston Consulting Group (BCG), 8.984
• Bain & Company, 8.951
• Deloitte Consulting LLP, 7.138
• EY Parthenon Americas, 7.066
• PwC Consulting Solutions/Strategy&, 6.773
• Booz Allen Hamilton, 6.694
• Oliver Wyman, 6.675
• Ernst & Young 6.586
• Accenture, 6.564

3. Why Should You Work for Them? ↑

You might be wondering why you should become a management consultant in the first place. There are plenty of reasons, but let’s only cover the main ones here.

First, it's a great way to set yourself up for a successful career. You will travel a lot and earn a top salary. Your consultancy may sponsor your MBA, and you'll have great exit opportunities. Many consultants end up becoming CEOs, too.

Second, being a management consultant is one of the fastest learning experiences you can get out of university. You will work with senior executives (e.g., CEOs, CFOs, etc.) on a regular basis. Your job will be interesting and high-pressure. It may be tough at times, but you will meet and work with a supportive group of bright and talented colleagues.

Management consultant Paul D., who has worked at McKinsey, Accenture, Strategy&, and EY Parthenon, advises that it’s best to aim for working with an MBB firm as a priority, since that’s where standards are highest.

He shares, “Having worked with and/or for these other outfits, they’re simply not comparable with MBB in terms of quality. The ‘grounding’ you will get in comparison to MBB won’t be nearly as good”

The following overview of top ten management consultancies will help you decide which firm you want to target for your career. The “gossip” sections contain insider insights mainly culled from Glassdoor.

But if you're still weighing other career options like investment banking, you can also learn more about investment banking positions through our guides to interviewing at Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Morgan Stanley.

1. McKinsey & Company ↑

The story 

McKinsey was founded in Chicago in 1926 by James McKinsey, a professor of accounting at the University of Chicago. The firm started out by offering consulting services on accounting principles as a management tool. McKinsey’s second partner was Andrew Thomas Kearney, who went on to found A.T. Kearney.

McKinsey grew quickly in the 1940s and 1950s, especially in Europe. But in the 1960s, competitors like the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Bain & Company started competing with McKinsey by marketing specific branded products, such as the Growth-Share Matrix, and by selling their industry expertise. 

In the 1970s, the firm therefore shifted its focus from geographic expansion to industry specialization. The firm’s practice areas address strategic, organizational, operational, and technological issues that challenge its clients.

McKinsey’s work encompasses everything from tech-enabled transformations to climate transition journeys to implementation and change. 

Today the firm employs 30,000 staff across 130+ offices and generates around $15bn to $20bn in annual revenues. Many of McKinsey’s alumni have gone on to be CEOs of major corporations, including Morgan Stanley, Google, and Boeing.

McKinsey & Company competitors

McKinsey & Company’s top competitors are:

• Ernst & Young (EY)
• Deloitte
• KPMG

How prestigious is McKinsey & Company?

McKinsey & Company is one of the top prestigious management consulting firms in the world.
It is known for its highly influential clients, including most Fortune 500 companies, as well as governments, and non-governmental organizations which it advises on critical strategic issues. 

Its exceptional talent is culled from a very rigorous selection process. It has a strong alumni network, with pathways for very promising career opportunities.

The gossip

Pros

• “Great people, and very supportive.”
• “The benefits are great, and you can shape your career for it to align with your passions.”
• “Great culture and values and focus on client servicing.”

Cons

• "There is NO work-life balance, so be ready to sell your soul to the firm."
• "Long hours and travel (but totally worth it, especially at the beginning of your career)."
• "Poor management and lots of politics."

The buzz

• "Launch pad for everyone important."
• "Harvard of consulting."
• "High-profile clientele."

Links

Official McKinsey website

McKinsey Glassdoor page

McKinsey job types and career path free guide (by IGotAnOffer)

McKinsey case interview preparation free guide (by IGotAnOffer)

McKinsey profile (Vault)
 

2. Boston Consulting Group ↑

The story

Bruce Henderson founded the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in 1963 after working 18 years for the Westinghouse Corporation (a manufacturing company). 

Initially, BCG was a subsidiary of the Boston Company (an asset manager) before becoming independent in 1975.

One way Henderson thought he could revolutionize the corporate world was by writing essays on business strategy. He called these essays Perspectives; they remained a BCG tradition and are still influential to this day.

When BCG started, the traditional consulting approach was to look at a company's specific internal issues. But Henderson decided to take another approach and to focus on external factors such as markets and competition instead. This approach led to new important business concepts still used today, such as the "cash cow," the "experience curve," and “time-based consumption.”

Throughout the 1960s, BCG grew and developed overseas. It suffered a slight setback in 1973 when BCG vice president Bill Bain left the company to found his own consulting firm, Bain & Co. During the 80s, it continued to expand, with a radical boost in growth in the mid-90s.

The early 2000s put BCG under threat because of the 2007-08 economic crisis. But with more than 32,000 employees and 90 offices in 50 countries, and $10bn to $15bn annual revenues today, the firm remains one of the most prestigious strategy houses in the world.

Boston Consulting Group (BCG) competitors

The Boston Consulting Group’s top competitors are:

• Accenture
• Deloitte
• KPMG

How prestigious is BCG?

The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is also one of the most prestigious management consulting firms globally. It attracts top-tier talent from leading universities worldwide.

It is known for its innovative approach to consulting, developing groundbreaking frameworks and methodologies that address complex business challenges. BCG works with leading global corporations and organizations and high impact projects. 

It also has an extensive and highly influential alumni network for valuable career opportunities.

The gossip

Pros

• "People are great, and there is a focus on making the job as sustainable as possible.”
• "Solid company offering lots of great benefits and beginning to seriously implement Design Thinking"
• "Pay is good, and they tend to raise rates before the rest of the industry."

Cons

• "No work-life balance and a lot of stress on weekdays.”
• “This is a top firm; expect long hours and pressure; but it teaches you how to work.”
• “A bad manager will make your life hell.”

The buzz

• "Hire consultants with high IQs."
• "Prestigious but cocky (and demanding)."
• "One of the big boys, very rigorous with great exit opportunities."

Links

Official BCG website

BCG Glassdoor page

BCG Case interview free guide (by IGotAnOffer)

BCG profile (Vault)

 

3. Bain & Company ↑

The story

Bain & Company was formed in 1973 when Bruce Henderson's protégé Bill Bain left BCG to form his own consulting firm.

Bain & Company revolutionized the consulting industry by taking a different approach to client relationship management. When it started, it decided to only take one client per industry and to focus on developing long-term relationships with these clients.

This enabled Bain to win multiple projects from the clients it focused on and to maximize value per client. Before then, consulting work was mostly done on a project-by-project basis. And trying to win multiple projects from single clients was not a common strategy. 

The company's CEO, Christoph De Vusser, has a 91% approval rating on Glassdoor, reflecting how well employees are taken care of. In fact, Bain has won several "Best Employer" awards and has a strong reputation for taking care of its people's work-life balance.

Considered as the most employee-focused of the Big 3 strategy players, Bain is a name that will open doors for the rest of your career. The firm invests a lot of time and energy in training and development, with the goal of growing its future leaders from within. Couple this with an impressive client roster and top-of-the-market compensation, and it’s easy to make a case for staying at Bain for the long term.

Bain & Company competitors

Bain & Company’s top competitors are:

• EY
• Deloitte
• McKinsey & Company

How prestigious is Bain and Company?

Bain and Company is also one of the most prestigious management consulting firms worldwide, attracting top-tier talent.

It’s known for its client-centric approach and focus on achieving measurable results. It advises Fortune 500 companies, governments, and non-government organizations worldwide. 

It has a strong alumni network for career advancement opportunities.

The gossip

Pros

• "A global firm that has a great culture and offers many challenges."
• "Not as stuffy as I thought it would be, and I got to work with some really great people."
• "Great colleagues who are genuinely invested in your personal development."

Cons

• "Long hours; certain Partners are not ‘current Bain’ and don’t have a focus on work-life balance."
• "Late working hours."
• "Micromanagement."

The buzz

• "Frat culture."
• "Solid strategy house, some very good people."
• "Gets a bad rep for being intense."

Links

Official Bain & Company website

Bain & Company Glassdoor page

Bain Case interview free guide (by IGotAnOffer)

Bain profile (Vault)

4. Accenture Strategy ↑

The story

Accenture was founded by Arthur Andersen in the early 1950s. The company’s first project was to study the feasibility of installing a computer in one of General Electric’s research centers. General Electric is believed to have been the first company in the US to use a computer for commercial purposes because of this project.

Today, Accenture is a consulting behemoth generating ~$35bn in annual revenue. It does a lot of different “types” of consulting with one unifying theme: technology. The part of Accenture that’s most similar to McKinsey, BCG, and Bain is called Accenture Strategy. It accounts for less than 10% of the company’s revenues but is the most prestigious part as it tends to work for C-suite clients. It’s also the fastest growing among Deloitte’s core services.

Accenture Strategy’s brand has steadily been getting stronger over the past few years, particularly in Europe. This is partly due to the fact that digital strategy is more and more important, and Accenture has strong credentials in that space.

Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve performance and create sustainable value for stakeholders. 

Accenture Strategy competitors

Accenture Strategy’s top competitors are:

• PwC
• Deloitte
• EY

How prestigious is Accenture Strategy?

Accenture Strategy is best known for its expertise in digital transformation, helping organizations navigate and capitalize on the digital revolution. 

It advises clients on a wide range of digital initiatives, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data analytics.

It’s also known for its diverse industry expertise, advising clients in such varied sectors as financial services, healthcare, telecommunications, and consumer goods.

The gossip

Pros

• "Great work culture if you have the right network; interesting projects and growth."
• "Some amazing people and interesting projects if you don’t get sucked into ZBB (Zero-Based Mindset).”
• "Breadth of work of the firm, interesting projects, diverse network."

Cons

• "Slow promotion rates; lack of leadership transparency."
• "A huge degree of politics and favoritism to navigate. The performance review process was highly biased and seldom felt meritocratic.”
• "Too many people, less projects."

The buzz

• "Place where your career can go wherever."
• "Lots of technology and innovation."
• "Work from home options available."

Links

Official Accenture website

Accenture Glassdoor page

Accenture case interview free guide (by IGotAnOffer)

Accenture profile (Vault)

5. Oliver Wyman ↑

The story

In 2007, three global consultancies (Mercer Delta, Mercer Management Consulting, and Mercer Oliver Wyman) combined to form Oliver Wyman.

Mercer Oliver Wyman was the oldest of these firms. It was founded as Oliver, Wyman & Company in 1984 and was then acquired by Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC). 

MMC also acquired Temple, Barker & Sloane in 1987 and Strategic Planning Associates in 1989. These two companies merged in 1990, becoming Mercer Management Consulting in 1992. MMC also acquired Delta Consulting in 2000. 

In 2007, MMC merged its subsidiaries under the name Oliver Wyman.

Recently, Oliver Wyman has been growing at a rapid pace, largely thanks to a series of acquisitions made in 2008. It also managed to build a very strong reputation for itself in the financial services sector as well as in digital strategy thanks to the creation of its Oliver Wyman Labs unit.

Currently, the firm holds over 70 offices in 30 countries and boasts 7,000 employees.

Oliver Wyman is a firm in a hurry at present, rapidly adding headcount through hiring and acquisition to cope with a deluge of work. Consistently recognized throughout the industry as a “Best Place to Work," the firm promises an “environment where exceptional people can thrive.” 

Oliver Wyman strives to provide its people with an entrepreneurial, non-hierarchical culture where talent people work alongside one another on complex, high-visibility client engagements. Go-getters who enjoy early responsibility and a fast-paced, driven environment will do well here.

Oliver Wyman competitors

Oliver Wyman’s top competitors are:

• Bain & Company
• Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
• McKinsey & Company

How prestigious is Oliver Wyman?

Oliver Wyman has a strong reputation for its deep expertise in the financial sector. It advises leading banks, insurance companies, and investment firms on a wide range of issues, including risk management, regulatory compliance, and digital transformation.

It’s known for its quantitative and analytical focus, attracting individuals with backgrounds in mathematics, engineering, and finance. 

It’s also known for its impactful public policy work, advising governments and international organizations on critical issues such as climate change, healthcare, and cybersecurity.

The gossip

Pros

• "People are great, and all are willing to roll up their sleeves."
• "Great culture and exposure at work."
• "Pay is good."

Cons

• "Poor work-life balance in some practices."
• "Long hours and lack of perks."
• "Feedback from middle management was poor."

The buzz

• "Well-known name for finance-related consulting projects."
• "Have very good diversity policies, and it seems as though everyone is very nice."
• "Tough but intelligent."

Links

Official Oliver Wyman website

Oliver Wyman Glassdoor page

Oliver Wyman case interview free guide (by IGotAnOffer)

Oliver Wyman profile (Vault)

6. Strategy& (PwC) ↑

The story

Edwin G. Booz founded Strategy& in 1914 as Edwin G. Booz Surveys. It was the first consultancy to use the term "management consultant" and calls itself "the oldest continually existing strategy consultancy in the world." Its focus was and remains on practical strategy, which it calls "strategy-with-execution.".

The firm continued to grow in the 50s and 60s, reaching an annual revenue of $55 million in 1969. By 1980, the company's revenues were at $150 million. As the 80s rolled on, Booz & Company was overtaken in management consulting by McKinsey & Company.

Booz & Company was sold to PwC in 2014. Its name was changed to Strategy&, echoing Booz's reputed business publication Strategy + Business. 

Strategy& (PwC Consulting Services) integrates functional knowledge across the globe to help clients address their most challenging business problems. The firm has the opportunities, mentorship, and technology to help take your career to the next level. Becoming a consultant at PwC will allow you to develop deeper expertise in your area of focus and establish yourself as a leader.

Strategy& (PwC) competitors

Strategy& (PwC)’s top competitors are:

• Accenture
• KPMG
• Deloitte

How prestigious is Strategy& (PwC)?

Strategy& has a strong reputation for advising clients on business transformation. 

It goes beyond traditional strategic planning, focusing on helping clients navigate complex business transformations, such as digital transformations, mergers and acquisitions, and organizational restructuring.

The gossip

Pros

• "Smart and driven people."
• "Good culture."
• “The pay was good, and I got to work with some Fortune 500 (companies) well."

Cons

• "Poor work-life balance compared to other companies (not strategic consulting)."
• "Extended working hours."
• "Some industries have poor leadership."

The buzz

• “Exciting to work with different clients each day–different cultures, ethnicities, regions, sectors”
• "Well-known brand."
• "Top strategy firm whose prestige was slightly diluted after the acquisition."

Links

Official Strategy& website

Strategy& Glassdoor page

Strategy& (PWC) case interview free guide (by IGotAnOffer)

PwC Consulting Solutions/Strategy& profile (Vault)

7. Kearney ↑

The story

Andrew Thomas Kearney, a former partner of McKinsey & Co., founded A.T. Kearney in 1926. The firm's focus is on community and collegiality, qualities that its founder was said to have in buckets.

The firm began to expand internationally to Düsseldorf, San Francisco, Milan, Paris, and London in the 1960s and continued to grow in the 1970s. The late 1980s and the 1990s were AT Kearney's "golden years,” with 1993 marking its 10th year of double-digit growth.

The company began to lose in revenues after its acquisition by EDS in 1995. Nevertheless, it reached $1.5bn in revenues in 2000. The firm was bought back by its partners in 2005. In 2015, AT Kearney saw its 2nd consecutive year of double-digit growth.

In 2020, A.T. Kearney rebranded as “Kearney” to shift the focus from its 90+ years heritage to its current and future.

Kearney is one of the original global management consulting firms and has long specialized in operations and supports clients through large transformations. The firm works with more than three-quarters of the Fortune Global 500, as well as governmental and nonprofit organizations. 

A solidly midsize firm with a strong international reputation, Kearney is poised to offer consultants the best of both worlds: the flexibility and opportunities for exposure of a boutique supported by the infrastructure of a much larger firm. The result is a great balance of collaboration and independence—the benefits of scale with the ability to individualize.

Kearney competitors

Kearney’s top competitors are:

• Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

• Bain & Company

• Roland Berger

How prestigious is Kearney?

Kearney is a pioneer in the field of "Strategic Operations," a unique approach that integrates strategy and operations to drive superior business performance.

This focus on both the "what" and the "how" of business decisions sets them apart.

With a global network of offices, Kearney serves clients across various industries and geographies. They possess deep industry expertise in sectors such as financial services, energy, healthcare, and consumer goods

The gossip

Pros

• "Most people are great, plus the opportunity to work on intellectually stimulating business challenges with some of the best minds around." 
• "Culture is great and fun!"
• "Great colleagues and working teams." 

Cons

• "No work-life balance, hahahah.”
• "Long hours, which is okay when you’re young, but gets increasingly hard when you’re older."
• "Senior leadership is out of touch with market needs."

The buzz

• "More personable than at McKinsey."
• "Good for some niche areas."
• "Go-to firm for sourcing work."

Links

Official A.T. Kearney website

A.T. Kearney Glassdoor page

A.T. Kearney case interview free guide (by IGotAnOffer)

Kearney profile (Vault) 

8. Roland Berger ↑

The story

Roland Berger was the manager of his own laundry business before going to work for BCG in its Milan offices.  29-year-old Berger founded his consulting firm in Munich in 1967. The company is currently the leading German-based global consulting firm.

The company has succeeded over the years largely thanks to the young Roland Berger's talent for marketing and strategy. By 1974, McKinsey & Co. and Kienbaum were the only consultancies in Germany with revenues that were higher than Ronald Berger's. 

The company's profits continued to spike throughout the 1970s and 1980s. By 1987, Roland Berger was Germany’s largest consulting firm. This happened in part thanks to the firm's international engagements, which it focused on from the start.

In the 1990s, Roland Berger opened offices in Eastern European capitals, then in Moscow, and finally in China as early as 1993. It has continued to expand since and now holds 50 offices with more than 3,500 employees all over the world.

As the first consultancy native to Europe to expand internationally, Roland Berger’s identity is deeply entwined with the concept of global community. The firm operates on the idea that businesses must focus on the long play: sustainable economic, environmental, and social change on a global scale instead. 

Roland Berger competitors

Roland Berger’s top competitors are:

• Visagio
• The Beacon Group
• Kearney

How prestigious is Roland Berger? 

Founded in Germany, Roland Berger has a strong presence in Europe and a growing global network.  This European heritage provides a unique perspective and deep understanding of the European market.  

Roland Berger has deep expertise in several key industries, including automotive, industrial goods, consumer goods, and financial services.

It’s also known for its entrepreneurial culture that encourages innovation and proactiveness among its consultants.  

The gossip

Pros

• "Great colleagues and peers."
• "Great team and clear development path."
• "Good salary."

Cons

• "Long hours and lots of travel."
• "Poor work-life balance."
• "Typical strategy consulting with long hours and demanding clients."

The buzz

• "Good name in strategy consulting."
• "Localised culture and chasing for scale."
• "International-focused."

Links

Official Roland Berger website

Roland Berger Glassdoor page

Roland Berger case interview free guide (by IGotAnOffer)

Roland Berger profile (Vault)

9. Monitor Deloitte ↑

The story

The Monitor Group was founded in 1983 by six Harvard alumni, including business guru Michael Porter. It is known for being prestigious and academic.

Porter revolutionised business strategy by focusing on the structure of the market and how to make market barriers profitable. He is the inventor of Porter’s 5 forces business analysis. He wrote that "the essence of strategy is coping with competition."

After the economic crash of 2008, strategy consulting was not as popular anymore amongst clients, and Monitor neglected to shift its work toward more operational consulting. Additionally, a more customer-based approach was necessary for the age of the Internet and globalization.

Partly because of these issues, the firm filed for bankruptcy in 2012. It was then bought up by Deloitte. Monitor Deloitte now has about 5000 employees, with 27 offices in 17 countries, and its revenues are estimated to be ~$1bn to $2bn.

Deloitte also has another strategy division called S&O (Strategy and Operations). This part of the firm mainly grew through acquisitions of smaller consulting firms over the past few decades. Deloitte S&O's brand is particularly strong in the US but less so in the rest of the world. 

Monitor Deloitte competitors

Monitor Deloitte’s top competitors are:

• Accenture
• IBM Consulting
• KPMG

How prestigious is Monitor Deloitte?

Monitor Deloitte is recognized as a leader in helping organizations develop and implement innovative strategies, particularly in areas like business model innovation, venture creation, and new market entry.

They have a strong reputation for helping companies identify and capitalize on emerging growth opportunities.

The gossip

Pros

• "Work-life balance is given importance."
• "Commitment to diversity and flexible working."
• "Some partners have aggressively stood up for staff when there have been ethical issues with clients."

Cons

• “Appraisal and promotion criteria aren’t made clear and the process isn’t transparent."
• "Pay is deeply disappointing, especially when you see how much the partners make."
• "Built on a faulty business model of exploiting and churning juniors to provide maximum returns to partners."

The buzz

• "Strong work ethic."
• "Interdisciplinary staffing of projects with specialists from different areas of Deloitte."
• "Meritocratic organization."

Links

Official Monitor website

Monitor Glassdoor page

Deloitte case interview free guide (by IGotAnOffer)

Deloitte Consulting profile (Vault)

10. Ernst & Young (EY) Parthenon ↑

The story

EY Parthenon is a global strategy consulting firm that is part of the larger Ernst & Young organization. It was formed in 2014 when Ernst & Young acquired The Parthenon Group, a boutique consulting firm. 

EY Parthenon specializes in strategy consulting, while Ernst & Young offers a broader range of services, including auditing, tax, and advisory services.

Ernst & Young has been around for over a century, shaping industries and solving complex problems. 

They've seen it all—from the Great Depression to the dot-com boom. 

Ernst & Young traces its roots back to the mid-19th century. The firm's journey began with the establishment of individual accounting firms in England and the United States. These firms eventually merged, culminating in the formation of Ernst & Whinney and Arthur Young & Co. in 1989.

The merger marked a significant milestone, positioning the combined firm as a global powerhouse. 

Today, Ernst & Young is a global leader in professional services, operating in over 150 countries. From Fortune 500 companies to startups, EY works with a wide range of clients. 

Ernst & Young Parthenon competitors

• Deloitte
• Strategy& (PwC)
• KPMG

How prestigious is EY Parthenon? 

EY-Parthenon has a strong reputation for its work with private equity firms, advising on buy-side and sell-side due diligence, portfolio company performance improvement, and exit strategies.

It utilizes data-driven insights from analytics and advanced technology to identify key trends, assess market opportunities, and develop robust business plans.

The gossip

Pros

• “Generally, the people here are great and eager to help if ever you have a question.”
• “The culture is good, and there's plenty of people in your age bracket to relate to and work with.”
• “Good benefits and a well-organized office (the one I was associated with).”

Cons

• “No work-life balance, and you should be mindful of that if you want to join.”
• “Hours are long, and travel (if you don’t want to) is sometimes unavoidable.”
• “Low pay (above average though), and people could be nicer, not just to your face.”

The buzz

• “Intellectually challenging.”
• “Strong brand reputation.”
• “High-pressure environment and demanding workload.”

Links

Official Ernst & Young website

Ernst & Young Glassdoor page

EY Parthenon case interview free guide (by IGotAnOffer)

Ernst & Young profile (Vault)

4. Preparing for interviews ↑

First of all, to land an interview at any of these firms is tough; you may want to check out our consulting resume review service before applying.

Typically, you will also have to go through case interviews. There are essentially three activities you can do to practice case interviews. Here’s what we've learned about each of them.

Learn by yourself

Learning by yourself is an essential first step. We recommend you make full use of the free prep resources on our consulting blog, have your resume reviewed by our expert consulting resume service, and watch some mock case interviews on our YouTube channel. This way you can prepare well and see what an excellent answer looks like during interviews.

Once you’re in command of the subject matter, you’ll want to practice answering cases. But by yourself, you can’t simulate thinking on your feet or the pressure of performing in front of a stranger. Plus, there are no unexpected follow-up questions and no feedback.

That’s why many candidates try to practice with friends or peers.

Practice with peers

If you have friends or peers who can do mock interviews with you, that's an option worth trying. It’s free, but be warned, you may come up against the following problems:

• It’s hard to know if the feedback you get is accurate
• They’re unlikely to have insider knowledge of interviews at your target company
• On peer platforms, people often waste your time by not showing up

For these reasons, many candidates skip peer mock interviews and go straight to mock interviews with an expert. 

Practice with experienced MBB interviewers

We've coached more than 17,000 people for interviews since 2018. In our experience, practicing real interviews with experts who can give you company-specific feedback makes a huge difference. 

Find a consulting interview coach so you can:

• Test yourself under real interview conditions
• Get accurate feedback from a real expert
• Build your confidence
• Get company-specific insights
• Learn how to tell the right stories better.
• Save time by focusing your preparation

Landing a job at a top consulting company often results in a $50,000 per year or more increase in total compensation. In our experience, three or four coaching sessions worth ~$500 will make a significant difference in your ability to land the job. That’s an ROI of 100x!

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Article sources: Glassdoor and Vault for gossip sections. Amazon, LinkedIn, Levels.fyi, and various other websites for firms' revenues.