Types of Consulting Explained

Consulting comes in many flavours across strategy, management, finance, technology, HR, and more. In this blog we’ll demystify each type of consulting and what they do.

With so many varieties of consultants, it can get confusing. This blog provides an overview of the main categories so you can find the type of consulting that is best for you.

The Major Categories of Consulting

Strategy Consultants

These are the consultants sitting alongside the top execs and C-suite working on business strategy. They work on things such as:

• Advise senior leadership on long-term planning 

• Identify growth opportunities

• Increase competitive edge

• Identify new markets 

• Mergers and acquisitions 

You can find strategy consultants at firms like McKinsey, BCG and Bain & Co. Most of the big consulting firms have a strategy arm as well. 

Management Consultants  

These are the people who implement strategic vision through initiatives like organisation design, operational enhancements, and delivering new product launches.

You can find management consultants at firms like the Big Four, Oliver Wyman, Roland Berger and Accenture. 

Finance Consultants

Offer expertise in areas like M&A, tax advisory, forensic accounting, valuations, risk, compliance. You could also find financial consultants working alongside strategy consultants looking at financial savings advisory. 

You can find finance consultants at firms like Alpha FMC as well as within big consultancies such as the Big Four. 

Technology Consultants 

Technology consultants look at how a company can utilise technology to achieve its strategic objectives. They work on things such as:

• Drive digital transformation through IT strategy

• Systems integration 

• Software implementation

• Advise on how clients can use emerging tech

Accenture is the leading technology consulting firm but firms like Deloitte, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and InfoSys are snapping at their heels.

HR Consultants

The key question HR consultants are trying to answer is: does this company have the right people with the right skills in the right place to achieve the strategic objectives?

They do this by analysing things such as:

• Optimising people strategy and talent capabilities 

• Learning and development  

• Compensation

• Culture

• Change management

You can find HR consultants within all the Big Four as well as Accenture. There are also a number of boutique firms that specialise in HR consulting such as FMP Global and Korn Ferry.

Operations Consultants

Operations consultants look at the processes that exist and should exist in order to achieve the strategic vision. Operations consultants work to find efficiencies and other improvement opportunities in these processes. They focus on things such as:

• Improving business end-to-end processes

• Supply chain processes

• Logistics

• Manufacturing processes

• Customer service

You can find operations consultants in all the major consulting firms as well as firms like Baringa and Bearing Point. 

Discovering your ideal consulting work

While crossover skills apply, focus areas differ. Reflect on your interests and abilities to choose the specialty that excites you. 

Many consultants switch between types over their career as interests evolve. You're not locked in - focus on finding the right first step.