Management consultant

Management consultant - overview

Management consultants support organisations. They identify ways to improve business performance and maximise growth. Use our career guide to find out more information about this role and how you could get a job.

Learn what the role involves below.

What does a management consultant do?

Management consultants help organisations solve problems and become more efficient. In this role, you’ll have to understand exactly how the businesses you work for operate and what they’re working towards. You’ll need to be a great communicator, in order to work with different departments and help organisations meet important goals.

You might work in an office or within a client’s business, and you may need to travel and spend long hours away from home. It can be a tough job, as you’re looked to as a high-level specialist with a lots responsibility for business strategy. There could be a lot of pressure to get things right, but this can come with a high salary and progression opportunities.

What will your days involve?

Your daily tasks will vary but could involve:

Meeting clients or speaking to organisation staff and discussing their needs
Carrying out research to understand a client and their business
Interviewing managers, customers and staff
Collecting and analysing data and preparing reports
Investigating issues and planning how to combat them
Identifying areas for improvement
Creating data models to test changes and solutions
Presenting recommendations to clients, agreeing on a plan of action and giving them support
Explaining the impact, costs, risks and benefits of your recommendations
Logging and reporting your work
Carrying out testing and quality checks

FAQs

How much can you earn as a management consultant?

The average salary for a management consultant in the UK is £40,560. Graduates start at around £25,500.

Does a management consultant role involve travel in the UK or overseas?

Management consultants often spend time travelling between client sites, as they usually work from client offices. You’ll need to travel abroad if you have clients based overseas.