Wetfeet Guide to Accenture
Primary Competitors
IBM, EDS, BearingPoint, Capgemini, Computer Sciences Corp., McKinsey & Company.
Interesting facts
Employs 95,000 employees in 48 countries
Provides the following:
· Hard core technology support
· Top level strategic advice
· Outsourcing
· HR
Accenture are strong, young and have an innovative oriented culture.
They are looking for the following:
“People with a broad and diverse set of experiences – computer science, management information systems, business studies and even those in the arts”
“Hiring is increasing from fiscal year 2007. With Accentures market picking up with the economy, it has had a ripple effect”.
“Come to the interview with stories that demonstrate your interpersonal strengths, analytical skills and ability to overcome challenges.”
Career Ladder
Employees follow a defined career path with set milestones.
Start
1. Analyst
2. Consultant
3. Manager
4. Senior manager
5. Associate Partner
6. Partner
Undergraduates who join generally move to consultant level in 2 to 3 years.
Hiring Estimates
Accenture hiring 30,000 people for its fiscal year ending 2008.
Overview of Accenture
Accenture made a name for itself as a world leader in management consulting and technology services. Established in 1989 it begun its life as Andersen consulting but went public as Accenture.
One thing that has stayed the same is the focus on delivering top notch consulting and technology services to organisations all over the world.
Their traditional stronghold is systems integration but they are also specialist in consulting.
Accenture’s client roster is a veritable who’s who list, one that straddles a multitude of industries; in addition to a sizeable percentage of Fortune 500 companies and FTSE 100 companies. Consulting to a wide range of governmental and nonprofits organisations.
Made headline in June 2004 in the US when an alliance led by Accenture won a Homeland Security Department contract work 10 Billion USD.
Accenture are increasing focusing on outsourcing, taking over whole IT or HR functions of their clients. In US there has been outsourcing deals with Best Buy and Deutsche Bank. Outsourcing now contributes 40 % of the total revenue.
With a brighter business outlook and a demanding work schedule. The firm attracts the kind of people who like to reach for high hurdles, “A plus about working here is the kind of personality traits you can pick up – people here are at the top of their game, A-types, go-getters”.
Every employee has a career counsellor who works as the employees advocate when it comes to staffing.
Committed to tons of resources to training, and passes on discounts on services, like cell phones. J
According to Fortunes 2004, Accenture came out as the most admired company.
Insiders say they have a positive and cooperative environment. “There is a culture of sharing, e.g Java”
Bottom Line
I want to get in on the vast range of professional experiences consultancy has to offer. Try to demonstrate both leadership and teamwork capabilities. They are committed to training.
Industry Position
· Accenture is definitely on of the big kids on the consulting block. According to Consultants News it ranked 75 largest consulting firms in the world.
· Accenture ranks second only to IBM in global market share and consulting revenue.
· Tech and process groups compete with IBM and EDS
· Human performance competency competes with HR consulting firms such as Hewitt
· Strategy group takes on strategy firms such as McKinsey and Deloitte
View from the Top
Joe Forehand CEO
No fixed geographical locations.
View from the Middle
Organised into overlapping industries allowing client to choose integrated consulting services.
5 global operations groups:
· Financial services
· Government
· Communications and high tech
· Products
· Resources
Strategy and business architecture involve higher level consulting work to determine the client’s business and technology needs.
View from the Bottom
Firm encourages newcomer to constantly expand skills set. Improve your business and programming skills.
Gain experience within a particular industry and gain some specialisation.
The role of an Analyst
Analyst comes into a market unit and the core analysts program (CAP).
The program gives the chance to develop core skills through plenty of training as well as on the job experience.
2 weeks afterwards they participate in a mock client engagement.
“All analysts should be information sponges. Learn how we work and soak up information rapidly.”
Responsibilities
· Mapping business processes
· Analysing client data
· Designing computer modules
· Interviewing client management
· Preparing user-training materials
· Changes at clients site
Strategy
Small group of people for business analyst positions, people who analyse the industry, competitive analysis, identifying trends, valuation etc. “
• Develop key performance metrics
• Conduct industry research
• Facilitate the flow of work units through their teams
• Discuss specific issues with in-house experts
Consultants
Similar roles to analysts but with the exception that you will be managing small teams.
Responsibilities
• Lead project meetings
• Monitor and report on project status
• Lead presentations
• Interview vendors
• Supervise analysts
• Facilitate brainstorming sessions
Culture
Employees who work at the client site, especially for extended periods, will find themselves interacting with the client’s culture as much as Accenture’s. “On average, we aspire to blend in with our clients. In my projects, I want client people on our team, I want them to be integrated,” said one insider. “We go to lunch together, go out after work. That’s probably very typical except on the large tech projects, where you have a pod of people in the back room.”
At Accenture good interpersonal skills and a willingness to help are definitely more common than a ‘me first’ attitude.
A strong collaborative culture is also important.
Training
They provide technical and managerial skills development. At entry level employees in consulting workforce can expect at least 300hours of core training during their first 5 years. Helping to build the followings:
• Corporate culture
• Competence
• Leadership
• Value creation
• Relationship building
• Business and tech acumen
• Selling
• Methodology
• Data analysis
• Programming
Key component is a 2 week visit to Chicago suburb of St. Charles, Illinois.
• 1 week orientation
• 2 weeks of guidance on skills necessary for interacting with a client and working on the project.
You will be provided with the skills to think, act and speak like an Accenture consultant.
New consultants learn Knowledge xChange, Accentures internal information management system enabling them to tap into data from all the firms consulting assignments.
• Offer online learning myLearning.accenture.com.
• Class room training by top leaders.
Interview Tips, Questions?
• What are the specific expectations you would have of me as a new employee, and how will Accenture help me meet those expectations?
• How much client interaction should I expect?
• What would you say are the benefits of having so many different industry and service lines in one company?
• How much leeway would I have in determining which industry or client I will work for?
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