pricewaterhousecoopers graduate careers in strategy consulting

Graduate careers in Strategy Consultingpwc.com/uk/careers/

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We’re the one firm for all talentedgraduates. Graduates who, whatevertheir degree discipline, background oraspirations, have qualities that makethem stand out. Strategy Consulting atPwC is a case in point. Here our successis founded on the recognition that we’reall individuals who combine ourstrengths and draw on each others’experience to achieve our clients’objectives. Your objectives areimportant too, which is why you’ll enjoyall the freedom and support you need to shape a rich, fulfilling career.

pwc.com/uk/careers/ 1Text ‘PwC’ or ‘events’ to 85792

Welcome to StrategyConsulting at PwCRock solid foundationsPricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) isone of the world’s largest professionalservices firms, with an unparalleledknowledge base and client list. Thisstrong foundation not only acts as anoutstanding springboard for thecontinued development of our strategyconsulting business, it also creates aninformed, experienced environment thatfosters individual aspirations.

A global consulting practiceStrategy Consulting at PwC is a rapidlygrowing global consulting practice withover 300 strategic consulting staffworldwide. In addition to the 13 partnersand more than 140 professionals basedin our London headquarters there areother Strategy Consultancy practices inAmsterdam, Dubai, Frankfurt, Madrid,Milan, New York, Paris, Singapore,Shanghai, Stockholm, Zurich and Central& Eastern Europe. As a dedicatedStrategy Consulting practice within PwCwe enjoy a dynamic boutique culturewhile benefiting from the support of aglobal professional services firm.

Working as an Associate Consultantwithin Strategy Consulting at PwC is arewarding experience, offering excitingopportunities to work across a widerange of sectors with ambitious clientsand knowledgeable colleagues.

Our distinctive approach to strategyconsulting combines the detailed andrigorous evaluation of businesspropositions with the ability to helpclients develop new strategies andapproaches.

A concentrated approachWe offer fully flexible, tailored services for our clients but in the main our work is concentrated in three areas:

Corporate and Business Unit Strategy:We offer a wide range of strategic adviceto blue-chip and corporate clients.Building on PwC’s global corporateconnections and experience we can offerour clients high-quality services including:strategic planning, M&A support,business plan development, customerproposition development, strategicsupply chain improvement, pricingstrategy, organisation transformation, and market entry strategy.

Private Equity Consulting: We work withmany leading private equity funds andtheir backers to understand whichbusinesses present attractiveinvestments and then rigorously analysethe business plans and strategies of suchcompanies.

Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A):We also advise corporate clients on theirinvestment and acquisition strategies,performing due diligence on their targetsand advising them on the likely outcomesof takeovers and buyouts.

Welcome to StrategyConsultingat PwC

EXPERT SE


Our deep industry and technical expertisecrosses every sector and wins us themost complex projects. Our advice isinvaluable in helping clients to understandthe strategic issues involved and makekey decisions. But what exactly are theseprojects? What might you be working on?Overleaf we try to give you an idea.

Our findings and recommendations areinvaluable in giving our clients confidencein the growth potential of businesses.

Our projects

Text ‘PwC’ or ‘events’ to 857924 pwc.com/uk/careers/

Private Equity Consulting:

Commercial Due Diligence of VueCinemas for a Private Equity Investor

After growing almost continuously for 20 years, cinema admissions plateauedin 2002. Before acquiring a potentialtarget business, our client wanted toknow if this was just a temporaryslowdown or a sign of market maturity.In a period of limited growth, theywanted to know how to drive the valueof the business after its acquisition.

Detailed analysis of the competitiveenvironment, drivers of performance ofthe Vue portfolio and a number of otherprominent issues (such as high qualityhome cinema and the threat of piracy)helped illustrate that the business waswell positioned both to capitalise onany future growth in the market and todrive growth through expansion of itscinema portfolio.

Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A):

Sale of Trader Media Group byGuardian Media Group

When Guardian Media Group sought to sell part of Trader Media Group(which owns Auto Trader), we carriedout Vendor Due Diligence work tosupport the sale process.

We analysed both the used car marketand the classified advertising market,drawing conclusions on Auto Trader’spositioning within the market. One ofthe key areas of focus was to analysethe shift of advertising from print toonline and how this may develop in thefuture. Key questions included: Whatwill the implications be for Auto Tradermagazine and autotrader.co.uk? Whatwill happen to used car advertising inregional newspapers? Will eBay besuccessful in this market? Will Google’smodel of free classifieds have a largeimpact? Our report included ourassessment of these and many otherfactors, which we then presented to a number of different private equitybidders to help increase theirunderstanding of the business and the sector in which it operates.


Corporate and Public Sector Strategy:

A market analysis for the Departmentfor Education and Skills (DfES)Ensuring that services for children areaccessible to all children and of a highstandard is important to theGovernment and to DfES. To enablethem to monitor those services, DfESand PwC worked together to examinecare provision in several key areas(including childcare, adoption andfostering, and parental support services)as part of a four-month project. DfESultimately published the PwC reportsand used the findings to inform policydevelopment and governmentalstrategic planning. PwC has alsoconducted work with other majorgovernment departments such asHMRC and DCA.

Our projects

Our findings andrecommendations areinvaluable in giving ourclients confidence inthe growth potentialof businesses.

Motorola strategy for WiMAX in EMEAThe new ‘hot’ area in telecoms is mobilebroadband in which the principalstandard WiMAX has attractedsubstantial research & developmentinvestment. Motorola wanted to be theleader in this technology but neededhelp to understand what the marketopportunity was, how it compared withother technologies and, mostimportantly, who were the mostattractive target customer segments. We supported Motorola with anextensive market study discussing theWiMAX opportunity with fixed andmobile operators across EMEA. Weconcluded on the key target segmentsand the WiMAX positioning and thenhelped Motorola develop business plansfor WiMAX networks in a number ofcountries across the region. Our workhelped Motorola to secure a number of large equipment contracts around the world.


Total exposureWe expect everyone to contribute – soright from the start we’ll encourage youto take on as much responsibility asyou can handle. We’ll value the workyou do internally, in areas likerecruitment, training and marketing, as highly as your work with clients. The projects we work on generally lastfour to eight weeks, which means you’llbe exposed to the widest possiblerange of industry sectors, clients andissues. Such variety differentiates usfrom our competitors where muchlonger projects are the norm. The broadexperience you’ll gain as a result willact as a strong base for developingindividual consulting skills.

Specialist knowledgeAs a new Associate Consultant you will spend your first few years workingfor a wide variety of clients (includingPrivate Equity, M&A and Corporatestrategy clients) and we encourage youto gain experience across as broad arange of sectors as possible:

Business Services

Government & Public Sector

Consumer Goods

Financial Services

Industrial Products

Media & Entertainment

Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare

Retail

Technology & Communications

Travel & Leisure

Aiming highYour career path is flexible. Prove youranalytical rigour, commercial acumenand project-management ability andwe’ll aim to promote you to Consultantin two to three years. There is no two-year ‘up or out’ policy and we’reproud of our high retention rate. Aswe’re meritocratic, your rise will be asswift as you deserve.

Your career path is flexible. Prove youranalytical rigour, commercial acumenand project-management ability and we’ll aim to promote you toConsultant in two to three years.


Rebecca

Associate Consultant, Joined 2008

Geography,

University of Bristol

After six months teaching and travellingin India, I wanted to pursue a careerthat would enable me to learn abouttopical and interesting business issueswhilst at the same time building myoverall skill base. Joining the StrategyConsulting team was a great decisionbecause it has given me exposure to somany different projects across such avariety of sectors and topics, from thetrendy (digital cinema) to economicallyimportant (government manufacturingstrategy). One of my favouritechallenges has been arranging andconducting interviews with onlineadvertising experts. It meant realresponsibility, speaking with CEOs from very dynamic and fast movingcompanies to gain an insight into arelatively new market. I gained valuableinsight that helped drive our clientrecommendations.

Simon

Engagement Manager, Joined 2003

Manufacturing Engineering Tripos,

University of Cambridge

I’ve enjoyed the broad range ofexperience I’ve been able to gain inStrategy Consulting at PwC. I believethe sheer number of projects I’ve beenexposed to has helped me develop myconsulting skills faster than I wouldhave done at many of our competitors.It also helped me achieve promotion toConsultant in under three years. Afterworking across a diverse range ofindustry sectors in my first couple ofyears here, I knew I was mostinterested in the industrial productssector and now specialise in this with aparticular focus on automotive. I havejust returned from a secondment to ourgroup in Shanghai which allowed me togain experience in a different workingenvironment and increase my exposureto automotive clients.


Your job descriptionOur work is project-based and ourpolicy is that you work on only oneproject at a time in your first few years.This means you can focus totally on thejob in hand. For each particular projectwe bring together a specific team –typically three to eight people who’llwork together on the project forbetween four to eight weeks. As anAssociate Consultant (AC), you’ll be thecornerstone of the team. We’ll valueyour opinion from day one and want tohear it. Responsible for desk research,detailed technical analysis andmodelling, telephone interviews andpractical field research, you’ll developpractical insights based on youranalysis of the findings. Such work isvital to the project team and you’llpresent your findings and contributeideas at team meetings and to clients.

Associate Consultant material?Not only analytical, intelligent andcreative, you’ll also need to be articulateand confident in expressing your views.Bring us these qualities and, within ayear, you’ll be expert at financial analysis,business modelling and interpretinginterviews and market dynamics. Yourproject team will support you and yourEngagement Manager and Consultantwill guide your development.

You’ll be the cornerstone of the team.We’ll value your opinion from day oneand want to hear it.


Johan

Consultant, Joined 2003

Economics and Management,

Cambridge University

I chose Strategy Consulting because its fast-paced projects offered a broadrange of experiences and I wantedexposure to private equity. So far, I’venot been disappointed. I’ve worked onmore than 30 projects across the UK and Europe in industries as diverse assemiconductors, gambling, newspapersand retail. My projects have ranged fromcommercial due diligence for privateequity houses to market entry strategyand – during a six-month secondment toour post-deal consulting team – costsaving and post-merger integration work.Although there have been many chancesto travel with work, most of it is stilloffice based, which makes for a betterwork-life balance for me. As well as myclient work I’ve also spent a year runningour graduate recruitment programmeand am now undertaking a sponsoredMBA at Stanford in the US.

Gordon


English Literature,

University of Cambridge & Yale University

With my background in Englishliterature, I thought my lack of previousbusiness experience might be an issue.But I was able to show in other waysthat I could think commercially andstructure my ideas. For me looking atany business and its strategic issues isinteresting, regardless of the particularindustry or content. The relatively shortprojects mean I have had exposure to awide variety of sectors in a very shortamount of time. Day-to-day I will becarrying out research and analysis tosupport the project team. In practicethis means desk based research,telephone interviews and analysis,along with client meetings and projectteam meetings to test the assumptionswe’re coming up with. I’ve beenimpressed so far with how muchresponsibility I’ve been given right fromday one.

TA LORED


Your training is designed to develop thecore skills and knowledge you’ll need asan Associate Consultant. It begins witha comprehensive two-week induction.This introduces you to the basic tools of strategy consulting and includestheoretical courses, such as BasicStrategic Principles, as well as practicalsubjects like Presentation Skills. Thefinal one-week case study gives you the chance to put your new skills intopractice. After that, and throughout your career, you and your Counsellorwill tailor your training to your needs.

Training


Growth in every directionThe global training resources of PwCand external training providers will giveyou access to a wide range of modulesranging from ‘Strategic Thought’,‘Improving Your Influencing Skills’ and‘Flexing Your Style’. In addition we run a number of away days throughout theyear with a leading London BusinessSchool strategy professor.

We also offer foreign language coursesif you want to further develop yourcurrent language skills for business use. Ultimately though, our best training takes place in our close team environment, on the job and in front of our clients.

For outstanding members of our teamwe offer sponsored MBAs at leadingbusiness schools in Europe and the US.

Who do we aim to develop?PwC is aiming to recruit 20-25exceptional graduates to join us asAssociate Consultants in StrategyConsulting in April or October 2009.First of all you’ll need a strongacademic record. As well as at least a340 UCAS tariff or equivalent you musthave, or be on course for, a 2:1 orabove in any degree discipline. Morethan this though, we’re looking foranalytical rigour, confidence, strongcommunication and team-working skillsand a curiosity about the world ofbusiness. You’ll also need to benumerate. Fluency in another Europeanlanguage would be a distinctadvantage. Unfortunately we can’taccept applications from anyone whoneeds a work permit to work in the UK.

We’re looking for analytical rigour,confidence, strong communication and team-working skills and a curiosityabout the world of business.


Robert

Consultant, Joined 2005

Economics and Management,

University of Oxford

The induction course was reallythorough and allowed me to hit theground running. As a result, I was givenlots of responsibility on my first projectand was able to make an activecontribution from day one.

The team culture is also genuinelysupportive. Everyone I’ve worked withhas helped me develop my skills andfulfil my learning objectives. There’s somuch talent and experience in the teamthat I’ve picked up new skills withoutrealising. On-the-job coaching hasinfluenced my development the mostand, as it’s tailored to my needs, hasbeen the most useful. There’s plenty ofmore formal training to take advantageof as well. I’ve recently been on a three-day deal simulation course at the PwC training centre.

Joanna


Civil and Structural Engineering,

University of Cambridge

As I did an engineering degree atuniversity, I wondered if I’d be at adisadvantage compared to studentswith degrees in business or financewhen applying for a job in consulting. At PwC I found that the range of skills I offered, such as strong self-motivation,good communication and insightfulanalysis skills, plus a proven interest inbusiness issues, mattered more thanthe subject I’d studied. I was attractedby the excellent training package onoffer and felt it would give me thegreatest support in gaining the skills I hadn’t had a chance to develop atuniversity. There’s a strong emphasis on individual training needs here.People come from a range of degreebackgrounds and all need differenttypes and levels of support to develop.


A different atmosphereCulture is key to any firm – and webelieve ours genuinely differentiates us from the competition. It’s based on treating our people as individuals.We want them to enjoy their work whileachieving their career goals andaspirations. So we assign everyone anEngagement Manager to act as a careerCounsellor and an experiencedAssociate Consultant as a Buddy, who will look after your development,training and career direction. As aresult, your training and project workcan be tailored to your specific needs.

A question of balanceWorking in Strategy Consulting at PwCis both well-paid and good fun and weemphasise how important it is tomaintain an enjoyable, balancedlifestyle. Instead of having a ‘face-time’culture, we focus on results. Ourboutique culture is reflected in the officeatmosphere, and is fostered by the factthat much of our work is London-based.This means you won’t have to live outof a suitcase for five days a week. Andalthough our work does regularlyinvolve international travel, it will be rarefor you to spend weeks away from home.

What’s more, our London office boasts a diverse range of nationalities andlanguages, making it a fascinating placeto develop as a strategy consultant.

We emphasise how important it isto maintain an enjoyable, balancedlifestyle. Instead of having a ‘face-time’culture, we focus on results.


Rakhi


Politics, Philosophy and Economics,

University of Oxford

What really stood out about StrategyConsulting at PwC were the consultantsI met at the careers fair. They seemedgenuinely interested and excited abouttheir jobs, appeared to be nice peopleand really emphasised how enjoyableand friendly their team was.

There are lots of firms out there andthey will all offer you a good salary,glossy recruitment brochures and agood graduate programme. However,what you should look at is their cultureand the people you could end upworking with. To me that’s the onlything that really makes one employerdifferent from the next.

My first impression of PwC still holdstrue. I’ve found the people here to bethe real highlight of the job. Our cultureis driven by a common interest in thework we do, combined with a strongemphasis on getting along with eachother as individuals. Ultimately this

results in more effective and enjoyableproject teams.

A good example of this is the amount of socialising we do together. As well as regular informal Friday night drinks at a local pub and a monthly drinksreception at a stylish bar, there havebeen more lavish events like a trip toEuro Disney and Barcelona. Learning todrive tanks at our Industrial Productsaway day and dinners at some of thebest restaurants in London to celebratethe completion of successful projects.

Obviously there’s also been some hardwork. But I haven’t been disappointed by the promise made to me about thefriendly, supportive team environment andthe enjoyment I get from working here.

Our culture


Applying is simple

You need to apply online atpwc.com/uk/careers/

You must attach your CV and a coveringletter via our careers website. You willneed to include some brief details aboutyourself. It isn’t a full application form. If you have any questions about theprocess, please call our recruitmentteam on freephone helpline number0800 100 1500.

The closing date for applications is 1st December 2008. Unfortunately wecan’t accept applications after this date.

If you’re successful at this stage, we’llinvite you to take part in the followingassessment days:

First-round

7th-16th January 2009

Second-round

21st-28th January 2009

Strategy Consulting at PwCPresentations and Events:

Top Consultant Career Fair,Barbican Hall, London10th October from 10am

LSE Consultancy Fair15th October from 6pm

Cambridge University Consultancy Fair16th October from 1pm

University of Oxford ManagementConsultancy Fair 22nd October from 11am

London Strategy at PwC Case Study& Presentation EventPricewaterhouseCoopers Embankment Place WC2N 6RH3rd November from 6pm

Cambridge University Strategy at PwCCase Study & Presentation Event 5th November from 6pm

Oxford University Strategy at PwCCase Study & Presentation 6th November from 6pm

Representatives from StrategyConsulting at PwC-wide events:

Warwick University Reception Evening9th October from 6.30pm

University of Oxford Reception Evening14th October from 6.30pm

Durham UniversityReception Evening15th October from 6.30pm

Cambridge University Reception Evening21st October from 6.30pm

University of Bristol Reception Evening21st October from 6.30pm

London Universities ReceptionEvening (PwC offices, Embankment Place) 28th October from 6.30pm4th November from 6.30pm

All events can be found on ourwebsite where you will be able tobook your attendance.


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