Hi,I was wondering if anyone thought that getting the ACA was an added bonus for a new consultant. The advisory program at KPMG gives this option. Obviously it would involve doing a bit of audit work, but surely this experience along with consulting experience would be good to have in the long-term?Thanks for your comments

If you know you want to consult, then it's best to just go for it. If you're not sure that consulting is what you want to do, ACA will give you a few other options so you can make a firmer decision once you qualify.

Most consultants trade off a very shallow base of skills. The ACA will mean give you some skills (should you want them)

Except typing skills. ACAs not much cop at Powerpoint either

And would you say that these extra skills are useful, and are viewed as such, in a consulting environment, or do they just give other options like Onny said above? I thought that they might be particularly valuable in FS consulting for example.

It would work both ways.1) Providing another option if you don't like consulting.2) It will deepen your ability and insight as a consultant as it (usually) affords a good general understanding of the business world and what drives good results.It will also give you a load of skills you won't need if consulting is your sole aim. You won't be using the detailed technical knowledge in your day job. Not that ACA will be obviously useful for FS consulting. ACA is about finance in how it applies to all businesses. FS is a sector, with its unique issues. It won't do no harm, but its not a specialist qualification.

im currently working for a top5 accountancy firm in a grad consultancy role, im 1 yr into my ACA and although i find it interesting my heart is in consultancy. The question i pose is should i stick with the ACA (and then apply for MC firms) or should i apply for entry-level roles at consultancy firms now? what i am getting at is working in the Management consultancy division of an accounatcy firm sufficient enough to be considered as consultancy experience when i look to move on? iv read the previous posts and want to know if an ACA aids a candidate looking to move into strategic consulting? any advice would be greatly appreciated

Are you in a consultancy grad role or are you a trainee accountant? You say you are both....

both..im in the consultancy dept of an accountancy firm and due to that fact i have to study for an ACA....my daily roles include general consultancy analyst research jobs

Whether you're at the junior ranks in an accountancy or consultancy firm. you're most likely doing the grunt work, which often requires little skill or qualifications. In both firms, you may be getting reasonable exposure to different clients, and may be at senior levels depending on the size of firm you're at. I would say the actual difference between someone who has been in accountancy or consulting for 3 years being their first job is very small, and has little bearing on whether they are able to succeed in the middle to senior ranks of a consulting firm (other than perhaps network). The person with the accountancy firm will have a well regarded qualification though!

so does an ACA stand out on an applicants cv when applying to strategic consulting firms ?

As with all qualifications, its the applicant not the qualification that is key. The ACA is a stake card, guarantees quality level but not the difference of itself.Put differently, if all you know is consulting and you haven't got sector or technical knowledge and experience then you're trading off a very shallow base of skills. Any joker can do generic change and project management - and it boring and dangerous to only have that in your kitbag.