Hi I am joining Accenture as a graduate in september. I have heard that the working hours in the government operating group are shorter. The persons justification was that the government cant bill Accenture for more than 48 hours per week. Is this true? Does anyone in Accenture have experience of this? Is this the same in the other consultancies eg IBM BCS, Deloitte etc.Thanks

Hours billed do not always equal hours worked!!

You DON'T work shorter hours in government, I was there for 3 years, now thankfully escaped Accenture but my friends who are still there are pulling 14 hour days regularly, particularly up in Leeds on the NHS project....

What group would you recommend?

I'd be more concerned with where your priorities lie and your level of commitment to both the firm and even a career in consulting itself, if you're basing your decision on the number of hours that you work. Decision should be based on more substantive factors, such as type of work; role; opportunities; clients; career progression etc.