I have a final round interview for S&BA with ACN London. I have received a number of offers and am not sure whether to go or not. Can anyone tell me what the growth is like for this line? Are the salary levels the same as for Analysts in the Opp Groups (does anyone know what they are)? How does it compare to Strategy Boutiques? Are the skills I would acquire transferable? Are they very selective about recruitment / what are the current staffing/recruitment levels like?I really dont know what to do, so if you can answer any of these questions or offer some advice, I would be most gratefull. Thanks ..

Strategy has been very much sidelined in Accenture, it is no longer a core service offering.

Maybe in the past but no longer valid. I know for a fact that McKinsey are extremely worried about out strat capability because as well as doing strats we can also deliver .. something they can't do!!

How do you Mckinsey's are worried about Accenture's strat capability? Yes, Accenture deliver. No questions about it, but when it comes to the strengths and offering that both firms offer, they are very different. Mckinsey's without a doubt is focused on strats (cp M&As; Alliancing; Cost Refuction; Growth strategies etc) whereas Accenture deals with implementation of such strategies (focusing on implementing efficient end to end processes, with people executing such processes with tech as a key enabler). The two firms couldn't be more different. Okay, sure, there are bound to be some overlap in some areas, but one can count the number of times that Mckinseys and Accenture have put in tenders for the same piece of work probably on one hand. I can see what Accenture are trying to do, by beefing up their strats capability, since many problems that organisations today face, is the fact that so many Business Transformation projects/strategies are poorly delivered, since the people that define the strats often don't own the implementation and as a result of this handover and lack of continuity, there's no surprise that recent studies have concluded that over 80% of Business Transformation projects end up not realising the benefits originally envisaged in the business diagnosis. I maybe wrong, but I dont believe that there is one firm out there that does this well. Most firms are either focused on pure strats, whereas others are on delivery and implementation. Maybe Accenture and Mckinseys should get together. Now that would be a potentially powerful combination.

The Accenture starting salary is £28.5k + Starting bonus regardless of office location or division (at least according to http://secure.workcomms.com/). I've no doubt that in the long-term, however, S&BA will be better paid than opps. It is also more competitive to get in - an extra round of recruitment. However I do not believe they can quite compete with strategy boutiques, as you say, whose graduate salaries are nearer £33k to £40k + Starting bonus. The work is also, not quite the same as strategy boutiques as you must remember that a huge majority of Accenture's work is IT based - therefore a strategy project involving IT is not unforeesable - although my impression is that Accenture are trying to grow this sector and make it more of a seperate revenue generator (and eventually compete with the boutiques more).

Thanks, but getting back to the original question, what are the opportunities like for an Analyst starting out with the Strat Group. I am worried that many of the skills I would acquire would be unquantifiable and be difficult to transfer elsewhere? Any advice would be genuinely received .....

Thanks,Can anyone add anything to that? I am particularly concerned about long term opportunities ?

Hi analyst,Appologies for going off topic, but I've got a final round coming up for accenture strat and was wondering if you could shed some light on the 'pontetia' test. It all seems so mysterious. They say they want to "see how my mind works". I hope it doesn't involve any kind of intrusive probe (only kidding)But seriously any pointer would be a great help. Also whats the 'Skills interview' all about.Thanks for your contribution

Hi analyst, Appologies for going off topic, but I've got a final round coming up for accenture strat and was wondering if you could shed some light on the 'pontetia' test. It all seems so mysterious. They say they want to "see how my mind works". I hope it doesn't involve any kind of intrusive probe (only kidding) But seriously any pointer would be a great help. Also whats the 'Skills interview' all about. Thanks for your contribution

The skills interview will be based around a business case study (and will probe ur application for certain types of skills eg group, presentation etc) and the 'Potentia' test will be a case study type interview but based around a cuurent affairs topic. For both case studies, they will simply analyse the way you approach the case, rathter than ur actual answer. For the current affairs, one, try to look at the bigger picture and draw upon information not explicitly stated in the case. Try to think as laterally as possible.

Thanks for the infor 'analyst'. Will the business case be similar to the one in the 2nd round, or will it be more along the lines of a McKinsey-esque case study?Would you be able to give ma an example of a case for the 'potentia' test? Thank you for your help

Strat in accenture is very much the spear head. It often feeds the other service offerings through its recommendations and flow on effects. It is the strat work that determines how to provide real business value to the client, the core to accentures business strategy.Although strat may not bring in as much revenue and some of the other accenture offerings, it is no less important in Accenture than any of the other businesses. In fact, in many ways it is the most important.As for competing with the McKinsey's it can definately hold its own - and regularly win's work over them.

Very transferrable. You will never have to artificially beef up your resume again.

As regards the transferable skills, have you any idea of the career gates it could open up, or is that very variable depending on the projects you work on? Thanks

Hi Trebor,Would you be so kind to give me an idea of the case study in the 2nd round interview @ Accenture? What are the group exercises like? Much appreciated! S.

They have a number of case studies that get rotated so there's no point in concentrating on this (mine was about an airline, with problems all over) you just need to read through it and distill the problem. Its quite obvious. Read through the cases on their website, its much in a similar vain.We had a good group so I was lucky, but I've heard of nightmare groups with certain 'loadmouth' people, its pretty much luck of the draw here. Its all about how you interact, so don't speak all the time (very important!) as you are assessed on how well you listen as well, as this is all part of interaction. Along with ability to influence the group (but amicably and diplomatically). Ultimately the feeling I got was they are looking to see if they'd like to work with you. So as everyone says just be yourself. If you're too load or too quiet you won't get in.Just realx and be yourself.Good LuckWhen's the big day?