Consulting is often a fast-paced career that exposes you to many industries, companies, and people. From large to small, plenty of firms in the U.S. can help you launch your career as a consultant.
It’s a popular career path for many people and with good reason. In May 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) noted the median annual wage for management analysts was $93,000 and employment in this specialty is predicted to grow 11% between 2021 and 2031.
But what are the top consulting firms you may want to consider working for? We looked at a variety of “best of” lists to help uncover the top consulting firms in 2023 that span a variety of industries and types of consulting.
The Top Consulting Firms of 2023
Here are the top 17 consulting firms in alphabetical order to look at as you plan your career path in 2023 and beyond.
1. Accenture
Based in Dublin, Ireland, Accenture services clients in over 120 countries. It spun off from Arthur Andersen (an accounting company) as a business and technology consulting company. The strategy and consulting divisions provide advice on business and technology strategy, operations strategy, technology consulting, and business and management consulting.
Accenture Innovator-in-Training
Learn what it's like to work at Accenture as a strategic consultant with this free Forage job simulation.
Avg. Time: 5 to 6 hours
Skills you’ll build: Prioritization, client communication, strategic analysis, error-spotting, data analysis
2. Alvarez & Marsal*
Alvarez & Marsal was founded in 1983 and employs over 6,000 people. While it provides consulting services in areas like tax and valuation, the firm is most known for its work in restructuring and turnaround, as well as corporate performance improvement.
3. Bain & Company
Bain & Company is a management consulting firm (while Bain Capital is the investment firm). Founded in 1973, the company is now one of the Big Three management consultancies. The company provides services in customer experience, people and organization, and procurement, among many others.
4. Boston Consulting Group*
Also known as BCG, Boston Consulting Group was founded in 1963 (and is where Bain & Company spun off from) and has grown into a global consulting firm with over 25,000 employees. Another member of the Big Three, some of the industries BCG consults in are automotive, education, insurance, and retail.
>>MORE: Enroll in a BCG Virtual Experience Program
5. Deloitte
Founded in 1845, Deloitte is one of the oldest firms in business. The company employs over 330,000 people and is a Big Four accounting firm. However, consulting accounts for over 40% of the firm’s total revenue and includes services in areas like customer and marketing, human capital, and enterprise technology consulting.
6. EY
EY (also known as Ernst & Young) is one of the Big Four accounting firms and employs more than 300,000 people. While a majority of the company’s consulting services are related to accounting (like tax and advisory), the company also provides consulting services in strategy, operations, and human resources.
EY Climate Change & Sustainability
Build practical skills as you explore working at Big Four firm EY with this free Forage job simulation.
Avg. Time: 3 to 4 hours
Skills you’ll build: Excel, data analysis, client communication, PowerPoint, report development
7. Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton is an audit, tax, and advisory services company for a large variety of industries. With offices in over 135 countries, the company has more than 62,000 employees. Grant Thornton has also been on Working Mother’s 100 Best Companies list for 14 consecutive years.
8. Kearney
Kearney has provided consulting services since 1926 and now has offices in over 40 countries. The company offers advice in a wide range of industries, including aerospace and defense, consumer products, metals and mining, and the public sector.
9. KPMG
Another Big Four accounting firm, KPMG employs over 236,000 people in 145 countries. Though KPMG was founded in 1987 as the result of mergers, the original establishment of parts of the company dates back to 1818. Most of the consulting KPMG provides is in audit, advisory, and tax sectors.
>>MORE: Test your consulting skills with a KPMG Virtual Job Simulation
10. L.E.K. Consulting*
L.E.K. Consulting specializes in global strategy consulting and was founded by three Bain & Company partners. It primarily advises clients on corporate strategy, marketing and sales, mergers and acquisitions, and operations.
11. McKinsey & Company*
As the oldest and largest of the Big Three management consulting companies, McKinsey & Company consults with clients on operations and finances. The company employs approximately 30,000 people in over 120 countries.
12. Mercer
Mercer is primarily an asset management firm. However, it also has several consulting units that advise clients on organizational change and leadership as well as human resources. The company employs 25,000 people in 43 countries.
13. Oliver Wyman
Oliver Wyman provides clients with a variety of consulting services, including actuarial, risk management, and strategy. Founded in 1984, Olive Wyman is one of the younger consulting firms on the list and currently employs more than 5,000 people in over 60 offices worldwide.
14. PA Consulting
PA Consulting was founded in 1943 in England as Personnel Administration. The company works with private, public, and third sector companies in eight industries, including financial services, consumer and manufacturing, and life sciences.
15. Roland Berger*
Roland Berger was founded in 1967 and specializes in management consulting. The company has 52 offices in over 35 countries and employs about 2,400 people. Headquartered in Germany, Roland Berger advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, and managing large infrastructure projects.
16. Strategy&
Strategy& is a business unit of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The firm was founded in 1914 as Business Research Service and became Booz Allen Hamilton in 1943. In 2008, the company split and became Booz & Company. PwC acquired the company in 2013, and it became Strategy&. The firm provides consulting services to a variety of industries, including automotive, entertainment and media, and technology.
17. West Monroe
West Monroe is the youngest firm on the list. Founded in 2002 by four former Arthur Andersen consultants, West Monroe offers digital consulting services to clients. The company helps strategize and plan for mergers and acquisitions, business operations, and organizations and people.
Want to get a better idea of what a career in consulting is like? Enroll in a Forage consulting virtual job simulation today!
Methodology:We generated this list by examining rankings from three sources (Consulting.us, Vault, and Forbes) and five different lists. These lists ranked companies that are best at serving clients, have won the most awards, and are considered the best to work for. Companies appearing on at least four of these five datasets were selected for inclusion. Companies with an asterisk (*) appeared on all five lists.
Image credit: chagin / Depositphotos.com
