Management vs Strategic consulting

Specifically this relates to those two roles at pwc, but asking more generally as well.

Is strategic consulting a sub-set of management consulting? So management consulting is broader than strategic consulting, right?

Also, which is more difficult to get into, which pays more? And is it quite possible to start off in management consulting before going into strategic consulting later on?

Management consulting is the umbrella name for consulting services to clients.

There are many sub-sets such as Operations, Technology, HR, Strategy, Finance, Security consulting.

Strategy consulting is often referred to as the "cream" of the consulting world because these consultants are often serving Management of Executive Boards and interact directly to the top-most levels of organisations.

Example of consulting companies are:

1. Strategy consulting: Bain, Mckinsey, Strategy& (PwC strategy consulting arm), BCG, Monitor (Deloitte strategy consulting arm), Oliver Wyman etc.

2. Technology consulting firms: PwC Tech Consulting, Accenture, Deloitte Digital, Capgemini etc.

To your questions, it is "easier" to get into standard management consulting roles than strategy consulting roles.

Strategy consulting roles are often targetted to people with deep technical expertise, strong relevant experiences or graduates of the best universities i.e. Oxford, Harvard, Cambridge, Manchester, Princeton, Imperial, LSE, UCL etc.

Management consulting roles, at top firms, are still quite difficult to get into and often compared to banking or law firms.

At PwC, I think Strategy& (PwC strategy consulting) is almost impossible to get into. You have to be extra good to be even considered for a role.

I have heard that some people apply to the standard PwC management consulting role, get relevant experience and then transfer to Strategy consulting within the firm.

Thanks man, very in depth explanation.

Is strategy consulting at PwC more difficult to get into than Monitor Deloitte or any of the other strategy consulting firms you mentioned?

I could be wrong, but I heard 'strategy' consulting pays more than 'management' consulting


btw does anyone know what the starting salary is for PWC grad management consultants? (in London)

btw does anyone know what the starting salary is for PWC grad management consultants? (in London)

I'd be keen on this as well