Meet Raheem, a Management Consulting Analyst in Accenture

What and where you studied: Economics, Politics and International Relations at UCD (BSc), Management at Imperial Business School (MSc)

Dates of graduate programme: September 2024 

1. Why did you choose this industry, and this company in particular?

During my master’s degree, there was a strong emphasis on practising case studies to prepare for consulting interviews. I quickly found myself drawn to the combination of problem-solving and creativity needed to work through them. Having grown up playing plenty of video games, those skills felt quite natural to me, and I was excited by the idea of applying them in a professional environment.

I first came across Accenture through word of mouth and repeatedly heard about the early exposure graduates receive to a wide range of industries and unique projects. The company’s strong focus on technology also stood out to me, as I have always enjoyed exploring the latest gadgets and understanding how technology works. Accenture’s track record of investing in and acquiring businesses in emerging areas also showed me that Accenture is looking to the future. That really appealed to my curiosity and love of continual learning, as it suggested I would have the opportunity to work at the forefront of new and evolving areas.

2. Can you describe a typical day in your role? What are your favourite parts of the work you do?

A typical day in my role is spent working on my project, and this naturally takes priority over anything else on my plate. I recently completed a project, where each day began with a team stand-up to align on our tasks, discuss any blockers and agree on the key priorities. We also met with the client twice a week, and as the PMO Lead, I managed the project’s day-to-day coordination. This included preparing deliverables for client meetings, maintaining the project plan, tracking actions and owners, ensuring deadlines were met and producing a weekly status report to summarise progress.

As this was a new area of work for the client account, I was also trusted to work alongside the consultant to provide strategic input and help shape how the work was delivered. This was the part I enjoyed most, as I could clearly see the impact our work was having and the value we were creating. Having real ownership over the delivery was incredibly rewarding and made me even more motivated to produce the best possible outcome.

3. Did your responsibilities and workload change as the programme progressed? Do you get to work with more senior members of staff and different departments?

Absolutely! The programme offers a lot of flexibility, and as you progress, you are gradually trusted with more substantive work and given greater exposure to senior colleagues and clients. This really helps build your confidence while developing the core skills needed in consulting.

I started out providing PMO support to a team in India, before moving on to support client proposals and eventually becoming a PMO Lead for a team based in London. Along the way, I also supported managers across areas including regulation technology, financial services, software and platforms and more. While my role initially focused more on background research, my responsibilities grew over time to the point where I was independently building deliverables end-to-end and leading client meetings. The support I received throughout made that progression possible and has made Accenture a genuinely enjoyable place to grow.

4. What skills have you developed since being part of this company’s programme?

My first role was focused on research into legislation, which required me to digest large volumes of information and develop a sharp eye for detail when identifying the most relevant points. As with any consulting work, the real value comes from translating those findings into clear insights and explaining the “so what” for the client. Over time, I have become much more confident in storytelling and presenting key facts in a way that is engaging while remaining true to the source material.

I have also developed my data analysis skills, particularly when it comes to creating structure, building trackers and keeping teams aligned on shared objectives. While I would not describe myself as an Excel expert, I have become much better at organising information and approaching data in a logical way. My critical thinking has also strengthened, as consulting constantly challenges you to look at familiar problems from a fresh perspective.

Given my strong interest in strategy, I have continued building my capabilities across areas such as market sizing, market entry, competitor analysis and growth strategy. I recently completed INSEAD’s Business Strategy and Financial Performance course, which helped deepen my understanding of strategic thinking and financial acumen, and how both can support faster and more effective decision-making.

5. Would you recommend the graduate programme at this company to others? Why?

100%! I get genuinely excited going into the office and being part of meetings, whether you are shadowing or contributing. This is primarily because of the people you are surrounded by. You feel energised just talking to people at Accenture. Having a great support network is so important.

Something else worth mentioning is the upskilling opportunities you have. Accenture supports your learning and development; there are trainings available across several platforms that you can access. In a workplace where change is constant, fuelling your learning journey allows you to literally have knowledge at your fingertips!

6. What advice would you like to give to future graduates who are just starting out?

My golden words of advice would be not to shy away from opportunities. As cliché as it sounds, you really do miss 100% of the shots you do not take. When applying for roles, make sure you tailor your CV to opportunities and clearly highlight the experience that is most relevant.

It can also be really helpful to connect with others who are working towards similar goals, whether through online forums, your university network or LinkedIn. Having people to bounce ideas off and learn from can make the process feel much less daunting. Most importantly, do not be afraid to throw yourself in the deep end. Once you learn how to swim, you will probably wonder why you were ever hesitant in the first place!