Senior Manager

I am 5th year SM and hope to be a partner by next year or so. In my early 40s with young kids.. so thinking about my next move and WLB. I am being approached by Recruiters from large tech companies with VP level role with a total comp of $500k or more. I am double minded now if I should stick to my PPMD track or make a switch now. Money is definitely important ... so wanted to ask your opinion if sticking with PPMD track will be more lucrative in long run. Thanks.

Okay folks.... I was staffed in a SM role as a consultant (crazy right?! I didn’t apply but replaced a SM who was layed off 😕) and I think I’m actually KILLING IT. Mind you, we’re at the end of deployment and a lot of the work has been done. I would love some encouraging pointers though! I’m so happy to finally be staffed & feeling like a functioning adult again! I was on the bench for months and really needed this pick me up 🤗 Signed, An eager to help consultant who’s so happy to have a job

Didn’t get promotion to Manager this year but yet asked to fulfill manager role because project doesn’t have a manager. SM is asking me to take some items from her plate in addition to managing the team and deliverables. PPMD said to be glad I have a job at such a stable company in difficult times. Anyone is similar situation? Thoughts?

I'm 35, have 2 kids and at least 2 years away from Senior Manager. No debt. Really want to pursue an MBA. I want to afford myself the opportunity to move up in banking to a D/MD role. Is it worth it??

Thoughts on the “senior manager is the trickiest position” that most managers aiming for SM are being told?

My senior manager is always micro managing me for even the meeting invites & emails. Is this normal for manager position to have SM go over everything?

ACN MDs: would you want me to tell you that I’m planning to (hopefully) jump to an industry director role after I make SM where you’re trying to get your foot in the door? Or keep my mouth shut about my 3 year plans?

Fellow SM/Director level 🐠, are you having success finding exit opportunities that pay at least $330k+? I feel like my path has gotten much narrower as I became more senior/specialized

Suggestions for handling a peer who constantly uses their years of experience to curtail discussions? Both of us are SM’s leading teams within the same Market so we talk often. This SM will say things like “I have 15 more years of experience than you so I am better at this than you/I know how to handle these things”. It’s infuriating and I often want to respond with “And I’m 15 years younger than you and in the same position, so I must be doing something right!” (Cont)

Hey folks. I'm about to receive an offer in a Bay Area accounting/finance role. I'm a Big 4 Senior Manager. The initial figures given to me were approximately $140 base, $100k initial equity grant.

I have a meet and greet next week with the partner in charge of the practice I'm applying for senior manager position in. Will I start off on his good side if I email him a summary of questions I have prior to meeting?

Do Senior Managers see other SM’s as “competition” even if they are “friends” or get along? Especially if they are up for Partner role.

Came into public accounting from school & put my head down & made it to Senior Manager (maybe a year early). Now, reflecting, I am considering whether this is what I want to do going forward and worried about being pigeon-holed to tax for life if I stay longer. Comp also has never kept up to expectations. For others who’ve been in this position, what made you stay or go? Is the grass greener? Or should I stick with it and be happy w/ slight chance at partner @ some pt down the line?

How can I build a better case for promo to SM? Do I actually need to have a book of work already? Are there SMs out there that got promoted and didn’t have any strong ties to clients and had to start from scratch while in the role?

When you are a senior manager at 35 who makes 250k+, should you even exit to industry (like FAANG) or go for partner?

Promo year to SM. Ready to explore B4 opps. How difficult would it be to sell myself for an SM role now compared to getting promo then leaving?

As a manager in Big 4 I reported to a partner all the while I was at the firm, so acted as a de-facto director often with managed and sales revenue toy name. Didn't get promoted, however, so ended up exiting. Didn't quite land the best role but ended up with a SM title in industry. The role however has lesser responsibility in comparison to my big 4 role. How do people adjust with such misalignment?

All else equal, is it easier to become direct admit PP rather than promoted to that role from SM or MD? Seems less obstacles. Thoughts?

Partners are the GM’s. They make the hiring decisions and oversee high level stuff. SM’s are the QB’s. They run the engagement from top to bottom. They are in charge of the show. (Continued)

As someone who’s just here for the money, when does it make sense for me to leave? Ex. Is the pain you have to go thru to make SM really worth the marginally better exit ops? (Fresh grad, non-target)

Hi Ladies- I’ve received constructive feedback that I need to work on my delivery during executive level meetings and briefs as I look towards promotion to the next role. I’m a strong performer and my SM said that he knows I know what I’m talking about but he (and I agree) sees room for improvement on how to deliver messaging to leaders (both internal and client side). Any tips that have helped you become a better presenter for these types of meetings or low risk ways to practice.

Thoughts on DoorDash? Looking at a SM role in new verticals. Sounds like offer would be $100K RSUs + $160 base.... are RSUs typically an annual thing?

What is Kearney’s role mapping to MBB? Eg what is senior manager?

Has anyone taken on a role at a smaller CPA firm outside regional/big 4 tax to get a better work life balance and less stress. Currently 10 years into my career with a family. Willing to take a small pay cut to gain a better life. What roles should I look for as a tax senior manager?

How do you advise I go about asking for a role expansion within my team? I feel that I am much more capable than what I’m tasked with but don’t know how to go about asking my senior manager for more

Would you leave a M/SM position in tech consulting at a Big4 to be an associate at MBB (assuming you’re working day and night in either position anyways so WLB tradeoff is a wash)? Feel free to throw **** at me but genuinely curious

Does anyone know what it's like to leave a top 6 as a manager 1 or manager 2 and move into a bank as a senior manager in Audit? What are the similarities and differences in role/pay/hours?

Would you exit (+30% more salary - less work - good company but potentially more narrow role) when you have a substantial shot to Senior Manager this year (I.e. 6-7 months until decision takes place)?

7 years in big 4. Now a SM. Any point doing an MBA. What are the benefits? What could it help me to exit to?

In discussions with a company about a potential role. The HR lead said they debated the leveling and landed on Manager. I want to negotiate it up to Senior Manager/Director. Any tips on how to do this? First call with the hiring manager in a couple days

Senior manager is the hardest position in consulting. Agree?

I struggle with being assertive at work. I can never demand a meeting with my SM or ask for what I need (new project/role) without being worried about upsetting someone. It’s difficult!

I’m a tax Senior Manager at a Big 4 - my experience is in tax compliance for business travelers. I am curious to know what my exit opportunities are.

Better exit opps as a Manager or Senior Manager? Debating if I want to hang on for SM in the next 2 years or go back to industry. Currently 7 years experience (Industry + Consulting) and Top 15 MBA.

SM and D 🐠: when you interview a candidate with 9+ yrs of experience for a technical/leadership role - do you expect them to know the definitions of “objects” that they learnt as basics a decade back? or do you give them scenario based questions that solves clients’ problems? Genuinely curious.

SM at F500 strategy role vs SC at Big4, similar TC let's say around 150-160k. Which do you you choose?

Interviewed for senior manager position at ey but they are offering manager position now. How do I negotiate?

I have a desire to become a senior manager and I believe in the next year I could become one in my current role or exit to one. The concern is between work and having three young kids I need to find something that has work-life balance. Are there senior manager roles where that is feasible?

Im a manager in international tax, probably a good chance I get promoted to senior manager at the end of the fiscal year. I got an offer for a senior manager position in house for international tax. I think the offer and my potential raise in 3 months would be comparable (so long as it happens). Any reason to stay?

What is Accenture’s Senior Manager role compared to Deloitte’s - Senior Manager as well?