Move from a smaller consulting firm to Deloitte (or similar Big 4), or chose not to.
I’m a Director at a niche consulting firm with good pay and strong flexibility as a mom to a 5-year-old. I’m considering a Senior Manager role at Deloitte and understand the pace and politics from prior Big 4 experience.Deloitte seems many core responsibilities overlap with what I already do today, but I’m unclear on business development expectations.
How sales-heavy is the SM role?
Is there a target ? How’s wlb ?
At SM level, you will realistically be spending about 40% or more of your time selling. The idea is you build great teams that deliver under you, so you can then free your time up to pursue selling. If your core if delivery only, you could do that too, but the sales expectations are not going to disappear and you will feel it in your career growth. The path to partner especially is tied to selling, building, developing the business.
As D1 mentioned, you will be accountable for sales targets. That means identifying opportunities and closing deals. In addition to a sales goal, you will be measured by a profit goal (we call it margin goal). So, you need to sell and deliver quality profitably. You’ll need top notch followers you can depend on to do this. I think this is one of the development areas that new hire SM’s often miss. Their peers already have their posses. You end up getting the leftovers. Find other new hires in the levels below you (as well as partners/managing directors) and team up with them early on. Have each other’s backs and you’ll do well. Use your coach to learn the ins and outs of the practice. Wlb is dependent on how well you manage upward.
Why would you leave what sounds like a role that is working for you and your life?
That’s a very valid point. There are days I also get this feeling of not being challenged enough and not super fulfilling that makes me want to look out and seek new challenges. The constant battle of mom guilt and not moving up in career is real I guess.