Junior Management Consultant
KPMG
If you told my high school self that I would secure a Level 7 consulting apprenticeship at KPMG, I’m not sure she would have believed you. Sometimes I still find it hard to believe.
In 2023, after completing my A-Levels, I joined KPMG’s Management Consulting apprenticeship programme. Walking into a Big Four firm straight from school immersed me into an environment where in everywhere I turned everyone seemed more knowledgeable and confident than myself. Like many people starting something new, I had quickly experienced imposter syndrome.
I distinctly remember one of my first client meetings. Sitting around a large boardroom table with senior stakeholders and experienced team members, I realised I was often going to be the youngest and least experienced person in the room. As an apprentice, overcoming that mindset can be challenging. However, I quickly learnt that consulting is not about being the most experienced person in the room. It’s about bringing your own perspectives, skills and ideas to the table.
That diversity of skills is what makes consulting successful. Problem solving, communication, emotional intelligence, project management and teamwork are all equally important. One of the things I enjoy most is that every project presents a new challenge and an opportunity to learn something different.
People often ask me what a typical day as a consultant looks like. The reality is that it is difficult to describe as every day is different. The variety of clients, industries and challenges means every project is different, which is exactly what makes consulting so fascinating.
Since starting KPMG, I have worked across three teams, each giving a different perspective on the profession. Starting in Governance, Risk and Compliance Services then Risk and Regulatory Advisory within Financial Services. Most recently, I have specialised in Operational Transformation, currently working in the Defence sector.
One of my proudest projects when I first joined Operational Transformation involved supporting an ESG supply chain focused on animal welfare, deforestation and human rights. Helping organisations understand and improve the sustainability of their supply chains was incredibly rewarding and aligned closely with something I am passionate about. It reminded me that consulting is not only about solving business challenges, but also about creating meaningful impact.
Alongside client work, other rewarding experiences have come from activities outside my everyday role. Each year, I volunteer on KPMG’s Discovery Programme, a three-day work experience programme that supports social mobility and provides opportunities for students from underrepresented backgrounds. What makes this particularly special is I attended the programme myself when I was in Year 13. Returning as a volunteer feels like a full-circle moment.
While the imposter syndrome has never completely disappeared, I’ve found balancing a full-time role alongside qualifications such as CIMA and ChMC can be challenging, however, saying yes to development has allowed me to grow my confidence and discover opportunities I never knew existed.
Consulting is challenging, rewarding and constantly evolving. If you enjoy solving problems, working with people and shaping a career around your own interests, it might just be the perfect place for you.