What does a business strategy consultant do?
A business strategy consultant specializes in developing strategies to help a company achieve its short and long-term goals. Their responsibilities typically include understanding the needs of the company, performing research and analysis to identify new business opportunities, gathering and analyzing data to determine the strengths and weaknesses of current operations, studying the competitors, and preparing detailed analysis reports and presentations for clients. It is also their duty to monitor the progress of implemented strategies, conducting corrective measures when needed. Furthermore, a business strategy consultant must adhere to the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.
Business strategy consultant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real business strategy consultant resumes:
- Develop and manage all front-of-house operations / logistics including guest control planning, security, celebrity appearances and executive presentations.
- Analyze internal knowledge infrastructure and develop optimized information system/organization.
- Generate research ideas and investment themes; write thematic macro research reports.
- Build comprehensive network security project plans utilizing Visio and similar engineering process diagramming applications.
- Diagram administrative processes, document functional specifications, complete extensive data entry, and drafter user interface designs using Visio.
- Analyze internal knowledge infrastructure and develop optimized information system/organization.
Business strategy consultant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Business Strategy Consultants are proficient in Cloud, Business Cases, and Project Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Problem-solving skills, Time-management skills, and Analytical skills.
We break down the percentage of Business Strategy Consultants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Cloud, 10%
Provide technology advisory, security and cloud services to corporate, government and educational clients across multiple industries and continents.
- Business Cases, 9%
Researched and developed a business case for exploring and evaluating new commercial opportunities and presented results to senior leadership for action.
- Project Management, 8%
Provided new product development and information technology project management consulting services to start up and Fortune 1000 companies.
- Financial Analysis, 8%
Provided business development, financial analysis, and research support to facilitate the growth of the strategy and consulting practices.
- Business Development, 5%
Provided in-depth ghost support to U.K. marketing groups/suppliers requiring systematic and strategic business development, marketing, and marketing research support.
- Cash Flow, 4%
Conducted a Pro Forma analysis to forecast of client's future cash flows and evaluated the firm value.
Most business strategy consultants use their skills in "cloud," "business cases," and "project management" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential business strategy consultant responsibilities here:
Problem-solving skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a business strategy consultant to have is problem-solving skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "management analysts must be able to think creatively to solve clients’ problems." Business strategy consultants often use problem-solving skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "prioritized and proposed solutions for business process issues. "
Time-management skills. Another essential skill to perform business strategy consultant duties is time-management skills. Business strategy consultants responsibilities require that "management analysts often work under tight deadlines and must use their time efficiently to complete projects on schedule." Business strategy consultants also use time-management skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "used robust implementation methodology and project management skills to keep projects on time and budget. "
Analytical skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of business strategy consultants is analytical skills. This skill is critical to many everyday business strategy consultant duties, as "management analysts must be able to interpret information and use their findings to make proposals." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "provided fact-based market analysis and alternative postal strategy in written testimony before u.s."
Communication skills. A big part of what business strategy consultants do relies on "communication skills." You can see how essential it is to business strategy consultant responsibilities because "management analysts must be able to convey information clearly in both writing and speaking." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical business strategy consultant tasks: "participated in the creation, communication, and implementation of strategic business planning initiatives. "
Interpersonal skills. A commonly-found skill in business strategy consultant job descriptions, "interpersonal skills" is essential to what business strategy consultants do. Business strategy consultant responsibilities rely on this skill because "management analysts work with managers and other employees of the organizations for which they provide consulting services." You can also see how business strategy consultant duties rely on interpersonal skills in this resume example: "provided customer service and interpersonal skills. "
The three companies that hire the most business strategy consultants are:
- Bank of America59 business strategy consultants jobs
- Deloitte54 business strategy consultants jobs
- Wells Fargo33 business strategy consultants jobs
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Compare different business strategy consultants
Business strategy consultant vs. Business developer
A business developer specializes in conducting in-depth business analysis and crafting various strategies that would not just help a business grow, but also strengthen client base and brand awareness. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around identifying areas in need of improvement. They come up with new services that will boost customer satisfaction, examining the potential for revenue and figuring out new opportunities from trends or other pre-existing programs within the company. All of this is conducted according to the vision, mission, and policies of the organization.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, business strategy consultant responsibilities require skills like "cloud," "business cases," "financial analysis," and "cash flow." Meanwhile a typical business developer has skills in areas such as "customer service," "work ethic," "excellent presentation," and "linkedin." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Business developers earn the highest salaries when working in the manufacturing industry, with an average yearly salary of $118,082. On the other hand, business strategy consultants are paid more in the utilities industry with an average salary of $128,604.The education levels that business developers earn slightly differ from business strategy consultants. In particular, business developers are 15.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a business strategy consultant. Additionally, they're 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Business strategy consultant vs. Business advisor
Business Advisors are consultants responsible for implementing business strategies to improve financial and operational efficiency. They are involved in preparing financial budgets, recommending a change in the operational process, identifying new business opportunities, evaluating a marketing strategy, and reviewing supplier and labor contracts. Business advisors also help to manage risk by performing risk analysis and consumer behavioral analysis. They are involved in report preparation and work to maintain open communication with different departments to implement change.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, business strategy consultant responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "cloud," "business cases," "business development," and "cash flow." Meanwhile, a business advisor has duties that require skills in areas such as "customer service," "strong analytical," "business strategies," and "excellent organizational." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, business advisors earn a lower salary than business strategy consultants. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, business advisors earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $92,206. Whereas business strategy consultants have higher pay in the utilities industry, with an average salary of $128,604.business advisors earn lower levels of education than business strategy consultants in general. They're 11.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for business strategy consultants in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Brian Simmons
Associate Provost, Columbia International University
Business strategy consultant vs. Manager, strategy
A strategy manager is an individual who reviews a company's objectives for growth and works with executives to formulate actionable plans to achieve these objectives. To make comprehensive recommendations, strategy managers must conduct data analysis of the organization as well as the overall industry. They must provide assessments of market trends and identify business threats and opportunities. Strategy managers should also work with department heads to develop individual team goals and break them down into actionable steps for the employees to complete.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from business strategy consultant resumes include skills like "cloud," "strategic business," "business operations," and "real estate," whereas a manager, strategy is more likely to list skills in "portfolio," "digital marketing," "business strategy," and "strategic thinking. "
Managers, strategy make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $116,769. On the other hand, business strategy consultants are paid the highest salary in the utilities industry, with average annual pay of $128,604.When it comes to education, managers, strategy tend to earn similar degree levels compared to business strategy consultants. In fact, they're 1.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Business strategy consultant vs. Business partner
A business partner is an individual who is involved in a legal business partnership with other individuals to manage a business as co-owners. Business partners invest their money into the business, and each partner benefits from any profits and sustains part of any losses. They must file with the state in which they do business and are governed mostly by state laws. Business partners can also be either liable or not for the actions taken by the company.
Types of business strategy consultant
Updated January 8, 2025
