What does a principal consultant do?
A principal consultant is responsible for evaluating business' needs and opportunities, identifying potential leads to create project proposals, and maintaining strong business relationships that would generate revenues and increase the organization's profitability. Principal consultants must be up-to-date with the current market trends to ensure that the business adapts to the industry's changes. They also initiate new product development to expand its brand image, working closely with the marketing team for marketing strategies and promotions.
Principal consultant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real principal consultant resumes:
- Manage project risks and issues throughout the SDLC phases, report project/program statuses to steering committee along with financial information.
- Provide PMO office support including improving governance processes to achieve expect results.
- Manage numerous engagements that are either custom development or package software (ERP) implementations and integration.
- Project leadership, strategy and health information management consulting services to healthcare and manage care organizations and health information technology companies.
- Design database and business objects using XML schema.
- Create XMLType view to generate xml output from a SQL query.
- Consult and interface with c-level executives on the importance of UX/UI in relationship to customer retention.
- Supervise a mix team of consultants and customer professionals, including: business analysts, ETL analysts, and technical architects.
- Develop program specifications for data extract/transformation/load (ETL) procedures.
- Provide guidelines for debugging local and remote for java post process applications.
- Design and implement a custom logging system for an embed Linux application.
- Function as a significant contributor to tactical and strategic development of PMO.
- Addressed people and organizational requirements relate to large-scale ERP technology implementations and strategic plans.
- Research technology initiatives and perform RFP and vendor selection for a NASDAQ technology overhaul.
- Launch a straight-through processing initiative to support business growth and promote a control and efficient processing infrastructure.
Principal consultant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Principal Consultants are proficient in Cloud, Business Development, and C #. They’re also known for soft skills such as Problem-solving skills, Time-management skills, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Principal Consultants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Cloud, 11%
Founded this successful independent consulting business focused on end-user computing transformation, application integration, and cloud based virtual desktop services.
- Business Development, 10%
Managed business development and domestic operations for traditional engineering/environment/business management consulting and liability transfer/assumption projects.
- C #, 7%
Implemented the Performance Monitor utility to monitor the entire performance of the application using C # and SQL Server.
- Customer Satisfaction, 6%
Reviewed a hospital's laboratory outreach business and developed plans for operational improvement and enhancements for improved customer satisfaction.
- Java, 5%
Provided guidelines for debugging local and remote for java post processed applications.
- Project Management, 4%
Provide consulting services for marketing strategy & program development as well as project management & operations support for other marketing initiatives.
"cloud," "business development," and "c #" are among the most common skills that principal consultants use at work. You can find even more principal consultant responsibilities below, including:
Problem-solving skills. The most essential soft skill for a principal consultant to carry out their responsibilities is problem-solving skills. This skill is important for the role because "management analysts must be able to think creatively to solve clients’ problems." Additionally, a principal consultant resume shows how their duties depend on problem-solving skills: "help stabilize real-time inventory to end users on web interfaces solution based on j2ee and mobile technologies routinely managing project development. "
Time-management skills. Many principal consultant duties rely on time-management skills. "management analysts often work under tight deadlines and must use their time efficiently to complete projects on schedule.," so a principal consultant will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways principal consultant responsibilities rely on time-management skills: "lead new product development with emphasis on time to volume visibility & consistency. "
Interpersonal skills. This is an important skill for principal consultants to perform their duties. For an example of how principal consultant responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "management analysts work with managers and other employees of the organizations for which they provide consulting services." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a principal consultant: "project lead with excellent interpersonal communication, identifying problem + solving, functional requirements technical specification and business analytical skills. ".
Analytical skills. principal consultant responsibilities often require "analytical skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "management analysts must be able to interpret information and use their findings to make proposals." This resume example shows what principal consultants do with analytical skills on a typical day: "identified $1.5m reoccurring savings and developed several new performance reports and visualization tools, providing trending and predictive analysis. "
Communication skills. Another crucial skill for a principal consultant to carry out their responsibilities is "communication skills." A big part of what principal consultants relies on this skill, since "management analysts must be able to convey information clearly in both writing and speaking." How this skill relates to principal consultant duties can be seen in an example from a principal consultant resume snippet: "developed webmethods services and java services for communication with the lotus notes apis. "
The three companies that hire the most principal consultants are:
- Oracle2,478 principal consultants jobs
- Black & Veatch249 principal consultants jobs
- ERM232 principal consultants jobs
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Compare different principal consultants
Principal consultant vs. Senior consultant, information technology
A senior consultant of information technology is primarily responsible for developing strategies and procedures to optimize a company's information technology systems and infrastructure. It is their duty to assess existing networks and systems to identify their strengths and weaknesses, develop solutions in problem areas, perform risk assessments, and provide advice on how to achieve the best information technology practices. Furthermore, as a senior consultant, it is essential to lead the efforts and serve as a role model for the workforce, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between principal consultants and senior consultant, information technology. For instance, principal consultant responsibilities require skills such as "customer satisfaction," "solution design," "analytics," and "infrastructure." Whereas a senior consultant, information technology is skilled in "visio," "san," "strong analytical," and "technical support." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Senior consultants, information technology tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $117,869. In contrast, principal consultants make the biggest average salary, $119,120, in the finance industry.The education levels that senior consultants, information technology earn slightly differ from principal consultants. In particular, senior consultants, information technology are 2.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a principal consultant. Additionally, they're 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Principal consultant vs. Consultant/project manager
Consultants/project managers act as planners, leaders, and advisors in business enterprises. These professionals facilitate meetings and establish positive relationships with vendors, management, and clients. They make customer visits, maintain industry knowledge, procure third-party software and hardware, and deliver projects. It is also part of their duty to manage complex initiatives in an individual business unit or organization. Their skills include analytical, time and cost management, problem-solving, interpersonal skills, and proficiency in project management software.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that principal consultant responsibilities requires skills like "cloud," "c #," "java," and "solution design." But a consultant/project manager might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "project scope," "executive management," "cash flow," and "strong analytical."
Consultant/project managers may earn a lower salary than principal consultants, but consultant/project managers earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $107,463. On the other hand, principal consultants receive higher pay in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $119,120.In general, consultant/project managers achieve similar levels of education than principal consultants. They're 4.3% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for principal consultants in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Brian Simmons
Associate Provost, Columbia International University
Principal consultant vs. Consultant/team lead
Consultant team leads analyze background documentation, project documents, financial reports, etc., to prepare an initial report about the projects they are working on. They gather data through interviews, research, and surveys to design proposals meant to create an inclusive environment for everyone. These leaders work with clients to improve their organization's performance by coordinating their teams and identifying their needs. They also lead a team of consultants and discuss the techniques that help their clients improve their quality of living.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, principal consultants are more likely to have skills like "cloud," "business development," "customer satisfaction," and "java." But a consultant/team lead is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "product knowledge," "liaising," and "css."
Consultants/team lead earn the highest salary when working in the finance industry, where they receive an average salary of $112,433. Comparatively, principal consultants have the highest earning potential in the finance industry, with an average salary of $119,120.When it comes to education, consultants/team lead tend to earn similar degree levels compared to principal consultants. In fact, they're 4.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Principal consultant vs. Senior management consultant
A senior management consultant is an experienced professional who is in charge of a team of management consultants to help an organization solve issues, maximize growth, and improve business performance. Senior management consultants must conduct company research so that they can better understand the organization. They prepare business proposals and presentations as well as identify issues to form hypotheses and solutions. Senior management consultants must also implement recommendations or solutions and ensure that an organization receives the necessary assistance to carry it all out.
Types of principal consultant
Updated January 8, 2025
