Strategy Consultant Job Description

At Ascent Professional Services we connect businesses with the best Strategy Consultants. If you want to progress your career as a strategy consultant, you can learn more about what a strategy consultant does, the qualifications and skills required to be one and how they have a positive impact on businesses they work for.

What is a Strategy Consultant?

A strategy consultant is a professional consultant who provides expert advice to organisations on high-level decisions that nvolve a strategic element and will effect current operations as well as longer term growth plans. This type of consultant works with businesses, government agencies, and other types of organisations to analyse market trends, identify opportunities, and develop strategic plans that align with their clients’ objectives. Their work involves deep research, data analysis, and industry benchmarking to help clients make informed decisions. Strategy consultants typically focus on areas such as corporate strategy, market entry, mergers and acquisitions, digital transformation, and operational improvements. Unlike general management consultants, who may focus on process optimisation and day-to-day operations, strategy consultants concentrate on broader, forward-thinking initiatives that can help shape the future of an organisation.

Strategy consultants must have strong analytical skills, good business acumen, and problem-solving abilities. They often work in teams, collaborating with executives and stakeholders to evaluate challenges and recommend solutions. Their role requires excellent communication and presentation skills, as they must translate complex data and insights into clear, actionable recommendations. Many strategy consultants work for large consulting firms, while others operate as independent advisors. Their work is highly dynamic, often requiring them to navigate different industries, adapt to evolving business landscapes, and help clients stay ahead in an increasingly competitive global market.

Strategy Consultant Job Overview

A Strategy Consultant is brought into an organisation as a person with expert knowledge of strategy. Their role is to review how a business can improve their practices and help implement goals to best optimise their business strategy. Strategy consultants deal with key decisions surrounding reducing costs and increasing revenue, therefore you would be working closely with members of senior management.

Strategy Consultants are required to be experts in the advisory phase of creating new strategic action plans. They are also responsible for troubleshooting current problems. This means that projects often have fast moving timespans and you need to be able to work to tight deadlines.

A strategy consultant works to identify trends within specific markets and analyse a business’s competitors by gathering data. They must then be able to take their findings and turn them into implementable action plans to improve their clients business.

The expected type of clients are strategic portfolio holders such as Chief Executive Officers, executives and/or senior managers. However, any business or organisation that wants to reduce costs and improve efficiency can utilise the skills and services of a Strategy Consultant, so there is opportunity for this role to be needed in many different sectors.

Strategy Consultant Average Salary Expectations

In the US, the average salary for a strategy consultant is approximately $94,686 per year. On top of this, strategy consultants can recieve additional pay that may include bonuses, commission, or profit-sharing arrangements. Strategy consultants can expect base salaries ranging from $85,729 and $106,193, with variations influenced by factors such as the employing firm's size, the consultant's educational background, and relevant experience.

As consultants progress in their careers, salary typically increases. These figures reflect the broader management consultancy sector, which includes strategy consulting roles. Additionally, many firms offer performance-based bonuses, which can significantly increase overall earning, particularly at more senior levels.

Responsibilities for Strategy Consultant

A Strategy Consultant needs to:

Help companies define their vision, mission and strategy.
Deeply consider every angle of important decisions that impact the company.
Have expertise in a particular industry or subject, such as market positioning or restructuring.
Support clients with market entry into a new market or with a shift towards a new business model.
Offer budgeting advice — Input on best practices to cut costs and drive revenue.
Occasionally fulfil a legal purpose such as in the case of mergers & acquisitions, strategy consultants typically support the strategic activities of the M&A process.
Define commercial strategies in the sales and marketing domains along with draft pricing, customer channel and product market combination strategies.
For HR, strategy consultants need to be able to contribute to human capital strategies, including talent management business cases.
For field of operations, strategy consultants need to be capable of drafting operating models and tying those with higher-level business objectives.
For digital strategy, a strategic consultant will need to have a competent understanding of IT and the best ways to implement IT to improve its strategic benefits and value.

Qualifications for Strategy Consultant

To work as a strategy Consultant you will need a bachelor’s degree in business administration or a similar field, with a minimum of a 2.1 or equivalent. After 4-6 years of employment, employers may sponsor you to complete a MBA, if you are wanting to work in a more client-facing role.

To excel in this role, it will also be expected that you have pursued internships in relevant industries to strengthen your analytical skills or have experience in other industry-facing areas.

Examples of acquired skills before pursuing Strategy Consultancy:

Strategic planning and analysis
Business Process Re-engineering (BPR)
Organisational change
Financial or IT systems and marketing
Exposure to any of the key consultancy markets, such as financial services, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), technology, telecoms or public sector

Experience and Skills for Strategy Consultant

These skills are essential for an established Strategy Consultant looking for a new role:

Having a university degree and additional relevant qualifications
Experience as a strategy consultant or a similar role
The ability to collect and analyse data, assess problems and structure solutions
Strong people skills with the ability to build relationships and be persuasive when necessary.
Strong time management and the ability to stick to tight deadlines.
Self-awareness and ability to assess personal performance.

To learn how to present your skills read our blog: ‘How To Write A Strategy Consultant CV’

Strategy Consultant Interview Questions

What value can you add to our organisation, in addition to your knowledge and expertise?
Describe your most challenging project.
Describe a time that you displayed leadership.
How would you improve performance in our business?
What skills do you think strategy consultants need to be successful?
What techniques do you use to analyse market behaviour?
How would you assist clients with the decision-making process?
What has been your most successful business improvement strategy?

Find your Future Strategy Consultant Role

View of current active Strategy Consultant Jobs to find your next role.

More Strategy Consultant Career Advice and Tips

Make sure to take a look at our wide range of informative blogs for great tips from leading industry experts.

Strategy Consultant FAQs

What is a workplace strategy consultant?

A workplace strategy consultant helps organisations optimize their work environments to improve productivity, collaboration, and eefficiency, as well as helping to improve employee satisfaction. They analyse workplace design, remote work policies, technology integration, and general culture to align the physical and digital workspace with business goals.

How do I become a brand strategy consultant?

To become a brand strategy consultant, you typically need a background in marketing, business, or design. Key steps include:

Gaining experience in brand management, marketing, or business strategy.
Developing skills in market research, competitive analysis, and brand positioning.
Building a portfolio of successful brand strategy projects.
Networking and potentially earning certifications in branding or marketing strategy.

What makes a good strategy consultant?

A good strategy consultant has a number of key assets including:

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
The ability to think strategically and anticipate business challenges.
Excellent communication and presentation abilities.
Deep industry knowledge and adaptability to different business models.
The capability to work collaboratively with clients to implement solutions effectively.

Is strategy consulting the same as management consulting?

While the two types of consulting typically see some crossover, there are some key differences between the two. Strategy consulting focuses on high-level business decisions, long-term growth, and competitive positioning. Management consulting, on the other hand, is broader and includes operational improvements, process optimisation, and other areas of growth. While strategy consulting forms part of management consulting, they are not quite the same.

What is technology strategy consulting?

Technology strategy consulting involves advising businesses on how to utilise technology for competitive advantage and for long-term growth. Consultants help organisations develop IT strategies, implement digital transformation initiatives, optimise infrastructure, and align any technology investments with business goals.