Get Active in Our Amazing Community of Over 448,000 Peers!

Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Case Partners to connect and practice with!

Strategy& London Vs BCG Dubai

BCG dubai London strategy&
New answer on Sep 18, 2022
11 Answers
2.8 k Views
Anonymous A asked on Dec 23, 2020

Hi All!

Trying to decide between two FT offers, would really appreciate everyone's thoughts:

Strategy& London (M&A) vs BCG Dubai.

A few key point:

1) S&'s work is 50% DD for PEs, 50% Growth strategy. BCG is mostly public sector work in KSA.

2) Looking to keep open the option of PE exit

3) Comp: BCG is 2x S& (however, not key decision factor)

4) Looking to stay in London in the medium term

Background: MSc Finance BSc Engineering (Top5-UK)

Thanks :)

(edited)

Overview of answers

Upvotes
  • Upvotes
  • Date ascending
  • Date descending
Best answer
Anonymous replied on Dec 23, 2020

Hi,

It really depends on how fast you want to reach your end goal and how important is location.

In PwC London I think Strategy& and the deals team are combined that is why the project portfolio is what you are mentioned and also the compensation gap.

My personal suggestion would be to take BCG do a good job 1-2 years and ask for a transfer to London after that while also network with the PE Practice Area in London office. Reason being better brand and better money.

Best,
Iman

Was this answer helpful?
19
Francesco
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Dec 24, 2020
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.000+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ InterviewOffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi there,

Congratulations on your offers.

The main advantage I see in S& is it may help to reach PE faster, which is one of your goals.

Have you checked where people exit after working there (you should be able to find out relatively quickly on LinkedIn)? If you don’t see a strong connection between S& and the PE funds you want compared to BCG, I would go for BCG – the MBB stamp is really useful for everything you will have to do in your career.

Best,

Francesco

Was this answer helpful?
Adi
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Dec 23, 2020
Accenture, Deloitte | Precision Case Prep | Experienced Interviewer & Career Coach | 15 years professional experience

Hey, based on the criteria you have listed, S& sounds like it from my perspective.

When it comes to job choices, I always advice people to choose that which is a better fit to your values, career aspirations & risk apetitie. Choose that which will allow you to do what you really want to do. Rest (success, money etc) will follow if you make the right moves. Too often people end up in firms for all the wrong reasons (peer pressure, $, impatience etc)

As with every situation/event/choice in life, nothing will be perfect. Be mindful of this and work accordingly. Regardless of which job you take, there will be ups and downs and you cannot make that perfect choice as there will always be something a little better. So remove this pressure.

All the best! And congrats for having these options in otherwise crazy COVID times. Well done for that :)

Was this answer helpful?
Anonymous A on Dec 23, 2020

Thank you Adi, some great advise unlike wso prestige driven comments. Will definitely take all into consideration!

Vlad
Expert
replied on Dec 23, 2020
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

It really depends on your objective. If you want to transition to PE, Strategy& seems like a better option. However, I would monitor the PE industry in the UK. With Brexit, I believe it'll shrink pretty soon.

BCG is a better brand, and taking into account the difference in taxes and exchange rates, your comp in Dubai will be much higher and growth will be faster

Best

Was this answer helpful?
Anonymous A on Dec 24, 2020

Thanks for the reply Vlad!

Ken
Expert
replied on Dec 23, 2020
Ex-McKinsey final round interviewer | Executive Coach

Congratulations! Both are fantastic options but frankly neither are ideal if you are optimising for a PE exit (presumbably in London) although I appreciate there are many funds out there if you are not picky. With both options, you may need to move to an MBB role in London (e.g., BCG London PIPE) as recruiting is super competitive and heavily based on branding. If moving within consulting is outside your consideration then I would go for S& as you will have no chance getting a PE role with no DD/deal experience.

Was this answer helpful?
Anonymous A on Dec 23, 2020

Thank you Ken for the reply. The 'no chance into PE without DD/deal experience' will definitely influence my decision process. As you said PIPE would be ideal, but I am aware office transfer to London are very high demand. Is lateraling to a MBB PE team from another firm unheard of at Senior Associate/Man. level?

Ken on Dec 24, 2020

It's actually a growing space and so moving laterally after 2+ years of experience is definitely possible if you have relevant DD experience. Both McK and BCG have been hiring 10-20 PE dedicated consultants per year over the last few years. Mainly Associate/Junior Manager level from non-MBBs in London.

Sadik
Expert
replied on Dec 23, 2020
Ex M&A banker and Consultant at JP Morgan and Oliver Wyman

Hi!

During my career in Consultancy, I have focused mainly on DD and Growth Strategy work. This is extremely demanding, but also extremely rewarding (in terms of learning and doing real "strategic" work).

I had colleagues that have done a lot of Public Sector work in KSA, that is also extremely demanding. However, not as rewarding as the DD/Growth Strategy work.

Given your criteria to potentially move to PE, I would chose for the "short term - ~2year" investment in yourself (rather than cashing the salary that is 2x so high), therefore opt for the Strategy& London M&A work.

Feel free to reach out to me via personal message if you have questions on the exact work.

Best,
Sadik

Was this answer helpful?
Anonymous A on Dec 24, 2020

Thank Sadik, definitely great advice. Love the "investment" logic, in the long term this comp. gap is completely negligible. Great to hear also that the S& work could potentially be alot more rewarding.

Ian
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Dec 24, 2020
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi there,

Let's cut out the noise...

1) You want a PE exit - leans S&

2) You want to stay in London - leans BCG

You need to decide what matters more to you...London or PE?

That being said, I want to clarify 2 things:

  • Even though BCG london pay is 2x, remember that, once you account for cost of living AND 0% income taxes in Dubai, this should mostly even out
  • Just because BCG is known for public sector work, does not mean you can't work your way into DD/PE projects...
Was this answer helpful?
Anonymous A on Dec 24, 2020

Hi Ian, thank you for the reply! I think you might have misread the post abit. Strategy& is for London while BCG is for Dubai. Really interested in hearing your view still!

Clara
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Dec 23, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

Big congrats!

Without the need to reading any of the bullet points you wrote, with my eyes closed, BCG.

Tier 1 vs. Tier 2, nothing else to comment :)

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

Was this answer helpful?
Anonymous B on Dec 24, 2020

That is very short sighted. There is a lot of nuance between offices, practices and your own goals that should be considered in making the decision.

Gaurav
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Dec 23, 2020
Ex-Mckinsey|Certified Career Coach |Placed 500+ candidates at MBB & other consultancies

Hi there,

congratulations on your offers! Both sound very exciting and you're lucky you have to choose from the best!

I think answering these questions can help you make a decision:

  • What's your priority at the moment?
  • What are you looking for in a job?
  • Can you take some risk or you're more a cautious person?

Whatever is your choice, it's never a mistake.

Best,

GB

Was this answer helpful?
Raj
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Feb 26, 2021
FREE 15MIN CONSULTATION | #1 Strategy& / OW coach | >70 5* reviews |90% offers ⇨ prep-success.super.site | MENA, DE, UK

The Deals team at S& (M&A Strategy) is pretty well established in the UK PE space and exiting to an investment role at a fund is well established, if that's your ambition.

Also naturally being in London will align to what you said you were looking for long-term, and regardless you'll probably have more geographic flexibility being in London vs Dubai.

Now counterargument to that is course BCG pay in Dubai will be tax free and the brand step-up.

Overall, sounds like S& would be the best fit to your ambitions. Feel free to PM me if you want more insight into S& London

Was this answer helpful?
Anonymous C replied on Sep 18, 2022

Hi, I am currently in a similar situation and am curious as to your final decision on this matter. Are you happy with your decision? 

Thanks! 

Was this answer helpful?
0
How likely are you to recommend us to a friend or fellow student?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
0 = Not likely
10 = Very likely