Mercer is the world’s largest HR consulting organization. Vault has named the firm the #1 HR consulting firm for several years in a row, and it is widely regarded as the leading worldwide consulting firm in personnel, health, retirement, and investment. Mercer Consulting competes for contracts alongside other prominent second-tier organizations such as Willis Towers Watson, Buck Consultants, and Aon Consulting.
If you’re not in HR but recognize the Mercer name, it’s because you’ve seen one of its surveys. The company conducts a lot of them! There are two fascinating ones: a global cost of living survey and a survey of employee holiday allowances around the world. If you’re searching for Mercer competitors and other consulting companies to work with, keep reading!
Mercer Consulting: An Overview
Mercer dedicates important resources to developing its expertise, including conducting yearly worldwide conferences, publishing global surveys, and producing frequent newsletters and webcasts, to name a few. The M&A ReadyTM 2-day workshop for HR professionals managing mergers and acquisitions is one of the company’s trademark events.
For the most part, Mercer is a reputable organization where you can advance your consulting career if you put in the effort and network with the appropriate people. You’ll have to get used to constant change, though. With its extensive history of acquisitions, expect periodic re-shifting, re-organizing, and re-structuring throughout the company.
Mercer Key Stats
- Mercer Website: www.mercer.com
- Mercer Headquarters: New York, NY
- Mercer Employees: 25,000+ employees
- Mercer Locations: 180+ cities, 40+ countries
- Mercer Chief Executive: Martine Ferland
- Mercer Revenue: ~$5B
- Mercer Engagement Cost: ~$400K
Mercer Investment Competitors
1. Bain & Company
Bain is the youngest of the world’s top three consulting firms. The corporation emphasizes camaraderie and has the “frattiest” culture among the Big 3. Bain presently employs more than 13,000 workers across 50 offices worldwide.
Though “Bainees” foster good relationships among their teams, consultants are nonetheless expected to work long hours in exchange for exciting projects and lucrative exit prospects. The firm uses a local staffing strategy, which means that projects are as close to each local office as possible. Bain has also distinguished itself through its skill in private equity via Bain Capital, which was made even more prominent by former boss Mitt Romney. Bain has also received a flawless score from the Human Rights Campaign for 12 years and has been designated the ‘Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality.’
2. Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is regarded as an innovative thought leader in the consulting sector, with a particular emphasis on strategy. BCG has an intellectual culture that values innovation and academics. The corporation employs over 30,000 people in 90 offices throughout the world. The corporation earns $11.7 billion in revenue every year.
BCG is frequently regarded as one of the greatest places to work, despite demanding hard hours from its consultants. The firm provides exclusive programs to its top performers, including the Strategy Lab and the BCG Fellows program. BCG also provides many initiatives and internships that promote diversity, which is one of the firm’s key beliefs. Consultants who leave BCG are offered excellent exit prospects in practically any industry.
3. McKinsey and Company
McKinsey & Company is an organization that needs no introduction. The company has continuously been regarded as the most valuable brand in the consulting industry, making it the most respected corporation on the list. Since its inception in 1926, the company has expanded to over 38,000 people in more than 120 offices throughout the world. The corporation earns $13.5 billion in revenue each year.
McKinsey’s hiring procedure is among the most competitive in the world. The firm often employs applicants with Ivy League degrees and/or prominent job experiences. McKinsey is also noted for pioneering the hiring of advanced experts with non-business degrees for its consulting teams. McKinsey consultants are recognized to be among the toughest workers in the field, which results in excellent departure chances.
4. Advancy
Advancy is a pure-play strategy consulting firm with small and agile consulting project teams that provide in-depth industry insights to large worldwide clients, facilitated by the firm’s emphasis on only three economic sectors: consumer goods, life sciences, and chemicals.
Because of its French beginnings, the 300-person firm has a distinct European flair. A yearly journey to a secret location for the entire worldwide staff is one of the firm’s defining characteristics.
5. EY-Parthenon
Ernst & Young purchased The Parthenon Group in 2014, expanding EY’s position as a Big 4 consulting firm. EY-Parthenon specializes in strategy consulting and currently employs over 9,000 experts worldwide. The firm consults C-suite, corporate, and organizational leaders in a variety of industries, including consumer, diversified industrial products, education, financial services, health care, life sciences, oil and gas, private equity, technology, media, and telecommunication.
While EY-Parthenon has access to the power, worldwide reach, and capabilities of one of the world’s largest corporations, the company maintains its distinctive boutique culture. The organization’s leadership has stayed intact, as have functions important to maintaining culture. As a result, consultants at EY-Parthenon emphasize the firm’s strong collegial atmosphere, entrepreneurial environment, and open management as key benefits of working at the firm.
6. Kearney
Kearney (previously A.T. Kearney) is an American worldwide management consulting firm that specializes in strategic and operational CEO-agenda challenges for enterprises, governments, and institutions. Kearney has offices in over 40 countries worldwide. Each year, the corporation generates approximately $1.6 billion in consulting revenues.
The company is well-known for its strong advocacy for female leaders, particularly in nations like India. It has various programs that promote diversity and inclusion.
7. L.E.K Consulting
L.E.K. Consulting is a management consulting business created in 1983 by three former Bain & Company partners, James Lawrence, Iain Evans, and Richard Koch. The company’s major service areas include business strategy, mergers & acquisitions, and operations. The firm takes a generalist approach to all major industries, with a strong presence in defense, aviation, life sciences, healthcare, energy, entertainment, transportation, retail, consumer products, financial services, and private equity.
The organization is exceedingly selective, and its consultants are notorious for working long hours, which might lead to sentiments of understaffing. L.E.K. offers lucrative incentives and incentive programs, as well as family benefits. The typical duration for new associates is about two years. The firm is known for its strong diversity programs, including for LGBTQ, women, and minorities.
8. OC&C Strategy Consultants
OC&C rejects anything that does not fit neatly into the category of strategy and thrives on its “challenger” culture, which tells you pretty much all you need to know about the company. OC&C was started in London but has rapidly expanded its footprint in the United States. The firm focuses the majority of its efforts on projects in five industries: consumer goods, retail and leisure, business services, media, and technology.
The firm has 14 locations in 11 countries and operates on a flat organizational structure, which means that anyone at any level can interact with anyone in the firm, whether an intern or a partner. If you’re seeking a strategy firm where your performance defines your career path, OC&C Strategy Consultants could be the place for you.
9. Oliver Wyman
Oliver Wyman is a rapidly expanding strategy consulting firm with strong links in Europe and Asia Pacific. The company is known for rapid professional advancement; you will enter a new promotion cycle every 18-24 months. The company earns approximately $2.5 billion in revenue each year.
According to Oliver Wyman consultants, working long hours at a developing firm might be hard, but they appreciate the pleasant work environment. Fortune notes that the company is particularly popular among millennials, and it offers significant allowances for working mothers. Oliver Wyman also does not require an academic degree, unlike many of the top consulting firms.
10. Porsche Consulting
Porsche Consulting, a 2024 newcomer to the rankings, was set off from the same-named sports car manufacturer in 1994. The firm, which focuses on client performance improvement, does two-thirds of its business in Germany but is expanding into the United States, other regions of Europe, Asia, and South America.
Porsche Consulting undertakes a large number of engagements in the automobile business (for major automakers), but that is not all it does. The company has experience in a variety of industries, including aerospace, industrial goods, consumer goods, and construction.
Porsche Consulting’s ~900 consultants and support workers enjoy incentives from Porsche AG, including leasing a Porsche and receiving a new automobile every six months!
11. Strategy& (PwC)
Strategy& is a strategy consulting firm formerly known as Booz & Company, which was bought by PwC in 2014. Strategy& focuses on executive-level strategy, akin to projects at McKinsey, Bain, and BCG. To help its clients compete, Strategy& emphasizes foresight and innovative thinking, a feature that can be traced back to founder Edwin Booz.
12. Accenture
Accenture is a technology consulting corporation with a strategy consulting division. The company has a vast global footprint with an estimated 700,000 employees. Accenture is ideal for prospective consultants who value opportunities to learn about technology.
Accenture is well-known for its tough workplace culture. Overtime is optional, although many consultants are required to work the additional hours. Accenture’s consultants believe that networking is vital for landing the finest teams and projects.
Conclusion
Consulting organizations vary in culture, workload, philosophy, and salary, so choose wisely! We hope this list of top Mercer competitors has been useful in your hunt for the perfect fit. If you want to work for one of these companies (or any others), make sure your resume is optimized!