From MBB to Brisbane: Why One Consultant Chose Partners in Performance, Part of Accenture - and Australia

At Movemeon, we love sharing firsthand insights from professionals who have made exciting career transitions. In this feature, we spoke with a former MBB consultant whom Movemeon relocated from South Africa to Australia to join leading consultancy, Partners in Performance, Part of Accenture. He shares what drove him out of consulting, what brought him back, and what life looks like on the other side of the world.

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From MBB to Partners in Performance, Part of Accenture: A career evolution

What initially attracted me to consulting was the access to interesting problems and an ever-changing environment, as well as the (supposed) glamour of frequent travel. Looking back, the most valuable things I learnt were around the importance of a solid toolkit, resilience, and having a fun team around you.

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Why (ex)consultants consider leaving MBB - and what they're really looking for

This was complicated, many things were happening simultaneously which were making me question my values. I was struggling with the lack of client impact over a few projects that were cut short too early. Maybe this was linked to me wanting to do something I could own.

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Why Partners in Performance, Part of Accenture is an exciting workplace for (ex)consultants

Two things attracted me to the opportunity at Partners in Performance, Part of Accenture. First, the different approach to driving impact. Being in the trenches with your client. Walking the harder path of execution with them, not just recommendation. Second, the promise (and delivery) of a culture that truly puts people first without sacrificing excellence.

PiP delivers the most tangible impact for clients simply in the intent focus on creating a sense of ownership of initiatives and driving execution through formal mechanisms. We are living in an age where expertise is becoming increasingly accessible. The ability to execute, however, is not easy to achieve and almost impossible to achieve through automation.

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Relocating to Australia: The practical reality of an international move

What motivated my decision to relocate to Australia was long-term opportunities for my family, ultimately, in a beautiful and friendly country.

Although each individual relocation step has been made simple enough, there is a lot to do especially if you're moving with dependants (and pets!) Once there, things seem easy enough (if somewhat expensive) and people are helpful, but don't underestimate the amount of admin on both ends of the move.

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Life in Australia: What to expect when you arrive

The move has been made easy by a generally accepting and friendly culture. There is so much to do and see - both in the cities and nature.

There is a lot of discussion around cost of living, especially housing. It feels like everyone in Brisbane is out running or cycling at 5am - very fitness and outdoor oriented culture. It's great to see people making use of their environment.

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Advice for MBB consultants thinking about making the leap

You are questioning whether the decisions of your seniors are living up to your values. You can't bear the thought of another bland hotel for the week. You wonder whether you are still growing more rounded or just repeating the same experiences. It's probably not just one thing, but a build up of curiosity about what you are missing out on.

And practically speaking - make sure your interest in an international move is reflected in your Movemeon preferences, and your Job Alerts are activated! This means you are alerted to the most relevant and interesting global opportunities as they go live, meaning you're well positioned to show interest - even if you're not necessarily actively job-hunting,

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Thinking about an international move? Know your why first

If you don't have any dependants or obligations - do it, it's just always worth it whether you end up loving or hating it (and mostly its the former). If you have dependants and obligations - be really clear on your why. There is still a lot of value but its practically and emotionally harder, so you need to be able to fall back to your strong motivation.

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Ready to take the leap? Movemeon works with top-tier firms like Partners in Performance, Part of Accenture to place (ex)consultants in roles that match their ambition, wherever in the world that might be. View roles and apply now!