Making the decision to leave a Big Four firm and join a more specialised consultancy is not an easy one. In the three months I have been at Baringa Partners I am pleased to say that I have no doubts it was the right decision – and outline some of my experiences in that time.
Joining Baringa:
The process of joining Baringa was incredibly straightforward – from my initial contact with my recruiter to accepting the offer was less than six weeks! During that time I had the opportunity to meet people from all grades both formally and informally – I particularly appreciated the ‘peer meeting’ where I had the chance to chat to someone at my own grade and find out the perspective from the inside. Overall I was impressed with the level of communication throughout the hiring process – I knew where I stood throughout.
Work at Baringa:
Having joined the capital markets risk management practice, I was really excited to get stuck into a project in this area almost immediately, at a major global bank. Working in a small team in close collaboration with the client, assisting them in defining their priorities for investment, has been a challenging but rewarding experience. The culture of openness and support at Baringa has really been evident to me in my time here – and the encouragement to get involved in internal development ideas that interest me has been great. There is an entrepreneurial attitude throughout the company – everyone is committed to building the business.
Comparison to Big Four
My experience at Baringa compared to my previous employer has highlighted to me the benefits of working at a smaller firm – it’s possible to be known and recognised by the people important to your career development from day one. Whilst the big four firms are rightly recognised for their emphasis on training and professional development, Baringa’s flexible approach to training (employees can use their training ‘points’ on the courses most suitable to them) makes me confident I can access the knowledge I need to do my job.
Work vs. Life?
There is a huge focus on culture and work life balance here – and it is much more than lip service. It’s recognised that everyone has a life outside consulting. The inclusive nature of company events and the general level of banter in the company make sure that people can enjoy themselves with colleagues and outside of work.
Overall, Baringa has really impressed me with the hard work and commitment displayed by everyone I have met – I’m very glad I made the decision to join.
Posted by Paul Foulkes on the 6th of October 2011
