The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Senior Financial Planning Consultant (Internal Promotion)
3-5 years as a Senior FPCSkills to master
- Leading complex workstreams, mentoring junior team members, challenging business assumptions, and demonstrating strong stakeholder influencing skills.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led multiple end-to-end planning cycles for significant business areas.
- Consistently delivered high-quality, insightful analysis that influenced key decisions.
- Proactively identified and implemented process improvements.
- Received strong feedback on mentorship and team collaboration.
- 2
Finance Business Partner (from another organisation)
8-10 years in a similar roleSkills to master
- Deep understanding of business operations, translating operational metrics into financial outcomes, and acting as a trusted advisor to non-finance leaders.
You're ready to move on when
- Proven track record of partnering with business units to drive financial performance.
- Experience in designing and implementing financial models for specific business functions.
- Strong communication skills, particularly in translating finance concepts for a diverse audience.
- 3
Management Consultant (with finance specialisation)
5-7 years in a top-tier consulting firmSkills to master
- Structured problem-solving, project management, client relationship management, and developing strategic recommendations based on financial analysis.
You're ready to move on when
- Experience leading complex financial projects for external clients.
- Strong analytical toolkit and ability to quickly grasp new business models.
- Excellent presentation and stakeholder management skills.