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
Management Consulting Analyst
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Structured problem-solving, client presentation skills, rapid data analysis, and developing hypotheses quickly.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led workstreams on multiple client engagements.
- Consistently received strong client feedback on analytical contributions.
- Developed a strong ability to synthesise complex information into actionable recommendations.
- 2
Corporate Development Analyst
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Financial modelling for M&A, commercial due diligence, understanding deal structures, and market screening.
You're ready to move on when
- Played a key role in at least 2-3 M&A transactions (even if small).
- Built and maintained complex valuation models.
- Demonstrated strong understanding of competitive landscapes and market dynamics.
- 3
Business Intelligence / Data Analyst (with international focus)
3-5 yearsSkills to master
- Advanced data manipulation (SQL, Python), dashboard creation (Tableau/Power BI), statistical analysis, and translating data into business insights.
You're ready to move on when
- Owned the development of key business dashboards or reports.
- Successfully delivered insights that drove measurable business improvements.
- Worked on projects involving international data sets or market analysis.