United Kingdom · Internal consulting · Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Solutions Consultant

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

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Experience bandMid-Level (2-5 years)
Direct reportsNo direct reports
Reports toEngagement Manager
UK framework levelUsually a coordinator, or early in a professional job

Also advertised as Internal Strategy Consultant · Business Improvement Specialist · Process Optimisation Analyst

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in what real qualifications cover

Two short quizzes about you

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

NOCN Level 4 certificate for Data Analysts NOCN · Level 4 · covers 3 of 9 standards

BCS Level 4 Diploma - Digital Modular Programme for Data Analysts BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT · Level 4 · covers 2 of 9 standards

Highfield Level 3 Diploma for Team Leaders and Supervisors (RQF) Highfield Qualifications · Level 3 · covers 2 of 9 standards

Pearson BTEC Level 4 Higher National Certificate in Computing for England Pearson Education Ltd · Level 4 · covers 2 of 9 standards

City & Guilds Level 4 Diploma For ICT Professionals (Systems and Principles) City & Guilds Limited · Level 4 · covers 1 of 9 standards

Cambridge OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma in IT Cambridge OCR · Level 3 · covers 1 of 9 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Data Analytics Primer NOCN Level 4 certificate for Data Analysts

Data Analysis BCS Level 4 Diploma - Digital Modular Programme for Data Analysts

Data Analytics Pearson BTEC Level 4 Higher National Certificate in Computing for England

IT Consulting Skills City & Guilds Level 4 Diploma For ICT Professionals (Systems and Principles)

Systems analysis Cambridge OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma in IT

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner

Systems Fluency seeing the whole picture

Your Plan Illustration

Built for Solutions Consultant

5 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

Data Analytics Primer NOCN · covers 3 of 9 standards Level 4
Data Analysis BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT · covers 2 of 9 standards Level 4
Data Analytics Pearson Education Ltd · covers 2 of 9 standards Level 4
IT Consulting Skills City & Guilds Limited · covers 1 of 9 standards Level 4
Systems analysis Cambridge OCR · covers 1 of 9 standards Level 3

These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a Solutions Consultant?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skill this role is being asked for

AI-Powered Problem Structuring

Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluencyworking with AI as a thinking partner
Systems Fluencyseeing the whole picture

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Solutions Consultant plan as you set up, starting with the free Automation Fluency module. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

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Keep this read. One email with what AI is changing in this job, the new skills it asks for and where to start free. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

3What this role really is

A Solutions Consultant works on specific parts of larger projects, looking closely at data and processes to build practical solutions.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

Excel (Power Query, Power Pivot, VBA) Expert

Building complex, multi-sheet financial models; automating data cleaning and transformation tasks; creating custom functions for specific analyses.

Tableau / Power BI Advanced

Designing compelling, interactive dashboards and reports that reveal insights from complex datasets; creating advanced calculations (LODs, DAX) to support analysis.

Miro / Mural Expert

Designing and leading complex, multi-day virtual workshops for project teams and mid-level leadership; facilitating brainstorming and workflow mapping sessions.

Jira / Asana Advanced

Configuring complex project workflows for your workstreams; setting up automations; managing task dependencies and resource allocation for your part of the engagement.

Confluence / Notion Expert

Architecting the knowledge base for complex programs; creating templates and best practices for the entire project team; documenting findings, meeting notes, and project artefacts.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choice	Coming in	Where you are now	The step above
Project Workstream Approach	Follows prescribed methodology, all steps reviewed by manager.	Independently selects appropriate methodologies for routine problems; proposes approach for novel situations to Engagement Manager.	Designs and validates overall project methodology; coaches junior team on best practices.
Data Analysis & Modelling	Executes analysis as instructed; manager reviews all outputs for accuracy.	Independently performs complex data analysis and builds models; seeks review for critical assumptions or high-impact outputs.	Oversees data strategy for projects; sets standards for modelling and analysis; troubleshoots complex data issues.
Client Communication (Day-to-day)	Drafts emails for manager review; participates in client meetings but doesn't lead.	Leads day-to-day communication with workstream-level client contacts; prepares and delivers initial findings presentations.	Leads client meetings; negotiates scope changes; manages difficult client conversations.
Recommendation Formulation	Contributes data and initial thoughts to manager-led recommendation development.	Develops and articulates specific, data-backed recommendations for their workstream; presents to project team and often to client contacts.	Architects overall solution recommendations; challenges and refines proposals from junior team; presents to senior leadership.

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

Workstream Delivery Rate

Percentage of your assigned project workstreams completed on time and within agreed scope.

Target · 90% or higher

You're responsible for the 'market sizing' workstream. You deliver the final market analysis and competitor landscape slides by the agreed deadline, and the Engagement Manager confirms it meets all requirements.

Analysis Accuracy

Error rate in your data analysis, financial models, and presentation materials.

Target · Less than 1% detected errors post-review

Your financial model for a new process change has zero calculation errors or incorrect data references when reviewed by the Finance Business Partner.

Stakeholder Feedback Score (Internal)

Average rating from internal clients and project team members on your contributions, clarity, and problem-solving abilities.

Target · Average score of 4 out of 5

After completing a process optimisation project, the Head of Operations rates your contribution as 'excellent' (5/5) for understanding their needs and delivering practical solutions.

Business Case Contribution

Quantifiable impact of your workstream on the overall business case (e.g., identified savings, revenue uplift).

Target · Direct contribution to business cases with at least £50K-£250K potential impact

Your analysis identifies a £150K annual saving opportunity by streamlining a specific supply chain process, which is then incorporated into the final business case.

Problem Structuring & Hypothesis Generation

Your ability to take a vague problem, break it down logically, and form testable hypotheses early on.

You'll use issue trees and frameworks (like MECE) to organise your thinking. Your project plans will clearly state the hypotheses you're testing. You'll proactively challenge assumptions, asking 'what if we're wrong?'

Client Relationship Building (Workstream Level)

How well you build trust and rapport with the day-to-day contacts in the business units you're working with.

Business contacts will reach out to you directly for input or clarification. They'll feel comfortable sharing challenges and data with you. You'll get positive comments in project feedback about your collaborative approach and clear communication.

Proactive Issue Identification

Spotting potential roadblocks, data gaps, or emerging challenges within your workstream before they become major problems for the project.

You'll bring potential risks to your Engagement Manager's attention early, often with a proposed solution. You won't wait for problems to escalate
you'll flag them as soon as you see them. This means less 'firefighting' later on.

Knowledge Contribution

Your contribution to the team's shared knowledge base and best practices.

You'll regularly update project documentation in Confluence, making sure it's clear and reusable. You might share a new Excel trick or a better way to visualise data during team meetings. You'll contribute to post-project 'lessons learned' sessions.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy

Solving Tricky Puzzles

You'll spend your days dissecting complex business problems, trying to figure out the root causes and then piecing together a logical, workable solution. It's like being a detective for business issues.

You're given a brief that says 'our customer churn is too high.' Your motivation kicks in as you start mapping out the customer journey, digging into data, and hypothesising where the biggest leaks are.

Making a Tangible Impact

You'll be driven by seeing your analyses and recommendations actually get implemented and make a difference. It's not just about producing reports; it's about driving change.

You've designed a new process for onboarding suppliers. Your reward is seeing the team adopt it, and then tracking the reduction in onboarding time and errors.

Continuous Learning & Growth

Every project throws up new challenges and exposes you to different parts of the business. You'll constantly be learning new industries, functions, and problem-solving techniques.

One quarter you're optimising a finance process, the next you're helping marketing understand customer segmentation. You're always picking up new skills and knowledge.

What frustrates people

Spending days cleaning data that should be straightforward.
Getting buy-in from a department that feels threatened by your work.
When an 'urgent' request from a senior leader completely derails your carefully planned week.
Seeing a well-researched recommendation get watered down or ignored due to internal politics.
Having to chase people for information repeatedly to get your analysis done.

What this role does not give you

A predictable, unchanging daily routine.
Direct line management responsibility (at this level).
The ability to unilaterally implement your recommendations.
A role where all the data is perfectly clean and readily available.
An environment free from internal politics or resistance to change.

8Who you work with

Your work directly influences how well our internal projects deliver value. You're responsible for the quality and practicality of specific solution components. If you nail it, our internal clients get actionable insights and well-designed improvements. If you don't, projects can stall, recommendations might not be adopted, and we lose trust with the business. Essentially, you're building the foundations for our strategic impact.

Inside the business

Engagement Managers (your direct boss)
Senior Solutions Consultants (project leads)
Business Unit Heads (the clients you're helping)
Finance Business Partners (for building business cases)
IT/Technology Teams (when solutions involve system changes)

Outside the business

External vendors (if a solution involves new software or services)
Industry experts (occasionally, for market research or best practices)

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

At least 2-3 years of experience in a highly analytical role, ideally within consulting, business analysis, or a similar internal strategy function.
Demonstrable experience in independently managing and delivering significant analytical projects or workstreams.
A proven track record of using data to solve complex business problems and present findings clearly.
Strong foundational understanding of financial concepts and experience in building basic business cases or financial models.
Experience working directly with business stakeholders to gather requirements and present solutions.

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Advanced Financial Modelling & Scenario Planning (Anaplan/Workday Adaptive)

As projects become more complex and strategic, the need for dynamic, integrated financial models that can handle multiple scenarios and real-time data becomes critical. Moving beyond static Excel models is essential for influencing senior leadership.

Multi-dimensional Modelling · Driver-Based Planning · Scenario & Sensitivity Analysis · Data Integration & Automation

This quarter: Take an online course on Anaplan or Workday Adaptive Planning fundamentals. Focus on data loading and basic model building.
Next quarter: Shadow a Finance Business Partner who uses one of these tools. Ask them to walk you through a complex model.
Month 6: Volunteer to build a small, simplified model in one of these platforms for an internal team, even if it's just for practice.
Ongoing: Look for opportunities to interpret data from these platforms in your current projects and understand their capabilities.

Quick win: Familiarise yourself with the basic interface and navigation of Anaplan or Workday Adaptive Planning. Even just knowing where to find reports can be helpful.

Process Mining & Automation Basics

To truly optimise processes, we need to understand the 'as-is' state with data, not just interviews. Tools that automatically map processes and identify bottlenecks are becoming standard. Understanding RPA (Robotic Process Automation) will also be key for recommending automation solutions.

Event Logs & Process Discovery · Bottleneck Identification · RPA Fundamentals · Process Simulation

This month: Read up on the basics of process mining (e.g., Celonis, UiPath Process Mining). Watch some introductory videos.
Next month: Identify a process in your current project that could benefit from process mining. Discuss with your Engagement Manager.
Month 3: Take an introductory course on RPA or process automation. Understand the 'art of the possible'.
Ongoing: Look for opportunities to apply process mapping techniques, even if manual, and think about how technology could automate the discovery.

Quick win: Map a simple process you're familiar with (e.g., expense approval) using a basic flowchart tool. Then, imagine how process mining could improve that.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up

Regularly engage with industry publications and thought leadership in consulting, business strategy, and relevant technology trends.
Participate in internal training programmes on new tools, methodologies, or specific business domains.
Seek out opportunities to present your work to broader audiences within the company, honing your communication skills.
Actively mentor junior colleagues, as teaching is often the best way to solidify your own understanding.
Attend webinars or virtual conferences on topics like process optimisation, data analytics, or change management.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

AI-Powered Problem Structuring

AI is getting incredibly good at helping us break down complex problems and generate initial hypotheses. Consultants who can prompt these tools effectively will be able to accelerate the start of any project, saving hours of manual effort.

Advanced Prompt Engineering
AI for Hypothesis Generation
Critical AI Output Evaluation
Iterative AI Refinement

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

Hypothesis-Driven Problem Solving
MECE Principle (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive)
Business Case Development & Financial Modelling
Operating Model Design (Components)
Change Management (Awareness & Application)
Stakeholder Analysis & Management (Workstream Level)

14The pathway

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
Associate Solutions Analyst (Internal Promotion)
2-3 years
Skills to master
- Mastering data analysis tools (Excel, Power BI), structured problem-solving (MECE), clear slide creation, and effective task management. You'll need to show you can independently own a workstream.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivers accurate and insightful analyses for complex tasks.
- Proactively identifies and flags potential issues within their work.
- Receives strong positive feedback from Engagement Managers and Senior Consultants.
- Demonstrates initiative in learning new methodologies and tools.
2
Business Analyst (from another department)
3-4 years
Skills to master
- Translating deep functional knowledge into a broader, more strategic problem-solving lens. Developing strong presentation and stakeholder management skills beyond their immediate department. Learning consulting frameworks.
You're ready to move on when
- Has successfully led business process improvement initiatives within their previous department.
- Demonstrates a keen interest in broader business strategy, not just their functional area.
- Can clearly articulate how their previous analytical work led to measurable business outcomes.
- Shows strong aptitude for structured thinking and communication.
3
External Junior Consultant
2-4 years
Skills to master
- Adapting to our internal culture and specific business context. Learning our internal systems and data sources. Building relationships with internal stakeholders who might be less familiar with external consulting approaches.
You're ready to move on when
- Has experience working on multiple client engagements across different industries or functions.
- Is adept at working in fast-paced, project-based environments.
- Can demonstrate strong analytical, presentation, and client management skills.
- Shows a genuine desire to apply their consulting skills to internal challenges.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This work can lead to managing entire projects as an Engagement Manager, or building deep expertise in a business area as a Principal Solutions Strategist.

16Pay and demand

Pay & demand

Typical pay £60,288 a year Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 (provisional), under the Open Government Licence v3.0

The figure is the median for full-time employees in the ONS occupation this job title codes to (IT business analysts, architects and systems designers), from the April 2025 survey, about six months old when published, as ASHE always is. It is that occupation's middle, not this role's. Half earn more.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Solutions Consultant is actually changing.

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Data Analytics Primer, worked against Solutions Consultant.

Data Analytics Primer Level 4

Applied to your work in Solutions Consultant

This unit aims to equip learners with a foundational understanding of data analytics, including its applications and the stages of the data analysis lifecycle. Learners will explore various data types and structures, understand the role of data within an organisation, and recognise the importance of GDPR and compliance requirements in data handling.

How the thinking builds

1 Remember
2 Understand
3 Apply
4 Analyse
5 Evaluate
6 Create

An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration

Solutions Consultant

Hypothesis-Driven Problem Solving
MECE Principle (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive)
Business Case Development & Financial Modelling
Operating Model Design (Components)
Change Management (Awareness & Application)
Stakeholder Analysis & Management (Workstream Level)

This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

17The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Solutions Consultant is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

Senior Solutions Consultant (L3)
3-5 years

You'll move from owning a workstream to leading multiple complex workstreams, often managing 1-2 junior team members. You'll be making more independent technical decisions and directly influencing project outcomes.
- End-to-end Operating Model Design
- Advanced Business Case & Investment Appraisal
- Full Change Management Programme Design
- Complex Problem Structuring for ambiguous situations

Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Let's be real, a lot of consulting work involves sifting through data, drafting reports, and pulling together presentations. What if you could cut down on the grunt work and focus on the really interesting, high-impact stuff? That's where AI comes in. We're not just talking about theory; we're actively using AI to make our consultants more productive, giving you back precious hours every week.

For a Solutions Consultant, AI isn't about replacing your brain; it's about supercharging it. You'll use these tools to automate the tedious, repetitive parts of your job, freeing you up to do more of the strategic thinking, client interaction, and complex problem-solving that truly adds value. Think of it as having a highly efficient, tireless assistant for your most time-consuming tasks.

First-Draft Deck Automation

Imagine feeding an AI your Excel models and key findings, and it spits out a first draft of your presentation slides, complete with charts and data summaries. This automates the most time-consuming part of slide creation, letting you focus on refining the story and making it impactful.

Unstructured Data Synthesis

Got thousands of customer comments, employee survey responses, or call transcripts? AI can chew through all that unstructured text in minutes, identifying key themes, sentiments, and root causes that would take you days to manually analyse. It's like having a super-fast qualitative researcher.

Accelerated Market Research

Need to understand a new market or competitor landscape quickly? AI assistants can synthesise market reports, competitor filings, and industry news in a fraction of the time it would take to manually read and summarise. You'll get a comprehensive briefing, ready for your strategic input.

Stakeholder Comms Assistant

Drafting project charters, weekly status updates, or client emails can be a drag. Use AI to generate clear, concise communications, tailored to different audiences (e.g., technical team vs. executive sponsor). It helps ensure consistency and frees up your mental energy.

Common questions

How do you become a Solutions Consultant?

Common routes in include Associate Solutions Analyst (Internal Promotion) (2-3 years), Business Analyst (from another department) (3-4 years) and External Junior Consultant (2-4 years). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Solutions Consultant progress to?

This role can lead on to Senior Solutions Consultant (3-5 years), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Solutions Consultant?

Increasingly, AI-Powered Problem Structuring. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my free Automation Fluency module What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.

Solutions Consultant

Where should we send it?

Two short quizzes about you

Will AI change your work as a Solutions Consultant?

What's rising in its place

AI-Powered Problem Structuring

Skills this role draws on

Technical

How you actually get there, here

Associate Solutions Analyst (Internal Promotion)

Business Analyst (from another department)

External Junior Consultant

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

Roles this leads to

One to one, on the work you already do

Everything else the record holds

The career path, and where it branches

Senior Solutions Consultant (L3)

Where AI is starting to help

First-Draft Deck Automation

Unstructured Data Synthesis

Accelerated Market Research

Stakeholder Comms Assistant

Common questions

Want a read on where you stand?