What it does: Strategy, Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations
Staff stats: Around 505,000 globally with approximately 4,000 of those in Australia
The good bits: Training and access to leaders, prestigious brand, excellent training
The not so good bits: Project driven deadlines & spikes in workload
Hiring grads with degrees in: Engineering, Maths, IT & Computer Sciences; Finance, Accounting, Economics & Business Administration; Health & Medical Sciences; Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences; Law & Legal Studies; Property & Built Environment; Sciences; Teaching, Education & Human Welfare
Accenture started off as the technology consulting division of (accounting firm) Arthur Andersen and used to be called Andersen Consulting. To cut a long and litigious story short, in the 1990s it was decided to split Arthur Andersen and Andersen Consulting. The latter adopted the name Accenture on January 1, 2001, and listed seven months later. Accenture now services more than 40 different industries in over 120 countries.
A world-conquering multinational with annual revenues of around US$44 billion, FY20, Accenture services many blue-chip or otherwise notable businesses. It has operated in Australia for over three decades, Australia’s iconic brands across the areas of Financial Services, Communications Media & Technology, Resources, Products and Health & Public Services.
Accenture is made up of five business units – Strategy, Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations. Each unit works together to offer clients an ‘end to end solution’. Accenture is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace and does not discriminate on the basis of “race, religion, colour, sex, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression”.
In Australia, Accenture has supported the LGBTI community through initiatives such as partnering with the Mardi Gras Film Festival. It’s also been a leader in workplace flexibility, with various options to suit the individual needs of employees.
In Australia, Accenture partners with non-profits and charities that align with the Skills to Succeed initiatives, such as Dress for Success, Mission Australia and The Smith Family. Accenture has also assisted, most commonly through providing digital technology solutions, the Australian Rugby Union and Australian Youth Orchestra.
As mentioned, Accenture has five distinct business units. All will consider grads from a range of disciplines including humanities, economics, accounting, science, technology, and engineering. Obviously, some aptitude for and interest in the unit’s speciality is expected. For example, if you want to work for Accenture Technology you should be excited by the prospect of designing solutions to solve complicated technological issues.
The recruitment process varies by business unit but largely follows the standard online application-phone interview-assessment centre-interviews with senior managers model. You can learn more on the careers page of the company website.
You can expect to earn around the industry average for an entry-level consultant, with bonuses offered to strong performers. There are also some sweet perks such as overseas training and discounts on things such as insurance, restaurants and groceries.
Given the size of the business, there are lots of opportunities, though graduates shouldn't expect promotions and pay rises to start materialising immediately. But from that point, it’s possible to advance quickly, if you’re willing to work hard and alert senior staff to the results you’re achieving.
Training and development is something Accenture takes seriously and helps individuals navigate their own career path. There are many ways someone can up-skill either on a project itself or through formal training courses run both in house and through external providers.
Given the nature of consulting work, people come and go a lot, meaning there often isn’t a lot of socialising during office hours. That being said, there is plenty of socialising done after work. As well as playing hard, you’ll be expected to work hard so be prepared to put in the hours, especially if you want to be promoted. While there’s a hierarchical structure, senior managers are accessible and encouraging. There is competition amongst ambitious grads seeking to clamber up the first few steps of the career ladder but teamwork is encouraged.
Overall satisfaction rating among grad employees: 4.0 stars
At Accenture, we're driven by one purpose: to deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity. We do this by embracing change and creating 360° value for our people, clients and communities. Join us do incredible things that make a real impact.
Globally, we're a team of more than 505,000 innovators, driving business transformation in more than 40 industries. Locally, we work with many of Australia's most iconic brands to reinvent their organisations. Here are some examples:
As you help reinvent industries, we'll help you unlock your full potential in a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work environment. Through mentoring, leadership programs and unique learning experiences such as our Technology Bootcamp and Accenture Hackathon, you'll be able to expand your skillsets and accelerate your career growth.
And through our Corporate Citizenship initiatives, you'll have a lot of opportunities to make a difference such as teaching students how to code and joining eco-innovation challenges. In fact, in 2020, more than 2,500 of our employees in Australia contributed 15,440 hours in volunteering. We embed responsible business into everything we do—closing the skills gap in the digital economy, addressing climate change, cultivating a responsible buying culture and creating a more equal and barrier-free workplace.
Want to see our work in action? Check out the latest work we're doing here.
Our graduate application process
Applications open at different times of the year and the process varies depending on the role that candidates are applying for. We provide graduate opportunities across our five Services—Technology, Interactive, Operations, Strategy and Consulting. Here's what to expect:
Step 1: Application
We'll ask for a CV and a cover letter. We'll be looking at the candidates' academic background, work history and team experience. We'll also be checking outside interests and reasons for applying. We request candidates to follow these guidelines:
Step 2: Eligibility and CV Review
We'll review the CVs for eligibility and suitability for our graduate roles, then we'll be in touch with the candidates for the next steps.
Step 3: HR Touchpoint
Our Graduate Recruiting Team will contact applicants for a chat, where they may be asked to elaborate on some information in their resume. Our team will also tell if a particular role requires skills testing and further interviews.
Step 4: Virtual assessment centre
Successful candidates will be invited to an interactive virtual assessment day, which includes a team activity and case study.
Step 5: Final virtual interviews
This step of the process involves a one-on-one interview with an Accenture leader to ensure that we are mutually a good fit for each other.
Step 6: Job offer
If all goes well, we will make you an offer and work with you to agree on a start date. Congratulations and welcome to the Accenture family!
Attracting, developing and retaining exceptional talent is the key to our success. That's why we make sure that our people are recognised and rewarded for their unique skills, impact and career progression.
Successful candidates will have plenty of travel opportunities. Because we work with numerous clients across 40 industries, our teams can be assigned to deliver projects on client sites anywhere in Australia such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth and Adelaide.
Whatever path they choose, our graduates will have numerous learning opportunities to accelerate their career growth. We provide classroom, online and on-the-job training, leadership and mentoring programs and industry certifications.
We let our people choose the way they work so they can be their best, at work and in life. We provide a range of flexible work arrangements, including work from home, flexible work hours, part-time work and job sharing. We also offer generous leave policies such as an 18-week paid parental leave.
Our employees receive annual performance bonuses and other incentives for their great work. They also enjoy discounts and perks in travel, shopping, wellness, entertainment, motoring and many more.