Management Consultant

Highly relevant tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Assisting and encouraging the development of objectives, strategies and plans aimed at achieving customer satisfaction and the efficient use of organisations’ resources.
• Discussing business and organisational shortcomings with clients.
• Analysing and evaluating current systems and structures.
• Discussing current systems with staff and observing systems at all levels of organisation.
• Directing clients towards more efficient organisation and developing solutions to organisational problems.

Additional tasks may include:

• Meeting with clients to introduce services and discuss consultancy objectives.
• Developing and deploying project management methodologies.
• Undertaking and reviewing work studies by analysing existing and proposed methods and procedures such as administrative and clerical procedures.
• Recording and analysing organisations’ work flow charts, records, reports, manuals and job descriptions.
• Preparing and recommending proposals to revise methods and procedures, alter work flows, redefine job functions and resolve organisational problems.
• Assisting in implementing approved recommendations, issuing revised instructions and procedure manuals, and drafting other documentation.
• Reviewing operating procedures and advising of departures from procedures and standards.
• Managing client expectations.

While a variety of specialised roles within management consultancy may be accepted, applicants should be performing a role at the required skill level in terms of comparison to the tasks listed above. Further considerations also apply, as detailed below.

For a role to be considered highly relevant, all three of the ‘essential’ activities below must be demonstrated.

Essential – All must be demonstrated:

• Independent and objective consultancy on management topics.
• Research and analysis of client needs; identifying and assessing a problem or analysing a specific area of an organisation.
• Recommendations based on clients’ specific business and organisational problems.

Additional activities that may sometimes be encountered:

• Assisting with implementation of recommendations made.
• Piloting the proposed solution(s).
• Winning new business.
• Leading consultancy teams.
• Liaising to promote follow-up services.

Criteria for internal consulting roles

The majority of management consultants work for consulting firms or as independent consultants, providing advice to external clients. In some cases, clients may also be internal to the organisation at which the consultant is employed, but, in all instances, the role of the consultant must be to provide independent and objective advice and assistance to help the organisation(s) achieve greater efficiency and solve organisational management issues.

The organisational structure in which an applicant works should facilitate the provision of independent and objective advice. Internal consultants usually work in an internal consulting unit (sometimes known as a strategy team/department) to provide consulting services to other units of the same organisation. Many internal consultants are unlikely to be in a position to provide the independent and objective advice that is expected for this occupation. For an internal role to be considered as a Management Consultant, an applicant must show clear and verifiable evidence of providing independent and objective advice and guidance.

Notes on other employment contexts

The advice provided in the course of setting up or delivering Business Process Outsourcing services would not normally be considered to be objective advice. A distinction is made between advice to bring about continuous improvement of outsourced processes and the provision of strategic management-related solutions to organisational issues on an objective consultancy basis.

Roles that are primarily focused on the provision of advice relating to risk management or compliance with legislation, regulations, or quality frameworks, without sufficient consulting on organisational management issues, are not considered highly relevant. In general, if the advice being provided is limited in scope to approaches to ensure compliance with established frameworks or standards, it is not considered as meeting the requirements for this occupation. Consultancy advice is expected to relate to setting and achieving organisational and business improvements that are not dictated by pre-determined standards. Roles at Professional level in the areas of governance, risk and compliance may be considered against the occupation of Information and Organisation Professionals nec (ANZSCO Code 224999).

The occupation of Organisation and Methods Analyst (ANZSCO Code 224712) covers roles that study organisational structures, methods, systems and procedures in order to, for example, improve ongoing processes.

Consulting involves providing expert advice to people working in a particular field. Consultants are found in a wide variety of areas, including ICT, agriculture, recruitment, taxation, scientific research, environmental management, etc. Management consultants provide advice on management-related topics. 

Management Consultants usually work as independent consultants or are employed by a management consulting firm providing professional expertise and advice relating to strategy, structure, management and operations to organisations with the aim of meeting  the organisation’s long-term purposes and objectives, for a consultancy fee. The consultancy process  involves identifying and assessing a problem  or analysing a specific area of an organisation,  reporting on findings, and formulating and often implementing recommendations for improvement. 

Determining the scope, purpose, methodology,  and context of consulting engagements delivered  is a key component of the assessment process.  In determining whether a role involves sufficient consulting on management topics, consideration  will also be given to the scope and breadth of advice provided and the impact of the issues addressed on the client organisations. The management topics and organisational problems advised upon typically relate to the ongoing planning, monitoring, analysis and assessment of how organisations can achieve strategic goals and objectives, broadly conceived. While advice may be provided on potential improvements to ongoing operational processes, management consultants are expected to demonstrate the capacity for strategic advice in their roles. 

Roles without a clear consultancy basis, such as  many managerial roles or those focusing on facilitating ongoing improvements to existing internal processes only, are not considered highly relevant.

When applying for a Skills Assessment, please ensure you submit sufficient evidence supporting your proof of identity, qualification and employment claims. A full list of the documents required can be found on the VETASSESS website under Eligibility Criteria.

Reference letters from employers should include detailed evidence of specific tasks that you carried out. This is particularly important where you are a member of a consulting team, because evidence is required of the individual tasks that were completed by you, rather than those of the team.

Referees should be fully aware of the detail of the work carried out by you, and provide examples of analysis tasks, and specific recommendations developed and put forward for consideration. They should provide independent and objective information on your role.

If you are nominating this occupation, you must submit an organisational chart. This chart should include:

• The company letterhead
• Your job position
• The job positions of your superiors and subordinates, as well as all positions reporting to your immediate supervisor and your direct subordinates.

The chart should also indicate the department’s location within the overall company structure.

If you are unable to obtain an organisational chart from your employer, you must provide a statutory declaration outlining the required information and the reasons why you cannot provide the information.

For this occupation, you must also submit a completed project list. You can find a template for this on the VETASSESS website.

Applicants are also further encouraged to provide the following, if possible:

• Official Position Descriptions for all roles held
• Detailed website links for each of their employers, detailing:
• * Relevant department/unit at which they were employed, if links are available.
• *Relevant services provided.
• Website links for major external clients, if relevant.
• Any further online information of relevance to their work during the period.
• Reference letters from clients
• Samples of contracts if relevant to role performed
• Documents generated during the consultancy process, such as consultancy reports.
• Any other documents they believe relevant to their role.

(Applicants may redact any particularly sensitive information before submitting these documents).