IT Consultancy firms have a hierarchical structure similar to any other structured organization; is there a difference between Principal Consultant and Managing Consultant? Knowing the chain of command will help you understand the relationship between the Managing Consultant and the Principal Consultant. The managing consultant is in charge of overseeing a group of IT consultants. At the top of the organization, the Principal Consultant is in charge of several IT teams. Therefore, each of these IT teams is led by a Managing Consultant.
What is a principal consultant?
A principal consultant is a member of the consulting management team who aids in directing a consulting firm. They’re frequently one of the most experienced consultants on staff, and they have a big say in the direction the company goes in and the clients it takes on. They may also be in charge of consulting assignments for significant or significant clients. They might manage lead consultants and their teams in this capacity. Principal consultants might report to firm directors or other stakeholders.
What is a lead consultant?
A lead consultant is a senior consulting professional who manages a group of junior or associate consultants while providing services. Lead consultants frequently serve as a client company’s main point of contact with the consulting team. They might consult with clients in person to learn more about their requirements, assign associate consultants to conduct research on crucial topics, review research notes and team recommendations, and then create a report for their clients. To better understand the needs of their clients, they frequently visit their clients’ businesses or conduct online inspections. Lead consultants typically report to principal consultants.
Lead consultant vs. principal consultant
The following are some significant distinctions between principal consultants and lead consultants:
Education
Lead consultants typically hold a bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related field, like IT or accounting. They might also have a graduate degree in their field, depending on their industry. Lead engineering consultants, for instance, frequently work as engineers for a number of years before starting a consulting career. They may have obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees in civil, mechanical, or industrial engineering to work as a professional engineer.
A lead consultant can become a principal consultant by obtaining a graduate degree in consulting or management. They might complete their graduate program while working for a consulting firm because many universities offer online and evening courses in that field. Some companies provide current employees with tuition assistance, which can help a lead or principal consultant advance their career.
Experience
Before obtaining their position, lead consultants typically had years of experience as associate or junior consultants. In their entry-level positions, they might study project management, research techniques, and typical problems in their client industry. For instance, a lead technical consultant may work as an associate technical consultant for a number of years, conducting research on client companies and coming up with plans to enhance their clients’ IT infrastructures.
Because they frequently spend several years as lead consultants before moving up to a more senior position, principal consultants typically have more experience than lead consultants do. As a lead consultant, they may acquire sophisticated project management skills, strong leadership qualities, and in-depth industry knowledge. Advanced certifications in project management, consulting, and other important professional fields may also be earned by them. As their careers advance, these credentials may be advantageous.
Project scope
Lead consultants typically oversee the entire project cycle and evaluate the effectiveness of each team member’s contributions when they work on a project for a client. Their team may work with two or three important clients, and the lead consultant may assign a different team member to each client account. They might also carry out administrative duties, such as client billing and correspondence, depending on the size of their company.
Principal consultants frequently manage several projects, but they usually concentrate on the objectives and key outcomes of each. They may be in charge of several lead consultants and all of their team members, depending on the structure of their consulting firm. They might read project reports and speak with the principal consultants and other stakeholders about client accounts. Principal consultants typically don’t carry out administrative duties for the projects they supervise.
Responsibilities
Lead consultants participate in a consulting team’s daily activities and have frequent interactions with their clients. For client companies, they might conduct research, create improvement strategies, and put those strategies into action. The type of consulting project or industry may have an impact on the amount of communication they have with their clients. They may also manage smaller consulting projects independently or manage portions of larger projects, depending on the size and structure of the consulting firm. Lead consultants frequently act as professional mentors for the analysts and associate consultants on their team, assisting them in the development of crucial skills.
Although they also deal with clients, principal consultants spend most of their time overseeing projects and making sure lead consultants meet their deadlines. They could give lead consultants project advice and offer assistance with challenging client situations. In many consulting firms, directors and other stakeholders meet with principal consultants to discuss the firm’s programs and clientele. A principal consultant could persuade a business to expand its services or take on new client companies. A principal consultant may take over an account if a consulting firm has a particularly substantial or lucrative client.
Salary and job outlook
Conversation with Prasad Prabhakaran,Principal Consultant at Infosys
FAQ
Is principal consultant higher than lead consultant?
Because they frequently spend several years as lead consultants before moving up to a more senior position, principal consultants typically have more experience than lead consultants do. As a lead consultant, they may acquire sophisticated project management skills, strong leadership qualities, and in-depth industry knowledge.
What is higher than Principal consultant?
associate consultant is sometimes used differently and is typically a higher grade than principal consultant in some environmental consulting fields.
What is a lead consultant?
A lead consultant is in charge of a group of people working on a consultation project. Finding solutions to client needs, assigning tasks to your team, and making sure the rest of your staff stays on task and within the budget are all part of your lead consultant duties.
What does a principal consultant do?
As general manager or account executive, a principal consultant ensures that clients receive the necessary resources and receive top-notch customer service. You manage the client teams’ efforts to create and implement comprehensive strategic plans within the company.
