The management consulting field concerns itself with the delivery of organizational assistance for companies in need of external advisory services, such as performance and operational analysis, new strategic guidance, reorganization and streamlining and improvement. While this is just a general overview of what management consulting comprises, the industry has grown a vast network of consulting firms worldwide that range from small, boutique-style firms to large, top-tier firms with their hands in virtually all areas of expertise. In this sea of different firms, which firms stand out as leaders in the field? Read on to discover the top ten.

McKinsey & Company

McKinsey was founded in 1926, and has grown to a firm with over 15,000 employees. James McKinsey, a career accounting professor, founded and built the company to provide financial services.

Today, the firm helps organizations across a wide variety of sectors by helping their clients increase their leadership skills and capabilities at every level. Integrity and professional conduct are seen as paramount at this value-driven organization.

The Boston Consulting Group

BCG is a global management consulting firm with more than 70 offices around the world. The company recently ranked second on Fortune Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list. The company was founded in 1963 and employs over 6,000 people. Their headquarters are located in the greater Boston area.

Bain & Company

Bain was founded in 1973 and has quickly become one of the best consulting firms in the world. The firm focuses on delivering sustainable results by helping clients make more informed, calculated decisions. Their management consulting expertise has a broad reach into industries Praxismarketing  such as transportation, financial services, energy, healthcare, technology, and private equity.

Booz & Company

Booz & Company is a leading firm with more than 3,300 people located in 60 offices around the globe. Booz prides itself in their deep functional expertise and practical approach to helping their clients.

Deloitte Consulting LLP

Deloitte is a management consulting firm with over 45,000 professionals. The organization works with their clients to help them solve their toughest problems. Their consulting services seek to leverage human capital, strategy, operations, and technology so their clients can reach higher and farther than they ever thought was possible. Consulting Magazine recently named Deloitte consultant Gene Procknow as one of the top 25 consultants in America.

Monitor Group

Monitor specializes in helping their clients through management consulting that addresses all aspects inhibiting growth. From innovation, leadership, organization, pricing, and marketing – Monitor covers it all for their clients. The firm specializes in working with companies whose industries are in a state of transition.

Oliver Wyman

Wyman is a top management consulting group with offices in over 25 countries around the world. More than 3,000 dynamic consultants work at the firm, employing in-depth industry expertise and strategic and analytical skills to deliver results to their clients.

A.T. Kearney

Kearney is comprised of some of the world’s top management consulting professionals that generate powerful and practical business solutions for the clients that stretch all over the world. The firm has over 2,700 employees that feature over 1,900 consultants. They specialize in the aerospace and defense, automotive, public, energy, utilities, and transportation sectors, among others.

Accenture

Accenture is a global management consulting firm with over 236,000 employees worldwide. The firm generated over $25 billion by the end of fiscal year 2011. Strategy, technology and outsourcing underpin Accenture’s success in helping their clients’ aims to enter new markets, grow market share and maximize operational performance.

Towers Watson

TW specializes in working with organizations to increase their performance by utilizing their consultant’s expertise in risk and financial management, and sound business decision-making. Towers Watson aims to connect their client’s vision with the big picture

0