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Difference

Tamara Hammad
Consulting

'I’ve always been interested in a lot of things - consulting was the best option for me because of that. You're exposed to so many practices, communities, and industries. It's exactly what I was looking for.'

I studied a degree in Food Science, which included some business courses, and that piqued my interest in business. I have a broad range of interests, so I decided that consulting was for me. I wanted a job where I could delve into a wide range of experiences, and then later pick what I wanted to do. Accenture offered that.

Consulting is very hands-on, which suits me as I like to be there implementing the new change. Essentially, that's where you can build stakeholder management skills and create strong relationships with clients and others within the project.

On my last project, for example, I was part of a huge team introducing a lot of new technology and processes to a telecoms client to simplify and enhance their network delivery and ultimately improve their performance. My specific role was thinking about how to translate those new processes into documents and content that would help the people who would actually do the work, enabling them to understand how to do it well.

After supporting in a few different areas, I took the lead on the design and development of one key training piece focussed on a changing process. We needed to think about the best way to impact over 2000 employees with different levels of training. This started with analysing their different skill sets, then I learned how to use a programme to create the content we then tested on different groups.

It’s really interesting because you have to know the processes inside-out so you learn a lot about what the entire project team are doing, but you have to balance that with thinking it through from an employee perspective so it will land effectively. It’s a good education in how to make change happen.

Before I joined, I was nervous about being overwhelmed by the amount of information to learn. But, thankfully, you don't have to be an expert in technology to excel, you just need to be a good communicator and problem solver. Most importantly, you need to be proactive and curious to learn.

That’s down to the people you work with. When you join, you're assigned a buddy who is a huge asset. They provide you with all of the information you need and are happy to help answer your questions. They can also introduce you to people who could be in a business practice or area you're interested in.

I was interested in joining Payments, so I reached out to my buddy, expressed my interest and they introduced me to someone in the team, so now that will be my next placement. That’s what's great about Accenture, you can talk to anyone in the company, express an interest in a topic, and they’ll provide you with the necessary tools to get stuck in.

Consulting is really varied so you can rotate around projects, and then pick something you're interested in. It definitely provided me with the exposure I needed to make the best decision for me.

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Sheikh Azim
Strategy

'I get to work on projects that will impact almost everyone in the country.'

Even though I hoped it would be the case, I’m really surprised by just how much impact you can have here. I studied Engineering and when I was thinking about what to do, the way I thought about it was ‘I could be the most incredible engineer, but my impact would be limited to a specific area or sector’. I hoped Accenture would offer the opportunity to make a difference on multiple projects in multiple sectors, but the extent to which that’s true has really surprised me.

I applied to Strategy because I liked the idea of doing that ‘bigger picture’ thinking where you can solve problems on a huge scale. Strategy teams are often the first interaction a client has with us so we get to think about what they need to achieve over the next five to ten years. I’m atypical in the sense that I’ve been working with the same client since I joined rather than jumping around, but I do a lot of different projects within that and take on a lot of responsibility as I have a manager who has seen me grow.

We’re helping a national infrastructure organisation prepare to overhaul their assets, equipment and network while expanding their coverage across the country, which could directly or indirectly affect everyone in the UK. I started off doing project management and from there, I’ve helped write business cases, developed data products and taken on a lot of other responsibilities.

There’s a lot of crossover with consulting, especially on this project because we’re a lot more involved in implementation. But I do a lot of strategic work on organisational design projects, where we’re helping the client envision what their teams should look like and how they collaborate to effectively deliver the product. Writing business cases also requires strategic thinking as it involves speaking to different experts and demonstrating how we’re going to create value.

Everyone in the team has their own projects. My recent one was a data analytics product that brings together multiple different data sources and cleans them up to then automate engineers’ reports. I’m heavily involved in the actual building of it, which meant mastering a new tool but my team have supported me throughout.

I think the support is a key part of the culture and why you’re able to have such a big impact. I sometimes think ‘I shouldn’t have this level of responsibility on a graduate programme’, but the culture here is very trusting and everyone is ready to help. I’m always surprised by how willing very busy colleagues are to take 15 minutes to help you or share what they’re working on.

That support means you’re able to grow and develop at your own pace and see the impact you have increase. I often see my client’s engineers’ vehicles driving around and there’s something exciting about knowing their work will appear on my screen tomorrow and that my work has a tangible, intrinsic value. It gives your work real meaning.

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Arpita Patnaik
Analytics

'I think a career in analytics is for anyone, as long as you’re interested in thinking logically.'

I’ve always thought of unstructured data as an unsolved puzzle. There’s a mystery rooted in it. You investigate the problem to pick up clues and hints, apply methodologies, and then bring it all together to solve the elusiveness of it.

I knew Accenture was a global company and noticed its strong presence in the analytical world. But what really attracted me was that it felt like they had a real perspective on the power of technology, specifically on the power of analytics.

I think analytics helps you identify where and how you can make real change happen. I get to work on a wide range of projects, but I really love the ones where you can directly see the impact of your work. I recently worked on improving the efficiency of a chatbot. We identified benefit areas using a broad set of analytical tools and techniques to develop quantitative and qualitative insights, which we then shared with other teams including the experience design team and build team to integrate suggested improvements. You could see how our analysis translated into real changes to the product, enabling the human operators to focus on more satisfying and complex tasks.

Working with the experience design and build teams allowed me to see different sides to the project and better understand the impact of my work in the grand scheme of things. That kind of collaboration has defined my time here. Even though I joined Accenture for the analytics capabilities, I’ve realised that what really gives us the edge is our culture of learning and support alongside our advocacy for social issues.

From the day I joined it’s been really easy to get involved in social issues including mental health allies, LGBT+ allies, cross-cultural diversity champions, amongst many others. You get a lot of support to find issues you care about and then the structures and resources to deliver positive change.

That spirit carries over into our work as well. Everyone is incredibly supportive, genuinely going the extra step when they don’t necessarily have to. For example, there’s a lot of training available to support our certification journeys in areas like Amazon Web Services, Tableau and Microsoft Power BI. But colleagues also run regular learning series that provide guidance and support to gain those qualifications.

It’s truly inspiring. On top of that, there are always internal ‘lunchtime learning’ sessions about the latest technology and its application to various client projects. I actually transitioned into my current project after connecting with a panel member from one of these events, and eventually joined his team in developing a data strategy for the client to enable predictable planning and delivery for external stakeholders.

That culture means that even though what we do is challenging, you’re always ready to take it on. I honestly think there’s a space for anyone here who is curious and excited about the range of possibilities that the power of data analytics brings.

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Yetunde Animashaun
Client Delivery

'I feel like I’m fulfilling a purpose in this role.'

I was drawn to a career in technology as soon as I saw the impact it could have. When I worked with statistics on my master’s, I saw how you could use technology to discover useful insights from data. That sparked my interest because I started to think and read about how technology could be applied to other aspects of life. I attended Accenture’s Women’s Insight Day and I saw that it was somewhere I could learn new skills, grow my network and build my career, so I applied.

Initially, I was worried that I didn’t have enough of a background in technology since I didn’t have a degree in computer science or something similar. But once I looked into Accenture more, I realised that you don’t have to come from a STEM background. As long as you’re interested in technology, driven and willing to learn, there are plenty of options for you here.

When it comes to technology, I’m drawn to instances where you can use technology to benefit people’s lives. That’s why I enjoy my role as a Product Business Analyst; it’s focused on solving problems with tech. It can be in the public sector, it can be in the financial services industry, or somewhere else completely, but as part of the Client Delivery programme, it’s all about delivering a solution that addresses a specific problem.

My most recent project was with a public sector client who provides essential services to a huge network of users – it’s so satisfying knowing that this work will have a widespread impact on society. We’re helping the client digitise their services, which will improve the experience for their service users and, ultimately, free up more resources for their operations. My role is to gather and analyse the behavioural data from service users to uncover insights that will help us improve the product.

It’s incredible to know that I’m part of something bigger than me, and bigger than one project – my work on this technology is helping people across the UK. And it’s exciting to think about that in the context of how the wider world is changing, too, and how technology and innovation could play a role in our collective future.

I’ve already developed skills that allow me to have an impact, but there are always more opportunities to shape your career – I’m hoping to start my Amazon Web Services certification training soon. And it’s not just opportunities for qualifications: I also co-lead the African & Caribbean Network within the Technology Analyst Group, which is a great way to meet new people and work on issues of inclusion and diversity.

I’m excited about my career here because even at an early stage, I’m working on projects that I’m passionate about. I would love to work on projects that tackle diversity in our society, and I’m already building the skills I need to achieve that. It goes to show that this is a firm where you’ll always have the opportunity to learn, grow and make an impact.

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Martha Smith
Software Engineering

'When I first joined, I would ask a lot of questions for reassurance, now I’m confident handling much more responsibility.'

I joined Accenture’s Technology degree apprenticeship programme straight from school, and once I had completed my apprenticeship I went on to join the Software Engineering graduate programme. I decided that I’d rather learn in an environment where I could apply my knowledge, but I still wanted to get a degree; that’s why Accenture was the natural choice.

I realised early on that I didn’t want to be a software engineer. I’ve learned a bit of Java and understand the field, but my first role was as a functional tester and I loved it. I’m quite an analytical thinker and have always been very organised, so this side of the role suited my skills a lot more as it’s more about managing people than delivering the technical work yourself.

On my most recent project, which is currently at the go-live stage, we helped a major UK telecoms company bring in a new system for their tills across the country. The new system is a lot more user-friendly and integrates better with the third-party systems that need to access it. I was leading on the reconciliation, the process that ensures the entire company’s accounts are reliable by matching the transactions to the money spent.

My role was to oversee our testing process that made sure the integration was working and to make sure the data being produced was accurate. I organise our testers so all tests are completed, then liaise with relevant third parties to ensure the data is correct before working with the client directly to review everything.

When I first started, I would never have imagined having this kind of oversight over a team so early on the graduate programme. My confidence has grown massively and that’s definitely because of the collaborative, ‘can-do’ culture of the company. Everyone is supportive, but they also push you to keep improving and taking on more responsibility and that’s something I try to pass on to the people I’m now managing.

Another important aspect of the culture is that we’re always asking ourselves what we can do differently to deliver more value to the client. There’s a focus on getting better and delivering better results. Because of that, some of the work you see is unbelievable. The amount of innovation that I just wasn’t aware of on something as simple as an insurance website really surprised me.

Innovation goes beyond our day-to-day work as well. I help out with our Corporate Citizenship initiatives, and recently took part in a virtual volunteer session where we helped plot villages in Botswana on maps so emergency services can reach them quicker. I never realised this kind of thing was so important before I joined.

The support, plus the dedication to innovation, is why I tell people that if you’re interested in applying, don’t worry if you feel some of your skills aren’t as strong right now as they will be developed.

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Kavishan
Innovation & Technology Engineering

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Adam Casey
Operations

'So much can change week to week. Suddenly something happens and we have a new focus and everyone just goes Right, let’s change tack. How can we get better? What can we do differently?'

I enjoyed studying Mechanical Engineering but after several internships, I started to wonder if I would find the type of work I was looking for. I wanted to work in a truly innovative organisation where I could make my mark creating new solutions to the current challenges faced by businesses across a broad range of industries.

When I started thinking about where to find that, Accenture ticked all the boxes. I chose the Operations programme because the rotation system meant I’d be able to get stuck in, actually delivering work, as well as coming up with solutions. Also, while I love technology, I didn’t want it to be 100% of my job.

I’m currently finishing my delivery rotation, the first of four we complete as part of the Operations graduate programme. Basically, this is where we actually deliver what was devised in strategy sessions. Six months is a nice amount of time to get your head around what you like and build up some skills. I’ve been working with one of the world’s largest insurance providers, as part of a huge contract where we help them with all their procurement operations.

I’ve been able to get involved in loads of different projects already and now lead my own client calls and am responsible for some of the deliverables to the client. You can see the commitment to innovating in every project. We’re constantly asking, ‘How can we deliver better, faster?’

Even projects you might not expect can be flipped and reimagined. I recently helped introduce robotics into the client’s invoicing process. What originally took a week now takes two days because of how we rebuilt the process and embedded cutting-edge automation technology at every stage. It means that a lot of people who worked on those manual processes can then be upskilled on more complex tasks.

That commitment to innovation really impacts every aspect of working here. A lot is expected of you, but you’re always given the support you need. Operations is a relatively small programme, so I’ve been able to have good discussions with a lot of people right up to a senior level, which is an opportunity I’ve found very valuable.

You’re able to ask for advice about your future from people who were in your shoes not too long ago. And, because Accenture is always moving into new spaces, there is a real opportunity and expectation for you to make an impact. I’m really interested in sustainability, and that’s something Accenture is actively developing their expertise and experience in, to always offer more to our clients.

There’s a really clear pathway and a lot of colleagues ready to help me develop my skills and experience to become part of the next generation of innovators within the business. It’s a chance to sit at the table and help steer conversations with people that make the big decisions, which you don’t get in many places; it’s pretty exciting!

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Dennis
Security

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Aisha
HR Internship

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Ben Waugh
Technology Apprenticeship

'The apprenticeship gives you real-world experience, a degree and a career.'

I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do when I finished my GCSEs, but I knew that in the end, I wanted to work in tech. I wasn’t sure how to get started, and I thought about whether I should do A-levels and go to university or find a different route. That was when I heard about Accenture for the first time.

It was actually in a school assembly; someone from the company gave a presentation about the apprenticeship programme, explaining how it helps people start a technology career right out of school. They explained that you spend anywhere from two to four years working and studying at the same time, and by the end, you’ll have a degree and plenty of real-world experience. It sounded like the best of both worlds.

I went home, did some research online and weighed up my options. Beyond some basic programming, I didn’t have many technical skills, but training was a huge focus of the programme. I realised that rather than getting a degree at university and then starting my career, with this, I could do both at the same time. So, I applied.

Now I have technical skills in areas that I didn’t even know existed! And the best part is, I know how to apply those skills to actual projects. As an apprentice in Live Support, I help solve problems with client data; whether it’s UNIX command line or SQL scripts, I have the skills to fix our products and make sure our solutions are working properly.

I think that support is a massive part of it, because you need encouragement to give you the confidence to learn new skills and take on more responsibility. And I think that comes from having an inclusive culture and a close group of people around you. For me, that’s my team in Newcastle and my mentors. We all get on together, have a laugh and help each other out. And they actively encourage me to be creative, try things out and speak up when I have an idea.

You can see this in my recent work with a public sector client. The challenge was to improve how they managed a huge database of important records. It wasn’t simple, but after I analysed the system they were using, I thought ‘I think I know how I could improve this’. It wasn’t about following rules or taking orders from my manager – I developed the solution, suggested it to the team, and that was what we ended up delivering. The project was a success and it was so motivating to see that even at an early stage of my career, I can influence projects and have an impact.

Moments like that show me that I made the right choice in applying for the apprenticeship.

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