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5 Best Consulting Firms in South Africa for Advice from ACTUAL Experts

  • Credibility and experience - I selected firms renowned both nationally and internationally for their consulting services. These firms consistently rank among the best globally and locally for work culture, efficiency, and industry-specific expertise.
  • Range of expertise - I chose firms that offer a wide range of expertise, ranging from finance to human capital development. The more industries they specialise in, the better.
  • Flexibility - I selected firms that have consistently integrated the latest technologies and strategies into their consulting services but don’t hard sell on them if they don’t suit the client’s needs. I chose firms that are flexible in making sure their clients get the service they deserve.
  • Communication skills - I chose firms that hire or assign consultants with great communication and people skills. I included firms that are known for their healthy work culture as well.

My husband is a consultant, and he’s told me many great things about his job in the industry. He once helped a high-profile client identify their potential wins and losses in a 6-month projection and expedited the acquisition of a foreign supplier.

Consultants (like my husband) in the best consulting firms in Johannesburg work around the clock and offer innovative and expert advice on a diverse range of industry-specific operations. 

If you’re considering a career change or seeking expert advice, check out my list of the best consulting firms in the city! I love hearing about my husband’s work, and these firms are top-notch.

1. Monocle Solutions

monocle-solutions-logo

Services: Business management consulting, risk management, business change

Location: 8th Floor, The MAC Tower 1, 129 Rivonia Road, Sandton

Contact: +27112635600

Business hours: 

  • Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm

Website

Google reviews score4.8/5
Total reviews5/5
Score consistency 5/5
Credibility and experience5/5
Range of expertise5/5
Flexibility5/5
Communication skills5/5

When it comes to banking and insurance, Monocle is one of the best consulting firms in Johannesburg. They’ve been in the consulting business since 2002 and have since grown to be known in the industry. 

If you’re looking to jumpstart your career in consulting, Monocle is a solid place to start. 

The work culture is renowned for being inclusive and highly flexible, giving its consultants the avenues to grow within the banking and insurance industry (especially since the company works very closely with leading banks and insurers in the country).

When it comes to dealing with clients, Monocle is results-focused and offers consulting services in speciality fields like risk, regulation, market conduct, cost transformation, and business change. 

They’re more suitable for large-scale businesses, though, and their retainers can be really pricey. 

Pros

  • Specialises in banking and insurance
  • Great work culture

Cons

  • Not suitable for small businesses
  • Slow responses to emails

Dynamic company culture

An outstanding environment for individuals seeking strong career growth opportunities. Monocle has a dynamic company culture offering diverse social clubs (running, hiking, cycle, golf, arts…) and colleagues are incredibly motivating, providing invaluable support for personal & professional development and assisting with challenging project tasks.

Erik Meyer, Google Review

Helps you grow exponentially

Monocle Solutions is an employer that truly cares about the career progression, intellectual growth, physical and mental well being of its employees. There’s plentiful training and certifications to be acquired and a variety of social clubs you are encouraged to enjoy. The people are warm and friendly, definitely a place that will groom you and grow you exponentially.

Jayadev Churran, Google Review

2. Bain & Company

bain-company-logo

Services: Business consultancy, aerospace, transportation, real estate, media, management consultancy

Location: Tower 1, The MARC, 129 Rivonia Rd, Sandown, Sandton

Contact: +27110129100

Business hours: By appointment 

Website

Google reviews score3.8/5
Total reviews score5/5
Score consistency5/5
Credibility and experience4.8/5
Range of expertise4.5/5
Flexibility 5/5
Communication skills5/5

Bain & Company is another renowned consulting firm in Johannesburg that can make for an impressive addition to your resume. If you’re thinking about applying for a consulting firm known for its scalability and diverse industry expertise, this is a solid place to send in your application. 

Moreover, if you’re the CEO of a startup with big dreams of making it into the Fortune 500, you can benefit from the firm’s large network of industry experts. 

They cover aerospace, automotive, aviation, finance, construction, media, energy, real estate, telecommunications, and more. 

Bain & Company offers specialised consulting in training, organisation, marketing, and sustainability. While it’s a competitive environment, it adds to the prestige. 

Clients receive expert teams for either their knowledge in a field they’re not familiar with or rely on them to take over the operations for a specific time. In both types, they receive tailored consulting services.

Pros

  • Wide range of internship and fellowship programmes
  • Wide scope of industries 

Cons

  • Highly cutthroat work culture

Best consulting firm

The best consulting firm ever. The work that they do is excellent.

Xolani Mabaso, Google Review

Socially aware company

Three best things I’ve enjoyed in Johannesburg are the friendly colleagues, the great city, and how much is happening socially.

Magnus Liland, Bain & Company

3. KPMG 

kpmg-logo

Services: Tax consultancy, audit consultancy, 

Location: 85 Empire Road, Parktown

Contact: Contact form

Business hours:

  • Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Website

Google reviews score4.1/5
Total reviews4.8/5
Score consistency 4.8/5
Credibility and experience4.5/5
Range of expertise3.8/5
Flexibility 4/5
Communication skills4.9/5

Taxes can get complicated if you don’t know how to organise and file them properly, especially when you’re getting behind them. If you’re running a business and wish to get expert advice on taxes and auditing, KPMG may be the firm for you. 

KPMG is one of the largest companies in Southern Africa, with offices in seven countries (including South Africa), and over 3,422 staff members. 

They prioritise inclusivity and diversity, ensuring quality training and services for all, regardless of race, background, or abilities. 

KPMG specialises in audit, financial risk management, data privacy, and taxes, and helps develop strategies for environmentally and socially aware companies.

Due to their focus on auditing, taxes, and financial risk management, some businesses may find KPMG unsuitable. For advisories in other industries, consider another consulting firm.

Pros

  • Best for auditing and tax consulting
  • One of the largest companies in South Africa

Cons

  • May not be suitable for non-tax or audit consultancy
  • Limited range of consultancy specialities

Best in service

KPMG simply one of the best commercial companies in South Africa always at best in their service unless someone can tell me otherwise which I believe could be hard to believe

Hakhaki Mandiwana, Google Review

One of the biggest companies in South Africa

This is one of the biggest companies in SA…the experience was great as I felt like I was in another country

Lerato Radebe, Google Review

4. EY

ey-logo

Services: Analytics consultancy, mergers and acquisitions consultancy, financial risk consultancy, cybersecurity advisory

Location: 102 Rivonia Rd, Dennehof, Sandton

Contact: +27117723000

Business hours:

  • By appointment 

Website

Google reviews score4.6/5
Total reviews4/5
Score consistency 4.5/5
Credibility and experience4.5/5
Range of expertise4/5
Flexibility 4/5
Communication skills4/5

EY or Ernst & Young is one of the world’s leading accounting and consulting firms according to consultancy.uk. It offers effective ​​strategies for acquiring a target company and subsequently making additional acquisitions to form a larger, consolidated business.

Most of EY’s clients are major corporations, making them a strong choice for mergers, acquisitions, and equity partnerships due to their extensive record of closed deals.

If you’re thinking about applying for a job here, note that you’ll be working with some of the biggest names in technology, business, finance, and even marketing. 

Working at EY comes with privilege, but the high-pressure culture means consultants have limited control over their assignments. They’re expected to go wherever the company wants them to go.

While competition is intense, the firm’s established systems help you adapt. The best opportunities go to the most deserving and hardworking.

EY is for you if you’re into that high-pressure, corporate job. Plus, you also get to travel around and meet a diverse range of people on the job!

Pros

  • One of four major and biggest consulting firms in the whole world
  • Best for mergers, acquisitions, and equity partnerships

Cons

  • Consultants can’t really choose their projects
  • Very cutthroat work culture

The best culture and the best people

Been working here for 3 years now so sorry for the biassed review xD…. love the building, love the people, love the culture and love my experience of being part of the EY family. Very friendly and helpful people all around EY. I am sure most people who have been here tell you they had a very nice experience.

Wesleigh Arjunan, Google Review

Seamless engagement backed by credibility

Global audit, accounting and consulting firm. One of the last standing. Probably takes a minimum of $2million to mobilise them, but they seem to have a good reputation. They claim seamless engagement across Africa, so that could be handy if you are planning on doing things cross-border. If you need the credibility of a Big 4 firm, then EY is a good choice.”

Brian Carl Brown, Google Review

5. Deloitte

deloitte-logo

Services: Human capital consultancy, enterprise consultancy, mergers and acquisitions consultancy, operations consultancy

Location: 5 Magwa Cres, Midrand

Contact: +27118065000

Business hours:

  • Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Website

Google reviews score4.7/5
Total reviews3.5/5
Score consistency 3.5/5
Credibility and experience4/5
Scope of services3.7/5
Range of products4/5
Customer Service3/5

Deloitte’s consultancy strategies are some of the most innovative in the world. In Johannesburg, they offer strategies and analytics driven by artificial intelligence to tailor their services for the clients better. 

One benefit of AI-driven strategies is speed. Deloitte’s consultancy services, designed for both C-suite and manufacturing roles, leverage the latest innovations to enhance efficiency and accelerate processes.

One of the Johannesburg office’s key industries is human capital development. If you’re a company that needs better operations management and advisory on people management, Deloitte is a solid firm for you. 

If you’re considering working at Deloitte, the firm offers significant growth opportunities and is highly prestigious as one of the world’s leading consultancy firms.

Just note that while Deloitte integrates tech innovations in their services, much of its work culture is hierarchical. This means that collaborations with other team members, especially senior ones, are not always the norm here. 

If you’re not into that kind of work culture, Deloitte may not be for you.

Pros

  • Best for human capital development
  • Offers AI-driven strategies

Cons

  • Strong hierarchical structure
  • Not suitable for those looking for a more collaborative environment

Great environment

Great environment! The people were really kind, the workplace is beautiful and professional. There are different buildings on the property, and it’s really safe.

S.S., Google Review

Awesome people to work with

Great company, great culture, awesome people to work with

Emmanuel Masemola, Google Review

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