Wharton MBA Summer Consultant, Consumer & Retail Group

Alvarez & Marsal | Consumer and Retail Group (CRG)

Position:  Summer Consultant
 

Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) is a premier independent global professional services firm specializing in providing turnaround management, restructuring, performance improvement and corporate advisory services.
 

Alvarez & Marsal's Consumer & Retail Group is experiencing high growth in the next 2-4 years.   We are a team of seasoned consultants and world class operators who have a true passion for the clients, industries and sectors we serve.  Established almost four years ago, we also have the backing of a restructuring powerhouse and have adopted its culture of entrepreneurship and a bias for action. 
 

Through our deep experience in the industry, we have witnessed first-hand the overwhelming disruptions and challenges facing consumer and retail companies today. 
 

Our purpose is to translate our experience, innovative thinking and hustle into tangible results for our clients that put them on the right side of this disruption, positioning them for long term success.
 

We:

• Focus on both sides of the material disruption occurring in consumer facing industries

• Serve public and private equity owned companies to improve operating results

• Drive large scale transformations and assist during M&A / carve out activities

• Bring a structured, disciplined approach to create and capture value

• Get things done – results orientation is in our DNA
   

We are seeking:

• An ideal Summer Consultant background is one that possesses functional expertise and interest in consumer and/or retail sectors ideally with consulting experience (though not necessary

• Candidates with an entrepreneurial edge, creativity, intellectual curiosity and a wide range of passions and backgrounds

• Strong interest or professional experience in consumer and/or retail sectors (and/or relatable consulting experience)

• Adaptability to new assignments, systems and tools, the ability to handle multiple tasks concurrently, meet deadlines under pressure and a strong sense of humor

You Will:

• Receive training to promote the development of deep functional skills to maximize your ability to tailor solutions to solve business issues

• Focus on engagements ranging from holistic cross-functional transformations, functional performance improvement, interim management and M&A assistance

• Partner with the CRG Team and clients to quickly identify high impact opportunities for EBITDA expansion and drive shareholder/company value

• Serve as an integral part of our project teams, routinely exposed to senior client and firm leadership, helping clients solve complex problems from day one of their first projects

Desired Professional Experience:
Consulting projects or engagement in one or more of the following areas:

• Retail / Consumer Industry Experience 

• Merchandising & Category Management

• Sales & Marketing effectiveness, processes, incentives

• Distribution & Logistics, Network Modeling

• Manufacturing and Contract Manufacturing

• Direct & Indirect Procurement

• SG&A cost reduction

• M&A: Divestitures/Carve-Outs and Integration

• Information Technology and Digital Improvements

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to partner with team members through time-sensitive projects, structuring a work plan and managing processes to completion

• Superior analytical skills highly preferred

• Develop findings and make strategic recommendations

• Work with clients directly to implement strategic and operational recommendations

• Able to quickly articulate and communicates information, adapt effectively to audience

• Ability to deal with ambiguity

• Synthesize meaningful insights from data, opinions, or facts

• Structured project management (time, team and work-stream management)

• Ability to deliver time-pressured projects on-time and on-quality

• Flexible and creative thinking

• Client relationship focus with ability to understand culture, political environment, stakeholder agendas

• High energy style, flexible and adaptive, with the ability to work well in a fast paced environment
   

Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree from a top university, seeking your MBA

• Preferred 3-5 years of relatable experience, Consumer or Retail-related business or consulting in a professional services firm environment preferred / or corporate positions with a financial and operational focus

• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Access and Excel

• Strong technical acumen and comfortable working with complex data

• Experience leading and managing complex work streams and projects

• Build and drive the case for change on related work streams and projects

• Independently structure problem solving approaches and adapt quickly to changing direction

• Synthesize complex analysis and identifies implications with attention to detail

• Creative with the development of new tools, methodologies and approaches

• Experience with proposal development, strong commercial instincts and interest

• Advanced written communication skills, self-directed with preparation of client ready document and presentation development

• Open to +/- 80% travel M-F
   

Who will you be working with?

We are not a typical consulting firm. We are a group of entrepreneurial professionals who embody the A&M Core Values –inclusive diversity, integrity, quality, objectivity, fun and personal reward while delivering a tailored and scalable approach to working with private equity, hedge fund, and corporate clients. We present you with opportunities, not a playbook, and we reward you based on performance, not your tenure.
 

How will you grow and be supported?

As a demonstration of A&M’s strong commitment to its people, we offer benefits to support your career, personal and professional developments. This includes performance-based career progression and promotion process, high quality practice-wide training programs, a global mobility program, rotation opportunities in other practice areas, employee resource groups, and a health and wellness program. Click here to learn about our commitment to your well-being.
 

A&M recognizes that our people fuel our growth, and you and your team will be provided with the best available training and development resources, as well as networking opportunities. Click here to learn more about why A&M is a great place to work.