Careers at CIL – find the right path for you

CIL is a global growth strategy consultancy. We work with organisations on the decisions that shape growth, from value creation strategies to pricing, data and analytics.

Our approach is rigorous and practical, grounded in deep sub-sector knowledge and careful analysis. We dig into the detail, test assumptions and stress-test every recommendation against the realities of the market. That’s how we help organisations see what matters, think ahead, and set clear priorities that lead to confident decisions and strategies built to deliver results.

We specialise in strategy consulting, helping businesses and investors assess business plans, identify market opportunities and make informed decisions about growth and investment.

Our core services include:

• Corporate Strategy – Helping management teams identify and prioritise growth opportunities, enter new markets, strengthen commercial performance and turn strategy into action.
• Mergers & Acquisitions – Supporting businesses and investors across the deal lifecycle, including buy & build strategy, commercial due diligence, market entry and post-deal planning.
• Value Creation – Helping investors and management teams identify the key drivers of performance, prioritise growth opportunities and build practical plans to create lasting value.
• Pricing & Commercial Excellence – Helping businesses strengthen their pricing strategies and commercial performance to support sustainable growth.
• Data, Analytics & Artificial Intelligence – Helping clients turn complex data into useful insight, improve reporting and decision-making, and apply AI in practical ways. If you’re particularly interested in this area, we recommend applying for our Analyst – Data, Analytics & AI role.

A career at CIL offers the opportunity for rapid career progression whilst gaining a world-class business education. As our engagements are typically short, our employees get exposure to a wider variety of areas and work with different people across the company. Our workplace is open, diverse and supportive, allowing individuals from all backgrounds to thrive.

Support: Supportiveness is integral to achievement and something we pride ourselves on at CIL. All employees have a career manager who mentors and supports them on their journey, as well as a designated “buddy”.

Socials: We have an incredible social scene, with regular events and parties. Our people genuinely enjoy spending time with one another, which is part of what makes us special.

Training: We provide a high-quality training programme delivered within a hugely supportive learning environment.

Health and wellness: As well as private health insurance, our people have football and netball teams which meet up regularly to train and compete, as well as a weekly lunchtime run.

We strongly believe that you do your best work for your clients when you are fulfilled. Consulting can be a challenging job, but we are committed to ensuring life at CIL is an attractive long-term career option.

• Clear, meritocratic progression, with exposure to investors and management teams from the start.
• Hybrid working, with a guideline of spending at least 80% of your time in-office for the first six months and 60% of time in-office beyond that.
• High-quality training delivered within a hugely supportive learning environment. Access to personal online career coaching via a third-party provider.
• Competitive renumeration package, with participation in our company’s discretionary bonus scheme and matched pension contributions of 5% of basic salary, via salary sacrifice.
• Generous holiday entitlement (25 days, with an additional discretionary ‘CIL Day’ around Christmas) with the option to purchase five additional days each year.
• Option to request an extended period of unpaid leave (e.g. for a sabbatical) once you’ve completed two years of service.
• Secondment opportunities to our US, German or French offices (available at Consultant level and above, subject to business demand).
• Option to join our company's private healthcare scheme through Vitality, which includes a Dental, Optical and Audiological cash plan alongside a variety of wellbeing rewards and incentives.
• Regular company events & socials.

We provide a world-class business education so that you can become an exceptional strategy consultant.

Graduates join CIL as Analysts, the first stage in any strategy consultant’s career. On a given project, our Analysts collect and interrogate primary and secondary research, refine hypotheses with the rest of the team and draft output for inclusion in the final report.

Analysts attend client meetings and help present findings – we believe that early client exposure is essential to career development. Analysts also play a vital role in the recruitment process, mentoring interview attendees and new graduate intakes.

Our two graduate intakes take place in the Spring and Autumn each year.

• Outstanding numeracy, written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional research techniques and critical thinking ability.
• Proven workload management skills.
• Business acumen and curiosity for solving business problems.
• You must have achieved a grade 7 (or equivalent) in GCSE Maths.
• You must have achieved, or be on track to achieve, a 2:1 (or equivalent) in your undergraduate degree.
• Any languages are an advantage, as many of our projects have an international element. French, German, Swedish, Dutch, Danish or Norwegian are especially welcome.

Does this sound like the place for you? Find out more about CIL.