When Fortune magazine released its annual report of the "100 Best Companies to Work For," consulting firms were featured prominently among the best of the best companies.
Boston Consulting Group (BCG) claimed the number three spot on the list, edging out contenders like Google and Cisco. The most common job at BCG is consultant, and the average salary for that role tops $140,000.
Accountants and consultants at Plante & Moran appeared on the list for the 11th consecutive year at the 42nd spot, followed by Ernst & Young (51), Booz Allen Hamilton (52), and KPMG (56).
In a year of turmoil for many firms, executives at KPMG doled out bonuses totaling more than $100 million. And Dennis Nally, audit firm chairman at PricewaterhouseCoopers (58), told employees, "We have no plans to downsize, rightsize, or reduce our staffing levels."
What these firms understand is that in a time of economic stress, retention of people remains a strategic priority. Instead of simply slashing payroll, they look for other ways to tighten their belts. And that behavior will serve these firms well once the economy turns around.
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