Vault’s Verdict

Alvarez & Marsal is defined by an entrepreneurial spirit, strong compensation, and a diverse array of challenging projects that draw in top talent from around the globe. All of which is to be expected at a firm with a reputation for a no-nonsense approach to everything it does from perks (there are very few because the firm prefers direct compensation) to its problem solving capabilities.

True to that ethos, insiders describe a culture marked by direct communication and a non-hierarchical mindset, fostering a supportive environment where team leaders are notably understanding. However, potential candidates should be aware of the firm’s rigorous pace, which can lead to long working hours and a demanding environment, potentially affecting work-life balance.

All told, A&M offers a unique blend of strategic and operational impact, making it an attractive option for those seeking significant client impact and career progression within a dynamic setting.

Employee Reviews

Firm Culture

• “A great firm which is strongly growing with a great EMEA leadership.”
• “Be proactive in reaching out to colleagues, network early on. Do not expect too formalized structures and processes.”
• “Great company for people who love to work in an international environment, in small and diverse teams, and are willing to assume responsibility.”
• “Highly professional firm, true to its values of meritocracy, delivering high-quality output for clients and known for rewarding employees.”
• “The firm culture is quite distinctive, with a large group of smart and hard-working individuals collaborating to create value for our clients.”

Quality of Life

• “A&M is highly flexible in terms of remote working, with travel only required if necessary from the client’s perspective or required for the success of the project delivery.”
• “Consulting working hours… it is what it is, but firm grants a lot of individual freedom to shift hours based on personal preferences.”
• “Excellent client exposure (across all levels Analyst to MD with C-suite at client level), very meaningful work - can see the difference in the client’s P&L by the time we leave. Limited work-life balance, extreme hours (>16h/day at times), small teams. High level of international travel.”
• “Some people work very long hours, but it’s not expected. It’s the sort of team where you want to work extra hours because it’s so interesting and there’s a sense of camaraderie. In terms of travel—I travel max once per week but it depends on the individual/project and how often you want to travel.”
• “Work is demanding due to the client-facing nature of activities, but the firm provides as much flexibility as needed to support a good quality of life. There are no minimum number of days required at office. People are super friendly and easy to work with.”

Career Development

• “Facilitates internal transfer and gives people the opportunity to travel and prove themselves. They trust their people.”
• “Great opportunities to move within Alvarez & Marsal. The missions are quite diverse and very rewarding.”
• “Lack of formal training, high on the job expectations.”
• “No up or out, clearly performance-driven re. promotion. Entrepreneurial attitude honored when deciding on promotions.”
• “Personal development need is met with various options. Leadership supports a lot on personal development.”

Compensation

• “Best-in-class compensation.”
• “Competitive pay, good salary progression, and regular annual salary reviews, as well as performance-based bonuses.”
• “If you are well-utilized, you will have a very large bonus. Very rewarding.”
• “Very good bonus at year end. Could improve on non-financial benefits.”
• “Work hard, play hard, act with integrity—get rewarded.”

Community Engagement

• “All existing consultants have access to high-quality work, regardless of background.”
• “Diversity is one of the top priorities for the Head of Europe (Tony Alvarez III) and he regularly talks about this subject and promotes it.”
• “Making efforts to attract women and people with different ethnic backgrounds.”
• “Share of women increasing over time, ethnicity mix improving as well. Great LGBTQ messaging, promoting acceptance of diversity.”
• “There are employee resource groups that work with the people team to help steer initiatives for the different areas of diversity, equality, and inclusion.”

Business Outlook

• “Great offering which challenges the MBBs. Clients’ feedback is often very positive vs. these companies.”
• “Our offerings allow A&M to avoid cyclicality, and investments are made to make the company more resilient.”
• “Outlook is very positive, we are in an economy that will support our growth.”
• “Quick decisions and actions taken.”
• “Restructuring & Turnaround likely to thrive in downturn.”

Hiring Process

• “Ideal candidate: 2 years MBB, 2 years IBanking, 2 years industrial plant = senior associate.”
• “Interview process typically goes quite fast if the candidate proves to be a high fit.”
• “The ideal candidate would be someone adaptable because there is so much going on and so much opportunity in different areas.”
• “Very professional, always up-to-date. Ideal candidate should be a good personal fit, non-political, no elbows-out, and non-corporatey.”
• “Very proactive and fast. The ideal candidate is a good cultural fit, analytical thinker, able to develop and validate hypotheses quickly and a team player.”

Interview Questions

• “13-week cash flow forecast modeling.”
• “Case study where you’re presented with some data and have to analyze it in an hour and answer certain questions.”
• “Company segmentation to identify non-performing business units and develop mitigating actions.”
• “Imagine that you are performing interim management of the business function.”
• “Standard procurement case w/data analysis, potential evaluation, levers, and presentation/discussion.”