Vault’s Verdict

Insiders at Kepler Cannon appreciate the firm’s egalitarian, merit-based atmosphere. Consultants enjoy a high level of ownership, even at junior levels, and the firm’s flat hierarchy, collegial environment, and digestible size facilitate building connections across the organization.

Career development at Kepler Cannon is a strong point, with every consultant assigned a formal mentor and a buddy to navigate life at the firm. The firm also provides formal training on tools such as Excel and PowerPoint, and senior staff are generally eager to provide advice and feedback. While international opportunities are limited, promotions are rapid and merit-based for high performers.

The firm’s compensation package is highly competitive, according to insiders. In addition to a solid base salary, it includes generous bonuses and a profit-sharing plan, plus gym reimbursement and wellness events. While work-life balance varies from project to project, most insiders express satisfaction with their compensation relative to their workload.

Employee Reviews

Firm Culture

• “Very egalitarian and merit-based. You get out what you put in. Managers are encouraged to provide informal mentorship while on projects in addition to a formal mentor, which is provided to all consultants.”
• “People are friendly and nice and open to help.”
• “Actual balance of work-life varies by project, but there surely isn't a culture of staying late for the sake of it, which is wonderful.”
• “Big firm attitude with small firm benefits (non-hierarchical but doing big firm work and clients).”

Quality of Life

• “Lots of social events, fun and interesting coworkers, collegial environment, and it’s easy to take the maximum amount of time off (three weeks). However, hours vary based on project and can ramp up in some periods.”
• “Managers try hard to maintain a work-life balance for consultants. On the rare occasion that a weekend or holiday has to be worked, a comp day is provided to the consultant to make up for having to miss a day off.”
• “We are a small firm where everyone knows each other. Everything is managed centrally, so it is fairly easy to take time off if needed. We are in the office a few days a week but are also flexible to work from home when needed. Client travels are minimal for non-New York clients.”
• “Flexibility and likeable clients but would like more travel.”

Career Development

• “The mentoring and buddying system is excellent, plus rigorous Excel, PowerPoint, and communication training. The only complaint I would have is about international opportunities, which are very limited.”
• “High level of ownership at a junior level, flat hierarchy, merit-based promotions, and on-the-job training are good.”
• “Amazing career development resources and significant responsibilities from day one, which is very conducive to personal development.”
• “Very good. Everyone here cares a lot about your career development, and informal training/mentoring is very strong.”

Compensation

• “The compensation is high and includes significant profit sharing.”
• “Bonuses are not clear in the amount but are always good.”
• “Bonuses can get very high, but base salaries are lower than a few other firms.”
• “We have a wellness pod that focuses on bringing wellness events to the firm a few times a year, including exercise classes, massages, etc. We also offer gym reimbursements.”

Inclusion

• “Founder was LGBTQ+. Several of the hires and interns are too. Open, inclusive culture. 50 percent of the consultants are women, much higher than the industry.”
• “Our firm has good coverage of race, ethnicity (15+ countries), and LGBTQ+. We have focused, consultant-led groups that promote these aspects within the firm.”
• “While parts of the U.S. have moved away from diversity and inclusion, Kepler still believes that all people should be treated equally and provided the same opportunities. Kepler is very diverse from both a gender and ethnicity perspectives, which is what makes it great. So many unique perspectives coming together to provide a great working atmosphere.”
• “Very inclusive firm culture.”

Business Outlook

• “We have a lot of clients compared to the size of our firm—with solid pipeline. We are also diversified enough across geographies and client focus.”
• “We have strong business pipelines across multiple clients and industries. We regularly publish whitepapers, which sets us apart from many others and positions us as thought leaders in the industry.”
• “I think we’re well positioned for growth and have a stronger value prop compared to many of our competitors amid the advent of AI.”
• “Lots of work. Some projects are more interesting than others, but the firm is doing really well.”

Hiring Process

• “We mainly hire from Ivy League schools in the U.S. Few rounds of interviews post initial selection. Partners all interview the final candidates.”
• “Usually three interviews. Mix of case and behavioral questions. Process moves fast. Looking for entrepreneurial and ambitious hires.”
• “Ideal candidate is someone who is intellectually curious, driven and passionate, and has a good attitude about work.”
• “We usually have many more applicants than spaces and begin with resume screening, remote interviews, and then in-person for a final sub-set of candidates. An ideal candidate in not just intelligent but also curious, diligent, and able and willing to learn fast.”

Interview Questions

• “How would you double the revenues of your current employer? What would you do differently if you were the dean of your college?”
• “Case on international remittance company pricing.”
• “As a lateral hire, I received very high-level case study questions as my interview was more focused on my previous work experience.”
• “How to double the size of your past employer, how to valuate business opportunity for a new sports league, market sizing.”