Deloitte Consulting has been making steady ground in our rankings in recent years--the result of not only a hiring binge, but also a level of expertise at keeping those thousands of employees happy. Among Deloitte's key selling points as an employer: the global strength of its brand and accompanying career opportunities.

Take a good look at that logo, folks, as it may be the last time it appears on our rankings, following Booz & Co's recent decision to merge its operations with PwC. With decisions about the combined entity's branding yet to be announced, it's entirely possible that there will be something of a shakeup at the top of our next set of rankings.

The second-placed firm in our annual Vault Consulting 50 for 2014 Bain & Co. is a firm that is held in high regard both from within and without. With high-profile clients and compensation that ranks among the best in the industry, the firm is one of a handful that attracts elite candidates year after year.

WIth 5,000 consultants spread over 43 countries, BCG is anything but a local firm. One of the "Big Three" in the consulting world, the firm built its reputation on ideas like the Growth Share Matrix. It's that reputation that ensures the firm is always near the top of our annaul strategy consulting rankings.

As the industry's top dog, it's more of a story when McKinsey doesn't end up on top of a ranking. There were no such worries for the firm in 2014, however, as consultants across the industry once again named McKinsey the top strategy shop out there.