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Human resource consulting is a $18.4 billion industry that has emerged from management consulting
Management consulting

Management consulting refers to both the industry of, and the practice of, helping organizations improve their performance, primarily through the analysis of existing business problems and development of plans for improvement....
, as clients' needs have become more complex and specialized, widening the gap between HR needs and work force capabilities, and thus accentuating the ability of HR management consulting firms to fill this gap. While the multi-faceted nature of business sometimes causes overlap in consulting industries (i.e., with regards to human resources
Human resources

Human resources is a term with which organizations describe the combination of traditionally administrative personnel functions with performance, Employee Relations and Resource planning....
, general management
Management consulting

Management consulting refers to both the industry of, and the practice of, helping organizations improve their performance, primarily through the analysis of existing business problems and development of plans for improvement....
, and information technology
Information technology consulting

Information technology consulting is a field that focuses on advising businesses on how best to use information technology to meet their business objectives....
), the following are core fields around which most HR consultancies are based:



Services may also include legal counseling, global initiatives, investments consulting, and the implementation of HR technologies to facilitate human capital management.






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Human resource consulting is a $18.4 billion industry that has emerged from management consulting
Management consulting

Management consulting refers to both the industry of, and the practice of, helping organizations improve their performance, primarily through the analysis of existing business problems and development of plans for improvement....
, as clients' needs have become more complex and specialized, widening the gap between HR needs and work force capabilities, and thus accentuating the ability of HR management consulting firms to fill this gap. While the multi-faceted nature of business sometimes causes overlap in consulting industries (i.e., with regards to human resources
Human resources

Human resources is a term with which organizations describe the combination of traditionally administrative personnel functions with performance, Employee Relations and Resource planning....
, general management
Management consulting

Management consulting refers to both the industry of, and the practice of, helping organizations improve their performance, primarily through the analysis of existing business problems and development of plans for improvement....
, and information technology
Information technology consulting

Information technology consulting is a field that focuses on advising businesses on how best to use information technology to meet their business objectives....
), the following are core fields around which most HR consultancies are based:

  • Human Capital
    Human capital

    Human capital refers to the stock of skills and knowledge embodied in the ability to perform Labour so as to produce economic value. It is the skills and knowledge gained by a worker through education and experience.Many early economic theories refer to it simply as labor, one of three factors of production, and consider it to be a fungible...
    , including remuneration
    Remuneration

    Remuneration is pay or salary, typically a monetary payment for services rendered, as in an employment. Usage of the word is considered formal....
     (also called total rewards), employee rewards and incentive programs, and talent acquisition and management
  • Health & Benefits; i.e., orchestrating optimal employee health plans with the carriers themselves
  • Mergers & Acquisitions, examining fit across culture, job-type, transaction costs, etc.
  • Communication, including surveying employee attitudes, satisfaction, engagement, and other employee behaviors
  • Retirement
  • Outsourcing
    Outsourcing

    Outsourcing is subcontracting a process, such as product design or manufacturing, to a third-party company. The decision to outsource is often made in the interest of lowering firm or making better use of time and energy costs, redirecting or conserving energy directed at the core competence of a particular business, or to make more efficient...


Services may also include legal counseling, global initiatives, investments consulting, and the implementation of HR technologies to facilitate human capital management. The HR consulting industry also employs more actuaries than any other in order to assist in their services.

Companies in the field

HR consultancies vary in their ranges of services and sizes, with many consultants and academicians breaking off to form their own practices. A 2007 Workforce Management study identifies the top five revenue producing HR consultancies as Mercer ($2.4 billion), Deloitte ($1.6 billion), Watson Wyatt
Watson Wyatt Worldwide

Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Inc. is a global Management consulting firm. The firm's services include: managing the cost and effectiveness of employee benefit programs; developing Recruitment, retention and Remuneration strategies; advising Retirement plan sponsors and other institutions on optimal Investment strategy; providing strategic and fin...
 ($1.4 billion), Aon ($1.3 billion), and PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers

PricewaterhouseCoopers is the world's largest professional services firm. It was formed in 1998 from a merger between Price Waterhouse and Coopers & Lybrand, both formed in London....
 ($1.1 billion). Other major players include Towers Perrin
Towers Perrin

Towers Perrin is a human resources consultant, as well as a provider of reinsurance....
, Hewitt Associates
Hewitt Associates

Hewitt Associates , based in Lincolnshire, Illinois, Illinois is a global human resources outsourcing and consulting firm delivering a complete range of integrated services to help companies manage their total HR and employee costs, enhance HR services, and improve their workforces....
, Hay Group
Hay Group

Hay Group or The Hay Group is a global human resources management consulting firm headquartered in Philadelphia, with offices worldwide. It was founded in 1943 by Edward N....
, and Buck Consultants
Buck Consultants

Buck Consultants is a global employee benefits and human resource consulting firm that helps organizations develop, deploy, and manage their human capital....
 .

Qualifications and certifications

Many human resource consultants have specialized qualifications or certifications, such as:
  • Accountancy: ACCA
    Chartered Certified Accountant

    Chartered Certified Accountant is a British qualified accountants designation awarded by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants ...
    , CA
    Chartered Accountant

    Chartered Accountant is the title used by members of certain professional accountancy associations in the British Commonwealth of Nations countries and Republic of Ireland....
    , CPA
    Certified Public Accountant

    Certified Public Accountant is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA....
    , CCA
    Chartered Cost Accountant

    CCA Chartered Cost Accountant Cost accounting or cost control professional designation offered by the AAFM American Academy of Financial Management...
  • Actuarial: EA
    Enrolled Actuary

    An Enrolled Actuary is an actuary who has been licensed by a Joint Board of the United States Department of the Treasury and the United States Department of Labor to perform a variety of actuarial tasks required of pension plans in the United States by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ....
    , ASA
    Society of Actuaries

    The Society of Actuaries is a Professional body for actuary based in North America. Its headquarters are located in Schaumburg, Illinois. The Society?s vision is for actuaries to be recognized as the leading professionals in the modeling and management of financial risk and Contingency theory....
    , FSA
    Society of Actuaries

    The Society of Actuaries is a Professional body for actuary based in North America. Its headquarters are located in Schaumburg, Illinois. The Society?s vision is for actuaries to be recognized as the leading professionals in the modeling and management of financial risk and Contingency theory....
    , MAAA
    American Academy of Actuaries

    The The American Academy of Actuaries, also known as the ?Academy? or the AAA, is the body that represents and unites United States actuary in all practice areas....
  • Educational: MSc
    Master of Science

    A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in a large number of countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences and occasionally in the social sciences....
     in Management/HR, MBA
    Master of Business Administration

    The Master of Business Administration is a master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines....
    , Ph.D.
    Doctor of Philosophy

    Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated Ph.D. or PhD for the Latin , meaning "teacher of philosophy", is an postgraduate academic degree awarded by University....
     in Management, DBA
    Doctor of Business Administration

    The degree of Doctor of Business Administration is a research doctorate. The D.B.A. often requires coursework beyond the masters' level in addition to research that results in a dissertation that contributes to business theory or practice....
    , J.D.
  • Finance: CFA
    Chartered Financial Analyst

    Chartered Financial Analyst is an international professional certification offered by the CFA Institute of USA to financial analysts who complete a series of three examinations....
  • General consulting: CMC
    Certified Management Consultant

    Certified Management Consultant is an international professional certification for Management consulting professionals, awarded by institutes in 44 countries ....
  • Health and benefits: CEBS, CCP, CBP
  • Human resources: Various SHRM certifications (e.g. PHR
    PHR

    PHR might refer to:*Professional in Human Resources, a certification for human resource professionals*Physicians for Human Rights, an international non-governmental organization...
    , SPHR
    SPHR

    SPHR may refer to:* Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights* Senior Professional in Human Resources, a Professional in Human Resources rating by the ....
    , GPHR); MCIPD
    Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

    The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development is a professional body for those involved in the management and development of people. It is located in Wimbledon, London, England....