9. Acquis Consulting Group
Headquarters: New York Number of Billable Consultants: 100 Client Industries Served: Biotech, Pharmaceutical, Communications & Media, Energy, Financial Services/Banking, Health Care, High Tech, Manufacturing, Packaged Goods, Non-Profit, Real Estate, Retail, Utilities Consulting Service Lines: Strategy, Operations Management, IT
Kerby Houff says they're building something special at Acquis. And with the New York-based firm a mainstay on the Best Small Firms to Work For list, who could argue?
Houff, Managing Director at Acquis Consulting Group, says he'd describe the mood of the firm as "optimistic." In many respects, the team has never been busier, he says. "It is important to think about not just the collective morale but also that of the individual team members," Houff says. "We work hard to align staffing decisions and project and leadership opportunities with individual career interests, and we've built corporate infrastructure around to keep each team member engaged. I like where we are as a firm."
Where they are these days is in a very good place. The firm has been one of Consulting's Small Jewels (2016), one of its Fastest Growing Firms (2017) and has been a Best Small Firm to Work For nearly every year for the last decade.
It's no wonder since one of the firm's core values is People First. "Earning the distinction of a Best Small Firm to Work For is incredible validation of the environment we are working to cultivate for and with our colleagues," Houff says. "We take our responsibility to help our team members grow very seriously, which in turn translates to transformative results for our clients. This honor helps us share our story and recruit talented leaders who want to deliver results."
Houff says Acquis' business has evolved substantially in recent years, adding new offices in San Francisco, Boston and London. "We have added or expanded new service offerings, practice areas and adjacent business units," he says. "These additions in aggregate allow us to service our clients better and more deeply as well as give our consultants additional opportunities to leverage their skills and grow new skills. I'm excited for their continued development and the value they are bringing to our clients."
Meanwhile, Houff says Acquis' corporate culture is one that encourages open dialogue; "our colleagues feel empowered to share their opinions and suggestions for improvement, many choosing to help drive key activities to make Acquis a better place." It's hard to point to any one program or initiative and credit it with this honor, he says, rather, it is the collection of efforts and benefits. "We offer competitive compensation and incentive structures. We drive professional growth through regular access to leadership and our mentorship and training programs," Houff says. "We promote social responsibility and partner with non-profits on their key initiatives. Finally, we celebrate collectively our inclusive culture with regular corporate events and gatherings."
What is unique about your firm?
Houff: I like to describe Acquis through four different dimensions: First, the people are interesting—our colleagues have varied backgrounds and interests, and they bring those experiences and views into the workplace and to our clients. Second, the work is impactful—our clients rely on our support and expertise to deliver their missions while the composition of our work varies by client and by sector. Third, the rewards are real—we like to have fun together and when we meet performance targets, we celebrate as a team with interesting events and fun team gifts. Finally, our culture has a real entrepreneurial spirit—we not only work on entrepreneurial endeavours, but we partner with our clients in different and innovative ways."
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