In-house Consulting
Are you familiar with in-house consulting? Yes, these are consulting firms that work internally within large companies, government departments and ministries (in France and abroad) to rethink strategies, processes and support their employees. The project leaders of these in-house teams are, in fact, their colleagues. Thanks to their in-depth knowledge of the company and the credibility they have acquired, these professionals are able to propose innovative working methods and steer initiatives aimed at sustainably improving the organization's performance.
Exclusive round table: in-house consulting professions
On November 27, in collaboration with the Association Française du Conseil Interne (French Association of Internal Consultants), the Malt Strategy team had the pleasure of bringing together independent consultants to discuss the theme of internal consulting professions. Consultants from the Malt Strategy community were welcomed over breakfast in the co-working space at La Malterie in Paris. This convivial moment of sharing was followed by a round table discussion moderated by Carole Rousseau Bonhomme, VP Sales France at Malt, with the participation of Sébastien Delahaie, President of the AFCI, as well as Thibaud de Goesbriand from Groupe VYV, a member of the AFCI association, and Sven Macé, a Malt Strategy Consultant who completed a Project with the in-house consulting firm, integrated into a major group in the energy sector.
Founded in 2012 by five founding members, the AFCI has doubled its membership since 2021, now bringing together almost forty members. annual report AFCIAso). Coming from a wide range of sectors (Banking, Insurance, Energy, Aeronautics, Distribution, Telecom, Ministry), Sébastien Delahaie pointed out, during the exchanges, some sectors not yet presented within the AFCI, such as the luxury sector.
Sharing knowledge
"The essence of the AFCI is the sharing of knowledge, best practices and services between its members. When we want to do benchmarking, we ask our members - with 40 members, it becomes very interesting", explains Sébastien Delahaie.
Among the 40 members, more than 200 people are involved in the association's various divisions. In 2024, the most important topics, according to him, are AI, CSR, and people development (Training designed for young consultants from in-house firms).
One of the fundamental pillars of the association is knowledge sharing: "Our aim is to support those who started young and developed a wealth of experience over the years. By collaborating, we can exchange varied knowledge and share our expertise." Thibaud de Goesbriand bounces back, explaining that within an in-house practice, young consultants must first master the organizational framework and structure, in order to develop professionally and, eventually, take on the role of manager. However, many young talents end up leaving before this development can take place, often forcing in-house consultancies to call on external consultants to maintain their business.
Internal vs. external: motivations, expertise
Sébastien Delahaie points out that there can be a difference in average daily rates between internal and external consultants, depending on the firms' business models. He points out that "internal consultancy can and sometimes must rely on external consultancy". Indeed, some in-house consulting firms cannot always absorb the Projects requested by internal customers. As a result, projects are either postponed or outsourced.
Feedback from participants
What was the opinion of the independent consultants present at this round table with the AFCI?
Mujib Dramsy, an independent Consultant with Malt Strategy, expressed his surprise at discovering the existence of the AFCI, saying he had previously thought that consulting projects were exclusively for private firms. He also emphasized AFCI's commitment to supporting consultants in developing their skills, promoting their professional evolution.
For Arnaud Sanchez, the main lesson he drew from the round table was that the values and vision of the consulting profession - focused on providing value and know-how - are perfectly aligned between in-house and independent consultants.
David Morard, an independent Consultant at Malt Strategy, found the role and operation of in-house consultancy interesting. "It gave me a better understanding of how external experts like myself can be brought in to collaborate with structures such as AFCI on one-off projects."
An international outlook
The in-house consulting phenomenon is not unique to France, which is why similar associations also exist in other countries. To find out more about the subject of in-house consultancy, we invite you to visit the websites of similar associations abroad:
In Germany, the ICN or Inhouse Consulting Network:
https://inhouse-consulting.de/en/
In the United States, AIMC or Association of Internal Management Consultants:
https://aimc.org/
In the UK, The Internal Consulting Group:
https://internalconsulting.com/
