Below is a brief description of the different roles often involved in an engagement team.
• Engagement Director (ED)
• Associate Principal (AP)
• Engagement Manager (EM)
• Associate
• Business Analyst Intern (BA)

The Engagement Director (ED) usually works with the client's chief executive to develop a clear mandate for the project, and then, with the engagement manager and client's business leaders, turn that brief into a work plan that would deliver the required solutions. The ED provides input into the problem solving approach, drawing on personal experience with the client, and meets regularly with the team and the client. The ED would also spend time working with senior clients to shape and prioritise available options and to help direct the team's efforts. The ED frequently works closely with the chief executive to develop the communication describing the change in company strategy to key stakeholders.
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The Associate Principal (AP) works closely with the client team to focus on understanding the client's needs and working with them to develop the best solutions. The senior associate is given the opportunity to develop his/her people management skills by holding regular update sessions with the team to check for clarity of direction and to ensure work is progressing to plan and deadlines are being met. Providing the analysis is only half the story. That analysis needs to be clearly and forcefully communicated to the client. The senior associate helps develop rational arguments and hypotheses around the analysis and recommendations, which they could then present to senior clients at regular weekly update meetings and during more formal progress reviews.
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The Engagement Manager (EM) is responsible for the day-to-day running of the project and works with a full-time client team leader, a senior executive of the business, to develop a strategy and plan of action. The EM works in partnership with the client to structure the approach and analysis as well as focus and prioritise efforts on different emerging opportunities for the business.

These efforts might include finding new markets to enter, potential acquisitions, performance improvements, organizational changes, and driving key choices and recommendations as to which opportunities to pursue and how. Part of the EM's role is to manage each of the team members' work and ensure the elements of the project are integrated into a coherent and clearly communicated strategy and plan. The EM may also spend time with the client team leader and senior executives helping them to understand the insights emerging from the work and discussing choices and recommendations.
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The Associate takes a leading role in identifying issues, forming hypotheses, designing and conducting analyses, structuring workplans, synthesizing conclusions, making presentations, and helping to implement changes. Discussions with, and presentations to, client senior management are common. Depending on their skill and experience level, an associate will be responsible for one or more distinct parts of a problem. He will need to provide leadership in this particular area and is expected to make recommendations based on his work. Associate first focuses on problem solving, communications and other core consulting skills. His level of responsibility is determined by demonstrated ability in these areas.
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The Business Analyst Intern (BA) plays a similar role to an associate but at a more junior level. The BA assumes responsibility for a specific area of an engagement and plays an active role in all aspects of the work: identifying issues, forming hypotheses, designing and conducting analyses, synthesizing conclusions, and helping to implement changes. Discussions with, and presentations to, client senior management are common. BA is encouraged to test their boundaries in problem solving, try different types of engagements, and push themselves.
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