sharp consulting group
Financial Advisory Services
Financial Advisory Services (“FAS”) advises clients on managing business controversy and disputes, executing deals, and maintaining regulatory compliance. We provide services to companies throughout their lifecycle. Specifically, we help clients address serious business concerns involving fraud, forensic investigations, litigation and reorganization. We also advise businesses on valuation issues and other matters to help them in complying in today’s regulatory environment. Through our subsidiary, Sharp Consulting Group, inc., we assist clients with originating and executing transactions and strategic investments for mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, and capital planning.
Our dedicated (FAS) professionals bring vast experience, specialized skill sets and deep industry knowledge to our clients. This personalized level of service, combined with the market reach and technical resources, enables us to respond to the complex and diverse needs of our clients around the world.
Join our team. Financial Advisory Services practice.
Answers to Common Consultant Questions
Getting Projects
How do I find out about available Sharp consulting group projects?
Typically, we contact you about potential projects that are a fit for your skills and experience. We search our database of consultant profiles to identify the consultants best-suited for each client engagement, and if you’re a match, we contact you to determine your interest and availability. That’s why it is important for you to keep your profile and contact information current in our system.
How many projects should I apply for online?
We strongly encourage you to respond only when your skills are a strong fit with the project description. If you regularly apply for several engagements at once, you are probably responding too often. Remember, our goal is to present the client with two to three of the most highly qualified consultants for any particular opportunity.
What if I don’t receive a response immediately?
As part of our high-touch commitment to clients, we work to identify candidates within a few days of identifying a new project opportunity. We simultaneously search our network and review online consultant responses. Once we present qualified consultants, client feedback drives next steps. If you don’t hear from us within 48 hours of your online submission, it is likely that other consultants were a stronger fit for the engagement or that the situation with the client has changed.
What kinds of projects does Sharp consulting group get?
We specialize in projects for seasoned consultants across all industries and functional areas.
How likely is it that I will receive a project from you?
That is a difficult question to answer, because we never know what our project needs will be at any given moment. The answer also depends on how well your expertise fits our current project requirements. We may call you soon after you join the network, or we might not contact you for many months. We recommend that you regard us as an important source of project opportunities, but, while we have hundreds of projects in process at any given time, you should never rely on us solely to stay fully engaged.
How will you contact me?
To avoid playing “telephone tag,” we use e-mail most frequently to contact you, but we also might call you directly. That’s why it is important for you to keep your contact information current in our system.
When will I be interviewed?
We would typically interview you after identifying you for a potential project opportunity, determining your interest in and availability for the engagement, and confirming you as a strong fit.
We might also request to interview you as part of our proactive program to identify and meet consultants who have certain expertise that is in particular demand by our clients, so that we get the opportunity to know you before specific project opportunities arise.
I am in your network, but have never been contacted. Why?
There may be many reasons. Most likely, it is because your particular skill set has not been the best match for our project requirements, especially if you’re highly specialized. Even so, it makes sense for you to remain in our network, because you never know when we may get a unique request that fits you perfectly (we have some great stories to tell about amazing matches). Other times, it is just a matter of timing. Stay in touch with us by updating your profile regularly, attending a briefing, and responding online to specific project opportunities that interest you.
Rates
How do you determine rates?
First, we work with the client to understand the budget for the engagement. Because we are in the consulting market every day and have developed expertise in this area, we also counsel the client on market rates for specific skill sets. We encourage clients to be flexible in order to attract the right talent for the project.
We then ask you what your rate would be for a particular type of engagement. We’ll let you know if that rate is beyond the client’s expectations and give you the opportunity to decide if you want to respond. We ask you to work with us on rates and to take into consideration the fact that you have not had to incur the time or costs of marketing yourself for this particular opportunity. However, it is always your decision whether or not a rate will work for you. We would rather you decline a project than settle for a less-than-satisfactory fee. Consultants who have worked with M² on multiple engagements for the same client often receive higher rates because their skills and experience—and their ability to add value quickly—have been proven to the client.
Do you typically base fees on hourly or project rates?
We have significant experience with hourly, daily, monthly, and fixed-fee rate structures. It ultimately depends on both the client and consultant to determine the best rate structure for a particular project.
If I put a particular rate range on my profile, will I only be called for projects within that range?
The rate range you submit on your profile is very important because it gives us a guideline for assessing your willingness to consider a particular project and whether or not we should contact you. However, we realize that the rate you are willing to accept for any given engagement depends on several factors, such as your availability, geographic proximity, or ability to learn a new skill or industry. So we will usually contact you to discuss the engagement and let you decide if you want to be considered at the client’s rate.
Can I change my rate once I am on an engagement?
No. Once we jointly determine a rate for a particular project, it is very difficult to go back to the client and try to renegotiate mid-stream. There are occasional exceptions. For instance, if the scope of the project you are working on changes significantly, a rate review may be appropriate.
Working on an Engagement
What do I do if I am selected for an engagement?
Celebrate, of course! We will outline all the details of your engagement in a written confirmation letter, help you initiate the project, and jointly plan for delivery checkpoints. You also can
Do I get paid for holidays or Paid Time Off (PTO)?
As an Sharp consulting group consultant, you generally are paid for the hours worked and approved, with no allowance for holidays or PTO days.
What benefits do consultants receive through Sharp consulting group?
As an Sharp consulting group consultant, you have access to a unique benefits program. It includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan, a disability plan, a Section 125 flexible spending plan, a commuter benefit plan, and the option to continue your medical, dental, and vision benefits through COBRA when your engagement ends.
Logistics
How do I update my Sharp consulting group profile?
contact the Sharp consulting group office.
How do I stay in touch with Sharp consulting group?
Don’t be disappointed if you don’t hear from us right away. It may be months or longer before we have a need for someone with your unique skills. There are, however, many ways to stay in touch with us. Here are some hints that will keep you among our most valued consultants: Respond quickly when we call. We work fast to meet the needs of our clients, so help us help you by responding promptly. Attend a briefing to get acquainted with the Sharp consulting group team. Even if you’ve been in the network awhile, it is good to reconnect. Keep us current on your skills and availability. Refer a client to us. If you recommend a client who may need a consultant with skills outside of your area, we’ll get to know you quickly, too. Review available projects on the Web and respond to one that interests you. Do great work on an Sharp consulting group project! We want to hear from you, but we get busy, too. So please use your access wisely.
What’s the whole issue about 1099 consultants versus W2, and why do I need to worry about it?
There is growing concern about accurately classifying consultants as Independent Contractors or as employees. You may know you are a consultant, but the multiple governing authorities that oversee employment law may say that what you do and how you are treated makes you “look” like an employee. Employment law in this area can be complex and cumbersome, and clients can incur stiff penalties from the misclassification of consultants.
M² seeks to reduce risk for everyone in this area by employing most of our consultants for our engagements. Occasionally, the engagement and the consultant may qualify for independent (1099 or Corp-to-Corp) status. In these cases, Sharp consulting group works with the consultant to complete a compliance file, part of which includes proof of liability insurance for the consultant.
Someone said I could earn referral fees from M². How?
We value your partnership and reward you for thinking of us when you have a client who needs help in an area where you are not available or don’t have the specific expertise sought. Please
Will I need to sign an Sharp consulting group contract?
Yes. Before we can introduce you to a client for a specific engagement, you will need to sign an agreement with M² that outlines the nature of the relationship between you and us and between you and the client and clarifies any legal requirements. As tedious as it is, this process protects everyone, including you. We also sign a separate agreement with our clients.
