Careers

How does it feel working at CEPA?

One of the challenges of growing as a company is retaining the working environment of a small company. This includes limiting bureaucracy, more of a collegial feel and an environment where individuals can make positive change to company culture.

For prospective new joiners, we hope that we can demonstrate this to you (beyond text on a website!). This could be through chatting with members of the CEPA team at events, seeing the role of team members you speak to in interviews or as part of informal Economist 'coffee' sessions we set up as part of our assessment.

Despite being a smaller company in size, CEPA have been recognised by the Financial Times and Statista as one of the UK's Leading Management Consultants (2022) with recognition of our work with the public and social sector.

I am looking for a job with an immediate start - can I apply?

As part of our Economist recruitment round, we will consider candidates with a preference for an earlier start date than Autumn of the following year. This includes those looking for an immediate start. Candidates should specify this preference in their application.

At what grade will I join?

Our entry-level grade is the ‘Economist’ position. There are then four other grades below company management (Consultant, Senior Consultant, Managing Consultant and Principal). Many of our new joiners at the economist position do have work experience, though this is not a pre-requisite.

How much control do I have over the type of work I will be doing?

The ‘default’ for CEPA economists is to get experience working across our sectors and services rather than specialise in an area immediately. CEPA’s working structure involves project teams, rather than sector-based departments. This means that individuals can pursue a career in the areas they enjoy most and are best suited to, even when these span across multiple sectors.

We do not operate using a set two-year programme; when you are ready to progress to the Consultant grade, you will make this step up.

Economists will work to develop different skills across both quantitative and qualitative analysis, working with different project managers to gain exposure to working in varied settings and gain this versatility.

The appraisal process and staff manager engagement will involve a two-way discussion on the type of work you’d like to do in future, with the ability to highlight particular projects or work of particular interest on an ongoing basis. Relevant experience or interests will also be taken into account when forming project teams.

What is career progression like?

There is no single set path for an individual at CEPA. The timing and degree of specialisation will depend on an individual and be assessed on a person’s merits, rather than waiting for a space to open up at a higher level.

Many of our current directors and principals joined as an economist and have made their way up through the company.

Individuals will naturally specialise more as they progress, however some individuals retain a broad focus whereas others adopt a narrower area of expertise.

How much will I use my degree?

Economics sits at the heart of what we do for projects, so this is a theme that typically spans across our work. Your work could involve technical aspects e.g. econometric analysis or relevant theoretical frameworks, or rely on the tools/ approach an Economist uses to address a problem.

We consider that our work is more 'micro' than 'macro' in nature, given our analysis focuses on decisions by individuals (consumers and businesses), market structures and outcomes produced. This is informed by macro-economic developments and our work often has an impact at the overall population level.

Our recommendations are used to inform policy; analysis cannot be made in a vacuum. We need to consider practical implementation issues and take into the account views of different stakeholders. Our work is more applied than theoretical however, and remembering certain theories is not central to our work.

How much will I travel?

We have found that virtual meetings have worked well since the Covid pandemic and have policies around reducing our own emissions that we consider in assessing travel needs.

Travel will depend on the nature of the project. For example, where our work involves an evaluation of a programme in global health, travel to meet with stakeholders and conduct this evaluation means that travel is more likely. Travel would be to present findings, interact with the client or conduct in-person research.

The majority of your time will generally be spent at CEPA working with other members of the project team. An exception to this would be working on a secondment at a client on an embedded basis. This will typically be part-time and will be discussed with you before submitting a proposal.

Can I work across multiple offices?

Our projects at any one time will involve clients or policy issues in a range of countries. Working in either office will not preclude you from working on a project and it is often the case that individuals in the London and Sydney offices will work together on a project, even though the physical location where you are employed by CEPA is not flexible between offices.

Languages

Applicants should be fluent in English. Given the international nature of our projects and client base, other languages may be an advantage.

A leaflet providing details about working as a CEPA Economist.