Key Insights
- Data-Driven Strategy Focus: Cicero Group differentiates itself through advanced analytics and primary research, triangulating client data, secondary sources, and quantitative studies to build evidence-based recommendations.
- Small Team, High Exposure: Consultants at Cicero work on lean teams, gaining direct access to senior leadership and cross-sector client exposure from day one, spanning Fortune 500s, startups, and nonprofits.
- Multi-Round Interview Process: Cicero Group uses case interviews at every stage of its recruiting process, making structured case preparation essential for candidates pursuing roles at the firm.
Cicero Group is a data-driven management consulting firm that helps private, public, and social sector organizations build and execute winning strategies. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, the firm works with clients ranging from early-stage startups to Fortune 500 companies, delivering solutions across strategy, research, advanced analytics, and operational transformation. Cicero Group operates across 49 countries and engages clients in 17 languages, giving it a notably broad reach for a firm of its size.
The firm's approach sets it apart from many boutique players. Rather than relying on frameworks alone, Cicero triangulates client-owned data, secondary research sources, and primary qualitative and quantitative studies to build evidence-based strategic recommendations. The goal is implementation, not just insight. Cicero Group became part of MGT, a larger public sector advisory firm, deepening its capabilities across education, government, and social sectors.
Firm Key Stats
| Website | cicerogroup.com |
| Headquarters | Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Employees | ~375 |
| Offices | Salt Lake City, UT; Dallas, TX; Washington, D.C. |
| CEO / Co-Founder | Dr. Trent Kaufman |
| Annual Revenue | ~$9M (estimated) |
Cicero Group Careers
Cicero Group careers appeal to candidates who want real consulting experience without spending years working on one narrow slice of a massive project. Because teams are small, every analyst and associate touches the full arc of an engagement, from research design and data collection through to final recommendations and client presentations. You're not siloed into a single workstream. You're contributing across the board from your first week.
The firm is known for its emphasis on mentorship. Every employee is assigned a mentor from day one, with monthly one-on-one meetings focused on professional and personal development goals. The firm also hosts regular community events, team-building activities, and cross-office initiatives that reflect its stated commitment to quality of life alongside performance.
Cicero Group Careers reflect the firm's culture: collaborative, growth-oriented, and performance-driven. The firm has ranked among Vault's Top 50 Consulting Firms and has earned recognition for internal mobility and supervisor relationships. Consultants here describe strong camaraderie and accessible senior leadership, which is less common at larger firms. Expect demanding hours, particularly at the analyst level, but also a firm that genuinely invests in the people it hires.
Cicero Group Internship
Cicero Group runs summer internship programs for both undergraduate juniors (Business Analyst Intern) and graduate students (Associate Consultant Intern). The undergraduate program is a 10-week summer experience based in Salt Lake City, focused on real client project work. Interns execute research and analysis, contribute to strategic deliverables, and present their work to the full firm at the program's end.
The MBA and graduate internship program mirrors the full-time Associate Consultant role, with interns leading small analyst teams and working directly with Engagement Managers on active client projects. Both programs include a dedicated mentor and structured professional development programming. The firm primarily recruits from Utah-based universities, particularly the University of Utah, as well as MBA programs. Interns who perform well are typically considered for full-time offers following graduation.
Cicero Group Jobs
Cicero Group hires at the Business Analyst, Associate Consultant, Engagement Manager, and Director levels. Current open roles span strategy consulting, analytics, and operational transformation across the firm's three offices. You can search current Cicero Group jobs and other top consulting openings on the MC Job Board. Cicero does not currently sponsor visa applications, so candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.
Practice Areas
Cicero Group practice areas span a wide range of functional consulting disciplines. The firm's data-first methodology runs through all of them. Core practice areas include:
- Strategy and growth consulting
- Advanced analytics and big data
- Market research and consumer insights
- Organizational design and human capital
- Sales transformation
- Operational excellence and process improvement
- Digital transformation
- Economic analysis and public policy
Industries
Cicero Group industries reflect the firm's positioning across private, public, and social sectors. The firm serves a diverse client base that includes:
- Healthcare and life sciences
- Financial services and fintech
- Education (K-12 and higher education)
- Consumer goods and retail
- Manufacturing
- Technology and software
- Nonprofit and social impact organizations
- Government and public sector
Cicero Group Locations
Cicero Group locations are concentrated in three U.S. cities, though the firm executes engagements globally. The headquarters in Salt Lake City houses the majority of staff, with growing presence in the other offices. Key locations include:
- Salt Lake City, Utah (Headquarters)
- Dallas, Texas
- Washington, D.C.
For the most current office details, visit cicerogroup.com.
Career Path
The Cicero Group career path follows a structured consulting ladder: Business Analyst, Associate Consultant, Engagement Manager, Director, and Partner. Advancement timelines are not rigid, and the firm's size means that strong performers can move quickly. The firm has consistently ranked highly for internal mobility, suggesting real upward movement is available to those who perform.
Cicero does not appear to operate a strict "up or out" policy in the way some larger firms do. The culture supports retention and internal growth. That said, Cicero Group career path progression is still performance-driven, and candidates who stall at one level will likely be guided toward other opportunities. For analysts looking to build a foundation in problem-solving and analytical thinking, the firm offers strong early development.
Exit Opportunities
Cicero Group exit opportunities reflect the firm's strengths in data-driven strategy and cross-sector client work. Alumni have moved into corporate strategy, business intelligence, and operations roles at major Utah-based companies, as well as into roles at larger consulting firms. The firm's CEO has noted that Cicero alumni now hold senior positions at many leading Utah organizations.
Given the firm's emphasis on analytics and research, exits into data strategy, market intelligence, and product management are common. The breadth of industries served, from healthcare to education to consumer goods, also gives consultants the industry context to make lateral moves into in-house strategy roles at clients or adjacent companies.
Notable Alumni
Cicero Group alumni have gone on to senior roles in consulting, corporate strategy, and public service. A few notable names include:
- Dr. Trent Kaufman, Co-Founder and former CEO of Cicero Group, now Senior VP at MGT
- Jason C. Richards, Partner at Cicero Group with cross-sector and international engagement experience
- Rory Brosius, Cicero Partner appointed to the National Security Education Board
Target Schools
Cicero Group target schools skew toward institutions with strong analytical and quantitative programs, particularly those in the Mountain West. The firm does extensive recruiting at the University of Utah, and also draws from MBA programs nationally for its graduate intern and associate pipelines. Commonly represented schools include:
- University of Utah (David Eccles School of Business)
- Brigham Young University (Marriott School of Business)
- Utah State University
- Top MBA programs nationally for graduate-level roles
Diversity Programs
Cicero Group has an active internal Diversity and Inclusion committee, as well as the Cicero Women initiative, which supports professional development and community for women at the firm. The firm is an equal opportunity employer and has stated a commitment to building an inclusive workplace across all dimensions of diversity. There is no publicly listed formal diversity fellowship or external scholarship program targeting underrepresented candidates, though the firm's internship recruiting does reflect an effort to bring in candidates from varied academic and professional backgrounds.
Cicero Group Culture
Cicero Group culture is anchored by what the firm calls the "Cicero Way," a set of four pillars and twelve principles that guide how employees work and interact. The framework is unusually explicit for a firm of this size. It reflects the firm's belief that organizational culture is not incidental but engineered deliberately, and that employees who internalize it will perform at a higher level.
In practice, the culture is described as collaborative and accessible. Senior leadership is visible and approachable. The firm gathers the full team for Friday lunches and forums, which reinforces a sense of community that can be harder to sustain at larger firms. Employees frequently cite the quality of the people and the supportive environment as the defining strengths of working at Cicero.
The tradeoffs are real. Hours can be long, particularly for analysts and interns. The firm is based in Salt Lake City, which is a strong fit for candidates who value outdoor lifestyle and lower cost of living, but is not a major consulting hub. Compensation has historically trailed larger firms, though some reports suggest pay improved following the MGT acquisition.
Cicero Group History
Cicero Group history begins in 2001, when co-founders including Dr. Trent Kaufman established the firm in Salt Lake City with a conviction that data should sit at the center of every strategic recommendation. The firm grew steadily through the 2000s and 2010s, expanding its sector coverage and geographic reach while maintaining its headquarters in Utah.
A significant chapter in Cicero Group history came through the acquisition by MGT, a government and education advisory firm, which broadened the firm's capabilities and client base, particularly in the public sector and education markets. The firm has earned consistent recognition on national rankings, including the Vault Consulting 50, where it ranked 47th in 2024. It has also received ten "Best of State" awards in Utah for data services, a reflection of its reputation in its home market.
Cicero Group Interview
The Cicero Group interview process is more rigorous than many candidates expect from a mid-sized boutique. Case interviews are central to every stage of the process, and candidates who have not prepared structured, hypothesis-driven approaches to business problems will struggle. The firm uses a mix of business cases, market sizing questions, and data analysis presentations across its recruiting rounds.
If you're preparing for a Cicero Group interview, you need to treat it like any other top consulting firm interview. Our Case Interview Guide walks you through every format you're likely to see, including the kind of quantitative and operational cases Cicero is known to use. For candidates who want structured, personalized coaching with former MBB consultants, the Black Belt program has helped over 15,000 candidates land offers at firms like Cicero and beyond.
Sample interview questions reported by Cicero Group candidates include:
- Case: Assess the operational efficiency of a manufacturing firm with three warehouse locations
- Market sizing: Estimate the market size for diapers in the U.S.
- Case: Valuation methodology for a commercial real estate asset
- Behavioral questions: Why Cicero? Walk me through a time you led through a difficult challenge.
Firm Interview Process
The Cicero Group firm interview process typically unfolds over three to six weeks and includes four stages. First is a one-way video screening, where candidates record responses to behavioral and market sizing questions with no opportunity to restart. Second is a first-round interview combining one case and behavioral questions. Third is a second round with additional case interviews and sometimes a data analysis exercise. The final round includes an in-person presentation, where candidates receive data in advance and must construct and deliver a short strategic deck. The process rewards candidates who can communicate clearly under pressure and structure problems quickly.
Cicero Group Salary
Cicero Group salary ranges vary by level and location. Business Analysts at the firm typically earn in the range of $82,000 to $105,000 annually at the base level, with higher earners at the 75th percentile reaching $135,000 or more. Engagement Managers can earn upward of $180,000. These figures reflect multiple data sources and should be treated as estimates. Compensation reportedly improved following the firm's acquisition by MGT.
For a comprehensive view of what consulting firms pay at every level, see the MC Consulting Salaries Report, which covers hundreds of firms and is updated regularly.
Conclusion
Cicero Group is a compelling option for candidates who want real consulting experience, genuine mentorship, and cross-sector exposure without the size and bureaucracy of a major firm. The data-driven methodology is distinctive, the culture is intentional, and the firm's global reach is broader than its headcount suggests. If you're targeting Cicero Group, start your case prep early, build your market sizing instincts, and come ready for a structured, multi-round process. The offer is within reach if you put in the work.