'We need our consultants to be flexible and willing to travel.' Singapore sounds nice I thought. I like the idea of international travel and I will build up enough airmiles to put Branson to shame.
So after nine months at the firm and a plethora of grand locations across our fine nation, including four in Swindon, two in Hemel Hempstead and three in Worthing, I find myself looking out of the window at an endless horizon of sky scrapers, tropical landscaping and 4x4s. I have arrived in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
I touched down four days ago and things have been non stop. Getting to know the area, the team, the local people, the etiquette and mannerisms of Middle Eastern business has been interesting to say the least. After a day of orientation and dusting off the jet lag, we kicked off at client site to undertake the largest global business services (GBS) project in Deloitte's history.
We are currently a project team of 11, from all corners of the consulting landscape. The client is a parent group that owns companies across multiple industries. Our Challenge? To design and implement a cross functional global shared service centre. Quite the task over the five year programme.
As of next week, we branch out and kick off with all the Wave 1 companies to conduct a detailed 'as-is' assessment of their current operating models and support services organisations.
For now its lunch time and I'm off for a Chicken Shwarma, but I'll try to keep you updated as the project – and Middle Eastern adventure - develops.
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