“What kind of work does a business process improvement consultant do?” “I’m interested in becoming a business process improvement consultant, but I don’t know the details of the job.” — do these questions sound familiar?
This article addresses those questions by covering the following topics in order:
- Understanding the job responsibilities of a business process improvement consultant
- Grasping the pros and cons of becoming a business process improvement consultant
- Making an informed career transition to become a business process improvement consultant
This article is useful for those who want to get an overview of business process improvement consulting or are considering a career change. Please read to the end.
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Job Responsibilities of a Business Process Improvement Consultant
The job of a business process improvement consultant is to optimize the construction and execution of business processes for client companies. They improve a company’s operations from a professional, third-party perspective, aiming for greater efficiency and maximized performance.
Here, we explain the job responsibilities of a business process improvement consultant through the following four steps:
1. Understanding the Current Business and Its Challenges
The work of a business process improvement consultant begins with making the client’s business operations and challenges visible.
Issues such as waste and duplication in operations vary by company. The consultant identifies these problems from a professional, third-party perspective. Carefully confirming with the client at the outset that there are no discrepancies in understanding helps prevent potential issues down the line.
2. Proposing a Business Workflow to Achieve Objectives
Once the current state of operations and key issues are identified, the consultant proposes a business workflow to achieve the stated objectives. This involves reviewing business processes, reducing costs, leveraging IT, and improving company performance across a wide range of areas.
The consultant presents a draft plan to the client and refines it collaboratively into a better solution. Since short-term planning tends to lead to failure in process improvement, it is advisable to develop a medium- to long-term plan.
Alongside the workflow proposal, the consultant evaluates whether the proposed design is feasible. Factors such as cost-effectiveness and difficulty are weighed to determine whether the project is worth pursuing.
3. Implementing New Systems
Once the proposed workflow is approved by the client, new systems are implemented in accordance with the design.
For example, this may involve providing appropriate cloud services, developing custom systems, or transferring know-how to the client. The consultant monitors progress against the plan and provides advice to the client as needed.
4. Supporting the Adoption of Improvements After Implementation
After implementing the system according to the design, support is provided to help the new system take root.
The goal of the project is to embed the new system and achieve the expected results. First, the consultant verifies whether concrete targets — such as improved operational efficiency and performance maximization — are being met. Results are quantified, and if the expected outcomes are not being achieved, the root causes are investigated.
Depending on the results, further improvement plans may be developed to drive even greater gains. In addition, if the client is not using the tools that were implemented, follow-up support is provided.
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Why Business Process Improvement Consulting Is Said to Be Boring
Some people describe business process improvement consulting as “boring.”
Here are three reasons why it is sometimes perceived that way:
Low Autonomy and Routine-Heavy Work
The work of a business process improvement consultant is often seen as having low autonomy. This is because consultants must align their work with the client’s wishes, meaning they cannot always do things the way they want.
Even if you believe a different approach is correct, it cannot be implemented without the client’s approval. This may cause some people to feel a sense of disconnect from their work.
In addition, the work of a business process improvement consultant often involves routine tasks such as document preparation and meetings. Those who picture consulting as a “creative” or “free-spirited” profession may find a gap between expectation and reality after joining.
A Long Period of Entry-Level Work
Some people find business process improvement consulting boring because of the long period spent in entry-level roles. Even though they joined specifically to do consulting work, beginners are often assigned to document preparation, front-desk duties, and supporting senior consultants. Those who are passionate about consulting may feel a sense of dissatisfaction.
That said, most careers involve an entry-level period at the start. If this is a concern, it’s a good idea to confirm before joining what responsibilities you’ll have initially and what the career path looks like, to minimize mismatches.
Tight Schedules and a Heavy Workload
Business process improvement consulting comes with demanding schedules. Especially on large-scale projects, you must manage tasks and coordinate across departments while meeting deadlines.
While a demanding schedule can also be a source of motivation, it is also perceived as a drawback — something worth knowing in advance.
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Benefits and Appeal of Becoming a Business Process Improvement Consultant
While business process improvement consulting is sometimes called boring, the profession has even more to offer. Here are three key benefits and attractions of becoming a business process improvement consultant:
Gain Experience Across a Wide Variety of Industries
One of the great appeals of business process improvement consulting is the opportunity to gain experience across diverse industries. Clients are companies seeking operational improvements, spanning sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, finance, and retail.
In other words, you gain knowledge about operations for every client and every industry you work with. Experience across diverse industries will be a valuable asset throughout your career.
Contribute to Organizational Efficiency
Business process improvement consulting is a rewarding profession in which you contribute to improving your clients’ organizational efficiency. Applying your expertise, it is a fulfilling job in which you help drive growth in a company’s performance.
Since many clients lack knowledge of business improvement and efficiency, gratitude is frequently expressed. This means you can maintain a sense of fulfillment through client interaction while building your skills as a business professional.
Work Directly with Senior Management
Business process improvement consultants frequently have the opportunity to work directly with senior management. When implementing organizational changes, approval from leadership is often required.
Working with executives gives you access to high-level perspectives and insights. The knowledge gained through this work will undoubtedly be a positive asset across a wide range of future career paths.
Working alongside executives also provides a valuable and stimulating experience. The sense of achievement and fulfillment it brings will be on a different level entirely.
Salary of a Business Process Improvement Consultant
According to Kyujin Box, the average annual salary for business process improvement consultants in Tokyo is 8.39 million yen (as of December 2025).
For comparison, the average annual salary for full-time employees in Tokyo is 4.49 million yen, and the average salary for all consultants in Tokyo is 6.42 million yen. Business process improvement consultants earn significantly more than most other professions.
Furthermore, looking at the job listings on major recruitment agency doda, out of 1,304 business process improvement consultant positions, 868 offer an annual salary of 10 million yen or more (as of December 2025).
With many positions offering over 10 million yen annually, even those newly entering the field can expect a high salary.
Another important factor to consider alongside salary is the number of days off. A closer look at business process improvement consultant job listings reveals that the majority offer “full two-day weekends” and “120 or more days off per year.” Despite the demanding and rigorous nature of the work, time off tends to be stable, allowing for a good work-life balance.
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Career Path of a Business Process Improvement Consultant
Here, we outline the career path of a business process improvement consultant through the following four steps:
Analyst
A career as a business process improvement consultant begins at the analyst level.
Analysts primarily handle supportive tasks such as analyzing business processes and challenges, collecting and researching data, preparing documents, and accompanying senior consultants on client visits. Through the analyst experience, you acquire foundational knowledge of business and the consulting industry.
After approximately 2 to 4 years of experience as an analyst, you can be promoted to the next step on the career path: consultant. It is said that around 80% of analysts are promoted.
Consultant
As a consultant, you take on the role most people associate with consulting — proposing and executing business improvements. You independently build and test hypotheses, then share updates and make adjustments with your manager and team members in regular meetings.
Once your abilities in project management and client negotiation are recognized, you may be promoted to manager after approximately 3 to 4 years.
Manager
The manager is the person responsible for overseeing the entire project.
The role involves setting the direction of the project, assigning team members, monitoring progress, and making course corrections in a flexible and adaptive manner.
Managers also lead communication with the client, conducting regular reporting sessions and discussions.
In addition, managing the project budget to ensure profitability is another key responsibility of the manager. Because the manager’s role has a significant impact on the success of the project, it is a more demanding and high-responsibility position than that of a consultant.
Partner / Director
A partner is not responsible for individual projects but rather serves as a firm-level leader or organizational head. True to the title, this position is equivalent to a co-owner of the firm. It requires high-level abilities in areas such as winning new project contracts and managing the overall organization.
Depending on the firm, the role may be called “Director” rather than “Partner.”
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Difference Between Business Process Improvement Consultants and IT Consultants
The following table summarizes the differences between business process improvement consultants and IT consultants.
| Role | Business Process Improvement Consultant | IT Consultant |
| Number of job listings | 1,231 | 3,734 |
| Average annual salary in Tokyo | 8.47 million yen | 7.99 million yen |
| Area and method of improvement | Overall business processes | Specialized in IT strategy |
| Required knowledge | Broad knowledge of business process improvement | IT-related business improvement knowledge |
Reference: doda, Kyujin Box (Job listings and average salaries as of June 2025)
Business process improvement consultants focus on improving the overall flow of business operations. They assess a wide range of business processes — including HR, administration, and inventory management — and devise and implement strategies for greater efficiency.
In contrast, IT consultants specialize in resolving challenges related to IT within corporate management. Their work involves supporting the implementation of IT systems and managing IT-related risks. However, with the advancement of IT technology in recent years, using IT systems for business improvement has become standard practice, and the boundaries between these roles are increasingly blurring.
Looking at the table, IT consultants have more job openings, while business process improvement consultants earn approximately 480,000 yen more per year. This means IT consultants have more job options, while business process improvement consultants can expect higher salaries.
6 Certifications Beneficial for Business Process Improvement Consultants
Here we introduce six certifications that are advantageous for business process improvement consultants.
Please consider pursuing them.
Certified Management Consultant (SME Diagnostic Advisor / 中小企業診断士)
The SME Diagnostic Advisor (Chusho Kigyo Shindanshi) is Japan’s only national qualification for management consultants. It provides the knowledge to analyze management challenges and offer strategic advice. The qualification equips you with the ability to diagnose companies from multiple perspectives and is sometimes called the Japanese equivalent of an MBA.
In other words, it is an ideal certification for business process improvement consultants who work on improving corporate management. Despite its name referencing “small and medium-sized enterprises,” the knowledge gained covers management broadly, not just SMEs.
Moreover, since this is a highly challenging qualification, obtaining it sets you apart from other consultants. It is also a certification that supports career advancement, greatly expanding your future options.
| Exam Summary | · Japan’s only national qualification for management consulting · Useful for starting a business, going independent, or advancing your career |
| Exam Content | Part 1: Knowledge of corporate management, economics, finance, and law Part 2: Written exam answering questions about corporate problems; oral interview |
| Estimated Study Hours | Approximately 1,000 hours |
| Exam Fee (tax-exempt) | Part 1: ¥14,500 Part 2: ¥17,800 |
| Passing Standard | 60% or higher correct answers |
IT Strategist
The IT Strategist is a national qualification offered by the Information-technology Promotion Agency (IPA), providing knowledge in IT-driven business efficiency improvement and IT strategy planning.
The IT Strategist exam is the top-tier Level 4 qualification within the “Information Technology Engineers Examination” — a suite of national IT certifications. It requires not only information processing knowledge but also the ability to plan and execute projects using IT expertise.
As IT knowledge is essential for business process improvement, demonstrating advanced IT competency significantly raises your market value as a consultant. This certification is also useful for system development roles in addition to consulting work.
| Exam Summary | · Demonstrates expertise in IT-based business efficiency and IT strategy · Equivalent to the top-tier Level 4 of the Information Technology Engineers Examination |
| Exam Content | Morning I & II (Technology, Strategy, Management, etc.); Afternoon I & II (Information systems, strategy, etc.) |
| Estimated Study Hours | Approximately 150–200 hours |
| Exam Fee (tax-exempt) | ¥7,500 |
| Passing Standard | 60% or higher correct answers |
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is the highest-level qualification in accounting and auditing, and one of Japan’s three major national qualifications. It provides knowledge spanning finance, accounting, equity support, and accounting consulting, among many other areas. A business process improvement consultant with accounting and auditing knowledge can deliver more precise improvements to financial and accounting processes.
While the CPA is a highly difficult qualification to obtain, its value in terms of career prospects and stability is exceptional. Since accounting functions exist in companies of all sizes, the social demand for this qualification remains high.
| Exam Summary | · A qualification held by professionals in accounting and auditing · Exceptionally high career prospects and stability |
| Exam Content | Financial accounting theory, management accounting theory, auditing theory, corporate law |
| Estimated Study Hours | 2,500–3,000 hours |
| Exam Fee (tax-exempt) | ¥19,500 |
| Passing Standard | Short-answer exam: 70% total score; Essay exam: 60% total score |
SAP Certified Consultant
The SAP Certified Consultant is a certification exam run by the German software company SAP. Obtaining it demonstrates knowledge and skills in SAP systems, which hold a significant share of the global market. It covers knowledge in areas such as sales management, production management, HR and labor management, and expense processing.
The SAP certification is divided into three types. One of them — the Application Consultant — enables you to acquire knowledge in SAP system implementation and optimization. This makes it particularly well-suited for business process improvement consultants who work on resolving management and operational challenges.
| Exam Summary | · Optimizing business processes using SAP systems · The Application Consultant track is recommended |
| Exam Content | Business processes, HR management, etc. |
| Estimated Study Hours | 10+ hours (approximately 1–6 months) |
| Exam Fee (tax included) | Approximately ¥30,000 |
| Passing Standard | Not disclosed |
Bookkeeping / Accounting (Boki)
Bookkeeping provides the skills to record business activities for companies of any size and clarify their financial and management status. Obtaining this qualification allows you to understand a company’s financial position and develop the ability to analyze management performance.
As a result, you can more quickly understand a client’s financial situation and communicate more smoothly with the accounting department — making bookkeeping knowledge a highly valued asset.
Bookkeeping is not limited to accounting staff — it is knowledge worth having in any profession. It is also rich in practical insights for independent business owners, making it a recommended qualification for a wide range of business professionals.
| Exam Summary | · Useful for understanding financial status and conducting management analysis · Beneficial for business professionals across a wide range of roles and employment types |
| Exam Content | Commercial bookkeeping, accounting theory, industrial bookkeeping, cost accounting, commercial bookkeeping standards, permitted account title list |
| Estimated Study Hours | Level 3: 100 hours Level 2: 300 hours Level 1: 600 hours |
| Exam Fee (tax included) | Level 3: ¥3,300 Level 2: ¥5,500 Level 1: ¥8,800 |
| Passing Standard | 70% or higher correct answers (Level 1 also requires ranking in the top 10%) |
Applied Information Technology Engineer
The Applied Information Technology Engineer is a national qualification offered by IPA, and is an advanced version of the well-known Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Examination. It corresponds to Level 3 of the Information Technology Engineers Examination and is considered fairly challenging.
With IT systems expanding rapidly today, knowledge of IT is essential in business improvement. Obtaining the Applied Information Technology Engineer certification provides a broad range of knowledge including IT strategy, system planning and requirements definition, and quality and budget management.
| Exam Summary | · Broad knowledge covering IT, management strategy, and more · Level 3 of the Information Technology Engineers Examination; relatively high difficulty |
| Exam Content | Technology, Management, Strategy |
| Estimated Study Hours | 500 hours |
| Exam Fee (tax-exempt) | ¥7,500 |
| Passing Standard | 60% or higher correct answers |
Examples of Companies That Employ Business Process Improvement Consultants
Here are some examples of companies where business process improvement consultants work.
Deloitte Tohmatsu LLC
Deloitte Tohmatsu LLC is one of Japan’s largest management consulting firms. It was formed through the merger of the former Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting LLC, Deloitte Tohmatsu Financial Advisory LLC, and Deloitte Tohmatsu Risk Advisory LLC.
As a member of the international professional firm Deloitte, it provides consulting services across Japan.
Deloitte Tohmatsu LLC has more than 10,000 consultants who collaborate with offices around the world, enabling the delivery of services tailored to regions across the globe. Leveraging comprehensive expertise in audit, tax, and legal services along with its international reach, the firm provides services across all types of organizations and functions — offering integrated support from strategy development through to execution.
| Capital | 300 million yen |
| Headcount | 11,000 |
| Head Office | 〒100-8361 Marunouchi Nijubashi Building, 3-2-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo |
Japan Management Association Consulting, Inc. (JMAC)
Japan Management Association Consulting conducts more than 1,500 consulting engagements per year across over 60 countries. It provides end-to-end consulting across a wide range of areas including management strategy, marketing, organizational development and HR, and IT business.
The firm’s strength lies in its field-oriented approach and its ability to develop highly actionable plans. It continues to support clients until results are fully realized, with engagements often lasting around three years. Some client relationships have extended to over 15 years, reflecting the deep trust built with clients over time.
| Capital | 250 million yen |
| Headcount | 370 employees |
| Head Office | 〒105-0011 7F, Japan Management Association Building, 3-1-22 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo |
Tokai Business Service Co., Ltd.
Tokai Business Service is an IT company specializing in supporting business process improvement for small and medium-sized enterprises. Established in 1976, it is a long-standing company with a track record of supporting business improvement at more than 500 companies.
In addition to IT tool implementation and configuration support, the company provides human resource development, retention support, and assistance with internal coordination and adoption. Past projects have included the implementation of sales management and attendance tracking systems, as well as support for compliance with the invoice system reform in Japan.
| Capital | 42,000,000 yen |
| Headcount | 280 |
| Head Office | 〒104-0033 6F, Green Oak Kayabacho, 1-3-3 Shinkawa, Chuo-ku, Tokyo |
GwP Consulting Co., Ltd.
GwP Consulting provides business process improvement services led by experts in management, accounting, and legal affairs. In addition to management planning, the firm has particular strength in web marketing and branding. It especially recommends its specialized services for four industries: hotels and ryokan (Japanese inns), bathing facilities, bridal services, and taxi companies.
Past projects include a comprehensive web marketing analysis and business expansion for a marine product sales and rental company, as well as an overhaul of the HR system at a long-established traditional inn.
| Capital | N/A |
| Headcount | N/A |
| Head Office | 〒104-0061 5F, Ginza Fugetsudo Building, 6-6-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo (Ginza Business Center) |
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Conclusion
Business process improvement consultants play a key role in making a company’s operations more efficient. While there are drawbacks — such as limited autonomy and a long period of entry-level work — the profession also offers significant rewards: working with diverse industries and companies, engaging directly with senior management, and building valuable experience.
Please also review the career path and useful certifications outlined above, and consider whether a career in business process improvement consulting is right for you.
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