A principal consultant is a senior member of a consulting firms staff who offers expertise, resources, and guidance to help clients succeed in their businesses. They work directly with clients, analyzing and planning business strategy, and advising clients on technology solutions. They are responsible for evaluating business needs and opportunities, identifying potential leads to create project proposals, and maintaining strong business relationships that would generate revenues and increase the organizations profitability. They must be up-to-date with the current market trends to ensure that the business adapts to the industrys changes. Principal consultants need to have experience working in consulting at a senior level, the ability to build relationships with clients, and excellent interpersonal, communication, and teamwork skills. They should also have the ability to manage projects and teams. To become a principal consultant, you typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in a field related to the consulting firm’s area of expertise, such as business management, finance, or computer technologies. Since principal consulting is a senior position, you must also have several years of industry experience. The difference between a principal consultant and a senior consultant is in the scope of responsibility and oversight. A senior consultant manages analysts and junior consultants, while a principal consultant is at the top of the organization and controls most of the day-to-day activities.