US to UK business dictionary
US to UK business dictionary
We remain two countries divided by a common language – our US to UK business dictionary explains how some commonly used business phrases can differ across the pond…
USA | UK |
---|---|
Reaching out | Contacting |
Connecting | Contacting via email or LinkedIn |
C-suite/ C-level | Executives at board level |
Consultant | Management consultant |
Slide deck | Presentation – e.g. PowerPoint |
Resume | CV |
Touch base | Make contact |
Vacation | Holiday |
Holiday | National or bank holiday |
Locked | Completed and not changeable (as in “The document is locked…”) |
Hard ball | Tough negotiations |
Piece | Aspect of work (as in “He’s doing the legal piece…”) |
Playbook | Handbook detailing strategy – often supplied by consultants |
Drill down | Examine more closely |
Hard stop | Firm cut off time |
Travelling | Out of contact between offices |
B-school | Business school |
Bacon job | A role with no shortage of takers, a plum job |
Bat a thousand | 100% record (from baseball) |
Boiling the ocean | Attempting an the overly ambitious |
Bucketize | Organise into categories |
Deck | PowerPoint presentation |
Fighting the tape | Going against market trends |
Helicopter view | Brief overview |
Left lane | Accelerate (e.g. a project) |
Sales revenue | Turnover |
Turnover | Staff retention |
401k plan | A personal pension scheme |
Corporate income tax | Corporation tax |
Form 1120 | Annual return |
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | HMRC |
Executive positions UK & USA
Our job titles vary in seniority very much on both sides of the Atlantic – so don’t assume the director you will meet in England is a manager – he might well own the business, and some Brits might expect VPs and Presidents only exist in the White House!
USA | UK |
---|---|
Vice president | Senior manager |
Managing director | Senior manager |
CEO | Managing director / chief executive |
CMO | Marketing director |
CFO | Finance director |
President | Chairman/Chief executive |
Associate | Senior professional below partner |
Principal | Partner (consulting) or part owner |