Despite the growing significance of the management consulting industry, existing literature has predominantly focused on global patterns, largely overlooking the professional roles within the context of developing economies, specifically Iran. This research aims to explore the dual nature of the functional roles of this industry by conducting a comparative analysis of the global versus context-specific roles of management consulting firms within the Iranian economic landscape. Adopting an exploratory qualitative approach and utilizing thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with 14 domain experts, the findings reveal the emergence of specialized functions that transcend conventional professional roles, rooted in Iran's environmental structures and contextual imperatives. The identification of roles such as "involvement in unrelated commercial activities" and "compliance with statutory requirements" demonstrates how consulting firms in specific environments deviate from their specialized identities to adopt new functions in response to environmental pressures and economic survival. This typology, while moderating the notion of the universality of prevailing consulting models, provides new insights into the dynamics of the profession and its adaptation to the context of developing economies. The implications of this study pave the way for enhancing macro-level policymaking toward the professionalization of the industry and assist managers in leveraging indigenous consulting capacities aligned with Iran's economic realities.