
<PAGE>   1


                                                                  EXHIBIT 23.2

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS



     We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus
constituting part of this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated
February 3, 1998, which appears on page 59 of the 1997 Annual Report to
Shareholders of United Asset Management Corporation, which is incorporated by
reference in United Asset Management Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1997. We also consent to the incorporation by
reference of our report on the Financial Statement Schedule, which appears on
page F-1 of such Annual Report on Form 10-K. We also consent to the reference to
us under the heading "Experts" in such Prospectus.

/s/ Price Waterhouse LLP

Boston, Massachusetts
April 21, 1998



