I have an upcoming case interview with Big4 in their Post-Merger Integration and Value Creation practice. I’ve been told the interview will be 90 minutes and will include a live written case brief, with the option to use Excel/calculator and Powerpoint.

the 90 minutes usually break down like this:

• ~10–15 minutes to read a written deal brief on your own
• ~45–55 minutes of independent work using Excel and PowerPoint
• ~20–25 minutes to present and handle Q and A

During the work phase, interviewer interaction is minimal. This is intentional.

On depth, expectations are constrained by time. They want judgment, not completeness.

• 3–5 slides, clean and well structured
• Order of magnitude numbers, not a full model
• Clear integration or separation logic with explicit assumptions

Typical slide content:

• Integration or separation strategy and principles
• Value creation levers with rough sizing and timing
• Key risks and execution challenges
• Optional Day 1 and first 100 days view

What they really test:

• Can you think like a PMI lead, not just a strategist
• Do you separate Day 1, stabilization, and value capture
• Are you pragmatic with imperfect data

How to prepare:

• Practice written cases under time pressure
• Build the slide storyline before diving into Excel
• Refresh PMI fundamentals: synergies, TSAs, stranded costs

Hi there,

A 90-minute written case for a Big 4 PMI or Value Creation role is fairly standard and tests structured thinking analysis and communication rather than exhaustive modeling.

Typical structure is roughly:

• 45–60 minutes for independent analysis and slide preparation using Excel and PowerPoint
• 10–15 minutes to present your findings
• 15–30 minutes of Q&A and discussion on assumptions risks and trade-offs

In terms of depth they are not expecting a perfect answer. What matters most is prioritization and clarity. Focus on a small number of high-impact insights clean calculations and a clear recommendation. Usually 3–5 slides is enough if they are executive-ready and tell a coherent story.

For PMI and value creation cases concentrate on where value comes from such as cost and revenue synergies working capital and capex timing of value capture and key integration risks including org IT and operations. Showing realism around feasibility matters more than identifying every possible synergy.

To prepare practice written cases rather than only live ones get comfortable building simple Excel models quickly and practice structuring slides with clear headlines evidence and implications. Always think through value feasibility and risk together.

If useful I’m happy to help you run through a short written PMI-style case or review how to structure slides under time pressure.

Best,
Evelina

This is a fantastic format—it’s much closer to the actual day-to-day reality of an integration consultant than the typical verbal cases. You are essentially being tested on your ability to produce structured, client-ready thinking under extreme time pressure.

Here is how the 90 minutes typically breaks down: You'll likely get 5 minutes to read the prompt and clarify basic assumptions. The next 40–45 minutes is your self-contained analysis and slide creation phase. You will be completely alone or supervised silently. You need to read the prompt, perform the necessary quick calculations (often synergy quantification, stranded cost assessment, or a basic timeline prioritization), structure your argument, and populate 3-4 key slides in PowerPoint. The remaining 45–50 minutes is dedicated to presenting your findings and entering into a rigorous discussion and Q&A with the interviewer(s).

The depth expected is highly structured breadth, not exhaustive financial modeling. They are testing prioritization. In 40 minutes, you cannot build a model; you must build a defensible story. Your deliverable should ideally contain three to four slides covering: 1) Executive Summary/Key Finding (The "So What"), 2) Quantitative Back-up (The calculation showing where the value/synergies live, usually in Excel, pasted as a table/chart), and 3) Next Steps/Implementation Challenges (The how-to, e.g., a critical path for the first 100 days). The most common mistake is spending 80% of the time modeling and having no coherent presentation structure.

To prepare, you need to pivot from practicing verbal case flowcharts to practicing written synthesis. Focus your content prep on the core integration concepts: the difference between cost and revenue synergies and how each is realized; typical organizational structures post-close (e.g., carve-out vs. full integration); and understanding the "clean room" requirements or T-minus planning. For practice, don't just solve cases—set a 40-minute timer and force yourself to synthesize the answer into a professional-looking deck, even if it’s just bullet points on a slide. This habit is key to success in this specific format.

All the best!

hey!

Typically it is split into a short solo prep with the written brief and Excel, then a working discussion where you build and refine the analysis, and a final short presentation with Q and A, depth is more about being structured and commercially sharp than being exhaustive so a clear integration logic, a few quantified value levers, risks and a clean storyline matter more than perfect numbers, best prep is doing timed written cases and PMI style cases focusing on synergy logic, TSA, integration roadmap and value tracking, feel free to reach out if you want a quick prep tip or sanity check.

best,
Alessa :)

Good that you're preparing early. These written case interviews are different from standard verbal cases, so you need to adjust your approach.

Typical structure for a 90-minute written case:

Most Big4 firms split it roughly like this:

• 45 to 60 minutes to read the brief, do your analysis, and build your slides
• 15 to 20 minutes to present
• 10 to 15 minutes for Q&A

But this can vary. Some give you the split upfront. Others let you manage your own time. Ask at the start if they don't tell you.

What they're looking for:

They want to see three things:

1. Can you structure a messy problem quickly?
2. Can you do basic analysis under pressure (Excel math, not complex modeling)?
3. Can you communicate clearly in slides and verbally?

You don't need perfect slides. You need clear thinking, a logical flow, and a point of view backed by the data they give you.

Depth of analysis:

Keep it practical. You won't have time for deep financial modeling. Focus on:

• Key numbers from the brief (revenue, costs, synergies, headcount, timelines)
• Simple calculations (synergy estimates, cost savings, integration costs)
• Clear so-whats from each analysis

Don't try to be fancy. A clean table or simple chart beats a complex model you can't explain.

Slide structure that works:

• Slide 1: Situation summary and key question
• Slide 2-3: Your framework or approach to the problem
• Slide 3-4: Analysis and findings
• Slide 5: Recommendations with clear rationale

Keep slides simple. Bullet points are fine. One main idea per slide.

For PMI and value creation specifically:

Know the basics of integration planning:

• Synergy types: cost synergies (headcount, procurement, facilities) vs revenue synergies (cross-sell, pricing)
• Integration workstreams: IT, HR, operations, finance, commercial
• Day 1 readiness vs long-term integration
• Common risks: culture clash, customer attrition, key talent leaving

For value creation, think about:

• Where is value leaking today?
• What levers can improve EBITDA? (pricing, cost reduction, working capital)
• What's the investment needed vs the return?

How to prepare:

Practice with a timer. Give yourself 50 minutes to read a case, do analysis, and build 4-5 slides. Then present out loud for 15 minutes.

For practice cases, search for:

• Deloitte or PwC M&A case studies (some are public)
• Harvard Business Review PMI cases
• Any case with synergy estimation or integration planning

Also practice explaining your thinking under pressure. The Q&A is where they test if you really understand your analysis or just copied numbers onto slides.

You'll do fine if you stay structured and keep it simple. Good luck.