Can someone help with the type of cases for an experienced hire with KPMG Canada's Operations Advisory practice?

caseinterview KPMG operationsadvisory panelcase verbalcase writtencase
New answer on Feb 29, 2020
5 Answers
3.5 k Views
Anonymous A asked on Feb 18, 2020

I cleared the HR round. And there are following rounds coming up:

1. Verbal case interview: 2 back-to-back (case + behavioural/fit interviews) of 45 mins each. So, a total of 90 mins. Every 45 mins will be split into 25 mins case interview and 20 mins behavioural/fit interview. (I need to understand what types of cases should I expect here - Market sizing, brain teasers or regular strategic business cases like profitability, new market entry, M&A, etc.)

2. Panel case interview / Written case interview: I will be given a case and will need to use excel & pivot tables to analyze data, and then synthesize it on PowerPoint slides. There will a presentation and a Q&A to panel at the end. The panel case is scheduled for 3 hours, broken down into the following segments: (A) Panel case analysis using case study and excel data – 2 hours (B) Panel interview presentation preparation – 15 minutes (C) Panel interview presentation – 45 minutes (Will this case focus on operations advisory type of cases or any strategic business case?)

3. Partner interview

(edited)

Overview of answers

Upvotes
  • Upvotes
  • Date ascending
  • Date descending
Best answer
Nathaniel
Expert
replied on Feb 18, 2020
McKinsey | BCG | CERN| University of Cambridge

Hello there,

1. Given that you are interviewing for Operations practice, I would presume that they would primarily give operations-oriented cases. In this case, be ready for the conventional business case (profitability and business situation), but be ready to expand the key drivers underneath it on operations situation e.g. value-chain analysis, supply chain network, manufacturing line, etc.

2. Following the first one, this one would also involves a lot of operations-based cases, encompassing relevant figures such as FTE analysis, operational flow diagram (noodle diagram), etc.

3. This would be a mix of discussion on topics revolving operations as well as more emphasis on "fit", best to prepare stories on leadership, conflict management, as well as operations-related experiences.

Hope it helps.

Kind regards,
Nathan

Was this answer helpful?
Francesco
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Feb 19, 2020
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.000+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ InterviewOffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi Anonymous,

please find below the answers to your questions:

  • I need to understand what types of cases should I expect here - Market sizing, brain teasers or regular strategic business cases like profitability, new market entry, M&A, etc.

Most likely you will get at least one operations cases. You will probably get some of the other types as well, brainteaser though are rare in consulting interviews

  • Will this case focus on operations advisory type of cases or any strategic business case?

There is no way to know for sure - could be on any strategy case. I would recommend the following to prepare for this step: https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/any-tips-for-writtenpresent-case-format-60min-prepare30min-present-at-director-level-3849

Best,

Francesco

Was this answer helpful?
Vlad
Expert
replied on Feb 18, 2020
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

1. I would expect all types of cases. Some of them can be operational.

2. Again, it can be anything

Best

Was this answer helpful?
Clara
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Feb 18, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello, congrats for the interview!

My toughts:

  1. Classical consulting structure, nothing new here. Regarding the cases you will have to face, they will be "normal" ones, just as everyone else who will interview for this position. Normally, each interviewer has his/her own case that they repeat candidate after candidate. Hence, it is completly regardless of who you are and what your background is. However, the FIT part will be totally tailored and in your case, as someone with an unsual background, will be deep (I know it for my own experience, since I am an architect, 100% weird too). For prep, if you start from scratch, I would see it´s too tight -particularly, as you mention, since you are combining it with a full-time job-. In these cases, best is to call HR and explain that, due to how interested you indeed are to prep for this the best way you can, you will need to postpone it for some weeks. They will totally understand.
  2. Same answer for the "types" of cases, altought the skills tested will be different this time (e.g., ability to read complex charts, understand and synthethise a lot of information in little time, etc.)
  3. My guess is that it will be almost 100% focused on FIT.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

Was this answer helpful?
Antonello
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Feb 29, 2020
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

You can be assessed with all the possible types of cases. The most common ones will be related to ops, but I would prepare also the standard ones contained in the best case libraries. Feel free to text me for some materials.

Best,
Antonello

Was this answer helpful?
Nathaniel gave the best answer

Nathaniel

McKinsey | BCG | CERN| University of Cambridge
3
Meetings
490
Q&A Upvotes
4
Awards
N/A
0 Reviews
How likely are you to recommend us to a friend or fellow student?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
0 = Not likely
10 = Very likely