Consulting interviews beyond McKinsey, BCG and Bain

How case interviews differ at Oliver Wyman, Kearney, Roland Berger, L.E.K., Simon-Kucher, Arthur D. Little and Accenture Strategy, and how to adapt. 6 min readUpdated 11 November 2026By the Prepper team

Candidates often prepare only for McKinsey, BCG and Bain, then apply the same approach everywhere. Other strategy firms use the same case method but lean on their own specialisms, and interviewers notice when you have done the homework.

What each firm tends to test

Oliver Wyman: quantitative cases, often in banking, insurance or transport. Be comfortable with ratios such as cost-to-income and loss rates.
Kearney: operations and procurement. Expect cost breakdowns, supplier negotiations and factory capacity.
Roland Berger: European industrial clients and restructuring. Assessment days include a group case, so how you work with others is assessed directly.
L.E.K. Consulting: commercial due diligence. Market sizing, growth drivers and a written case in later rounds.
Simon-Kucher: pricing. Willingness to pay, price elasticity, packaging and the margin maths behind each.
Arthur D. Little: two rounds of cases with a technology and operations tilt, plus motivation questions.
Capgemini Invent: a fit-heavy first round, then a case with a digital or transformation angle.
Accenture Strategy: an online assessment, then case and fit interviews with technology-themed cases.

How to adapt your preparation

Do two cases in the firm's specialism. A pricing case before Simon-Kucher, a due diligence case before L.E.K., an operations case before Kearney.
Learn the three or four numbers of the industry. For a bank case, what a typical cost-to-income ratio looks like; for retail, gross margin and sales per square metre.
Prepare a specific "why this firm". Mention the kind of work, a published study, or the people you have spoken to. "It is a top strategy firm" is the answer everyone gives.
Practise written and group formats if your firm uses them. Timekeeping and summarising others' points score well in group cases.

What stays the same

Structure, clear maths said out loud, and a recommendation with a reason. The case interview guide and worked case examples cover those foundations.

Frequently asked questions

Are interviews at smaller strategy firms easier than at McKinsey, BCG or Bain?
Not reliably. The case standard is similar, and specialist firms expect more knowledge of their field, such as pricing or due diligence.
Should I use the same frameworks everywhere?
Use the same habits (structure, hypotheses, clear maths) but build each structure for the question in front of you. Memorised frameworks stand out at every firm.

Are interviews at smaller strategy firms easier than at McKinsey, BCG or Bain?

Not reliably. The case standard is similar, and specialist firms expect more knowledge of their field, such as pricing or due diligence.

Should I use the same frameworks everywhere?

Use the same habits (structure, hypotheses, clear maths) but build each structure for the question in front of you. Memorised frameworks stand out at every firm.