McKinsey Risk Practice

Question

Can anybody shed some light on the Risk & Resilience practice?

Are the R1/R2 (PEI&Case) interviews (Associate-Experienced) similar to generalist roles?

What kind of projects do you work on?

What are the exit options?

Any kind of insight, advice, or tips would be extremely helpful!

Answer 1

Hi - some quick answers to your question

1. Interview questions - Yes they will be similar, however you will be tested on your experience in the field (if you are an experienced hire) or your true interest in Risk if you do not have prior experience with Risk.

2. Type of work - It varies but a lot of the work is focused on Risk related projects within banks. A lot of them are focused on complying with CCAR and other risk related regulations. Risk also extends to other sectors that have to either plan for risk adjusted outcomes or are subject to risk related regulatory requirements.

3. Exit options - it really depends. When you join the risk practice, the expectation is that you will spend a certain amount of time work on projects in Risk (used to be 50% but that changes all the time and staffing has a large say in the beginning). After some time as you build connections it is possible to move onto different types of projects as well. If you stick largely to risk then the exit options are best for roles that require that skill set and knowledge. If you diversify to other sectors and projects then you can apply for a larger variety of roles.

All the best with the interview process!

Udayan

Answer 2

Hey there,

I was a core member of McKinsey's Risk & Resilience practice, so I can share lots of insights here.

For starters, yes, the R1 and R2 interviews will be similar to generalist roles, but the interviewer may want to see your abilities to detail our risk topics and risk mitigations a bit more. It is likely that you will be paired with consultants from the risk practice that would have selected cases from McKinsey's case library with a higher degree of risk considerations. I had some of these and I used them for interviewing candidates with risk backgrounds

From a projects point of view, there are so many. It varies by industry and then topic. So it can be credit risk optimization in banking, model risk management, supply chain and third party risk and optimization, general ERM and corporate governance, digital and tech risk, compliance risks, Assert liability and funding risks, and so much more.

Exit opportunities are plenty as well! Depending on what work you worked on, the most natural opportunity is into the companies you would have served. And these often are massive organizations that have big risk engagements. As well as all the other exit opportunities that the McKinsey brand gives you

Let's have a wider chat further than what I can put down here on a Q+A chat. I'd be happy to give as much insights, guidance and advice as possible. Also, if you haven't applied yet - I am happy to leverage my contacts in the practice to help with a referral. Just DM me and we can take it from there

All the best!

Answer 3

Hi there,

1. Yes, the interviews will be exactly the same as for generalist roles. For cases, expect around 50% to be on risk and resilience-related topics, with the rest covering random industries and contexts - McKinsey cares about how you think, not what you know. The PEI will also follow the same structure and evaluation criteria.

For a deep dive into both the case and PEI, check out these resources:

McKinsey Case Interview: https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/interview-mckinsey
McKinsey Personal Experience Interview: https://www.preplounge.com/en/mckinsey-pei

Also, here’s a free McKinsey-style case practice to help you prepare: https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/interviewer-led/advanced/claimsmart-ai-for-next-gen-health-insurance-350

2. The R&R works on a range of projects focused on mitigating financial, operational, and strategic risks for clients. Typical projects include:

Enterprise risk management – Helping companies build frameworks to identify and manage key risks.
Cybersecurity strategy – Designing resilience strategies against cyber threats.
Supply chain risk & resilience – Optimizing supply chains to withstand disruptions.
Regulatory and compliance advisory – Ensuring organizations meet changing regulatory requirements.
Crisis response and business continuity – Developing playbooks and response strategies for high-impact crises.

You might also work on non-R&R projects depending on current demand.

3. Exit opportunities are excellent - on par with any McKinsey practice. You’ll have strong options for both domain-specific roles and broader strategy positions. Some examples include:

Domain-specific exits: Risk leadership roles at major banks, insurance firms, or multinational corporations
General exits: Strategy roles at top corporates, private equity, venture capital, startups, or leadership positions in tech, healthcare, or financial services.

Hope this helps - please feel free to reach out if you have more questions!

Cheers,

Florian

Answer 4

Hey there 🙂, the McKinsey Risk & Resilience practice focuses on helping clients tackle a range of challenges—from developing robust risk management frameworks and enhancing organizational resilience to navigating regulatory and operational hurdles, often with a strong emphasis on the banking and financial sectors (a friend of mine worked there, mostly on banking projects). The R1 and R2 interviews for Associate-Experienced roles are quite similar to those for generalist roles, combining personal experience and case interviews, though you might find some additional emphasis on risk-related scenarios and frameworks. Projects typically involve analyzing risk exposure, improving internal controls, and advising on strategies to mitigate both current and emerging risks, offering great exposure to high-stakes decision-making. Exit options are diverse, with many consultants moving into senior risk management roles, specialized consulting in risk, or leadership positions within financial institutions, which can be an excellent stepping stone for your long-term career. Best, Alessa 😇

Answer 5

Hi there,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your questions:

First of all, yes, the interview process seems to be quite similar to the generalist roles.
Moreover, I would highly advise you to take a look at the Risk & Resilience landing page, as all the relevant information about what they do is presented there.
Lastly, the exit options are varied and, of course, largely up to you. For example, you could move into corporate risk management, strategy roles or regulatory bodies.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming McKinsey application, pre-interview assessment and/or interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen