HHL Finance Case Challenge Cologne powered by SMP

HHL Finance Case Challenge | Cologne

Diagnose the crisis. Save the company.

A company is running out of cash. Is it still fixable, what will it take, and who has to give something up to keep it alive?
You get two days and a team of people you have not met to answer that in front of the company’s management and its lenders.

Day 1: Think like a consultant. HHL professors run an interactive session on how strategy consultants take a messy business problem apart. The session uses situations from restructuring practice. A company is losing money, cash is getting tight and the causes are unclear. You learn to structure the question. You decide what to analyse first and what to leave alone when time is short. You separate symptoms from root causes and build an argument that survives a sceptical audience. This is the case training that consulting applications turn on, and you will use all of it the next day.

Day 2: The case. You join the advisory team of a company in distress. Your team diagnoses the causes of the crisis, checks the liquidity position and sizes the levers of a turnaround. You then pitch your restructuring concept to management and the company’s key stakeholders. Experienced restructuring experts from Struktur Management Partner mentor you through the day and push back on your reasoning. It is the same pushback their own consultants get. Then we crown the winning team and close the event with dinner together.

Meet your Struktur Management Partner mentors
Throughout the case challenge, you work closely with experienced restructuring consultants. They challenge your assumptions, give you direct feedback on your approach and share insights from their day-to-day work.

Participation in the event is free of charge.

If you enjoy the event, take the chance to get to know HHL. Our Master in Finance (15 months, full-time) and the Master in Management | Finance (full-time and part-time) both stand behind this event. HHL professors and alumni will be around in the sessions and at dinner. Ask them anything. Traditionally, approx. one-third of participants are future HHL students.

Your profile

• You are a current bachelor student or a recent graduate in business, economics or a similar field.
• You have above average grades and/or first relevant practical experience.
• You have a passion for finance and strategy and some first insight into the world of finance, for example financial statements and cash flow.
• You are up for a challenge and ready to tackle it with a team of highly motivated peers.

All facts at a glance

When
Tuesday, January 26, 2027, 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (CET)
Wednesday, January 27, 2027, 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (CET)

Where
Day 1: HHL Study Location Cologne, c/o STARTPLATZ Im Mediapark 5, 50670 Köln
Day 2: Cologne office SMP, Gereonstraße 18-32, 50670 Köln

How to apply

Application deadline: January 18, 2027
Step 1: Save your spot.
Step 2: After your registration, you will receive an email from us (please check your spam folder) with a request to send us your current CV (or LinkedIn profile link) as well as your transcript (if available) to complete your application.
Step 3: You will be notified about your participation at least one week before the event.

We are looking forward to your application!
Please note: The workshop will be held in English and in person.