FLP 211. Operational Case Study (OCS) May Exam Deep Dive

FLP 211. Operational Case Study (OCS) May Exam Deep Dive

From FLP, the Finance Leadership Podcast by AICPA & CIMA

April 21, 2026 · 36 min · Season 2 · Episode 211

About this episode

The episode provides insights for candidates preparing for the May OCS exam, focusing on a case study of a family-owned restaurant business.

Host Kevin Gormley is joined once again by Alex Whelan from Kaplan to help candidates prepare for the May Operational Case Study (OCS) exam. Whether you're early in your preparation or refining your technique, Kevin and Alex provide practical insights to help you focus on what matters most: applying your knowledge to the case with confidence. Good luck to all candidates! Building on the popularity of their February episode, Kevin and Alex focus on the May case study scenario featuring SOPA, a family‑owned restaurant business operating in a competitive market. The discussion provides practical guidance on how students should interpret the pre‑seen, identify exam‑relevant issues, and approach answers across all OCS core activities. This episode is especially valuable for candidates sitting their first CIMA Case Study exam and transitioning from Objective tests to a fully integrated, scenario‑based assessment. It offers a concise but comprehensive roadmap for tackling the May 2026 OCS exam. Key Topics Covered Case Study Overview: SOPA SOPA is a family‑owned restaurant chain operating across nine locations. The business operates in a highly competitive hospitality sector with…

People in this episode

Host: Kevin Gormley

Guest: Alex Whelan

Topics covered

  • Operational Case Study
  • exam preparation
  • restaurant business
  • CIMA Case Study
  • hospitality sector
  • strategic risks

Keywords

  • Operational Case Study
  • CIMA
  • exam preparation
  • restaurant business
  • hospitality sector
  • SOPA
  • strategic risks
  • staff morale
  • customer reviews

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Kaplan, CIMA, AICPA

Places: SOPA

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