Key Insights:
- Global scale and services: KPMG employs 270,000 plus across 143 countries with three lines Audit, Tax, and Advisory, and a sizable US footprint of 75 plus offices.
- Resilient growth and position: A long track record of steady expansion places KPMG as a Big 4 leader with a rising consulting profile, even without a boutique strategy acquisition.
- Careers and pathways: Structured advancement, robust training and internships, and practice depth in operations, finance, technology, and analytics support broad but often operationally focused exits.
With a global workforce of 270,000 people and global revenues of ~$40B, it’s pretty obvious KPMG isn’t messing around when it comes to, well, anything. However, not all of its resources are pointed towards consulting, as it offers three lines of services: Audit, Tax and Advisory. Within the US, KPMG LLP operates from over 75 offices with more than 40,000 employees.
Since its first incarnation in the late 1800s, KPMG's story is one of continued and sustained growth. Weathering the great depression, two world wars, the cold war and a myriad of potential pitfalls in-between, KPMG is now a household name in accounting and auditing, but it also boasts a growing reputation in the consulting field. KPMG was named a 2026 Top Ranked Consulting Firm by Management Consulted. Known as part of the elite "Big 4", it's a competent, calculated and shrewd firm, with its eyes fixed on bigger and better things.
Though not as aggressive, creative or flamboyant as MBB or perhaps even its Big 4 competitors, KPMG is a huge force in the consulting market and not one to be taken lightly. Interestingly, KPMG is the only one of the Big 4 that has not yet acquired a boutique strategy firm. Keep your eyes open, though - deal talks are rumored.
Key Stats
| Website | www.kpmg.com |
| Headquarters | Amstelveen, Netherlands |
| Employees | 270,000+ |
| Locations | 143 countries |
| Chief Executive | John Veihmeyer |
| Revenue | $40B |
| Typical Engagement Cost | $450K |
KPMG Careers
KPMG Careers attract candidates interested in combining financial rigor with advisory problem solving. For students and professionals, KPMG offers exposure to Fortune 500 clients, public sector institutions, and private equity backed companies.
Why work at KPMG?
First, brand recognition. As a Big Four firm, KPMG experience carries significant weight across finance, consulting, and corporate leadership roles.
Second, breadth of opportunity. Professionals can work in audit, tax, advisory, deal advisory, digital transformation, cybersecurity, ESG, and more.
Third, mobility. KPMG supports international rotations and cross practice movement.
Drawbacks can include heavy travel during peak project cycles and busy season intensity within audit and tax. Compared to MBB, KPMG strategy work may focus more on implementation and transformation rather than pure corporate strategy.
Movement from KPMG to MBB is possible, particularly from strategy focused groups such as KPMG Strategy or Deal Advisory. However, direct entry into MBB is typically easier from top MBA programs.
KPMG Internships
KPMG offers internships to college juniors. If you want to apply, apply through your university career center. If KPMG isn't visiting your school, contact a KPMG recruiter in the city of your choosing - but first, network with someone who is a manager or above who is an alum at your school.
KPMG Jobs
KPMG Jobs span early career, experienced hire, and leadership roles. Open roles often include:
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- Associate or Analyst in Advisory
- Audit Associate
- Tax Associate
- Cybersecurity Consultant
- Deal Advisory Analyst
- Strategy Consultant
Candidates can explore open roles directly on KPMG’s careers page or browse opportunities through the Management Consulted Job Board.
Practice Areas
Business Issues:
Capabilities:
Functions:
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- Analytics
- Business Integration
- Business Intelligence
- Business Process Management
- Business Transformation
- Change Management
- Cloud
- Customer Experience
- Digital and Mobile
- Enterprise Solutions
- Growth Enablement
- Integrated Business Planning
- Operating Effectiveness & Optimization
- Organizational Design
- Outsourcing
- Shared Services
- Talent Management
- Technology Enablement
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KPMG Office Locations
KPMG has offices in 143 countries and territories across its three core regions: The Americas, EMA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) and Asia Pacific, with 75+ offices in the US alone.
Career Path
Working as a consultant in the Advisory division of KPMG, your career will have six stages:
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- Associate
- Senior Associate
- Manager
- Senior Manager
- Director
- Partner/Managing Director
Exit Opportunities
As diverse as KPMG is, working for a Big 4 accounting firm, even in its consulting division, carries an accounting and audit reputation that can follow you into your next role. Advisory ranges from risk consulting, which tends to be technical and compliance-oriented, to strategy projects and M&A work.
If your goal is pure strategy consulting, KPMG may not be the strongest fit, because the projects you work on are more likely to be operational in nature. If you want to move into MBB, a boutique consulting firm may offer more direct exposure to the type of work MBB conducts. Within KPMG, focus on projects in fast-growing industries that are more strategic in nature, ideally working with C-suite stakeholders such as the CEO or COO rather than middle management.
How do you identify those opportunities? Ask targeted questions in your networking sessions, such as: "Tell me about your best relationship with a client. Who were they, what was their role, and what problem did you solve for them?"
That said, KPMG is a recognized global brand with strong training programs and broad client access. You will gain exposure to large, complex organizations across industries. The main risk is being pigeonholed by the practice or office you join, or spending extended time on a single long-running engagement.
Notable Alumni
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- Yvo de Boer – Former chair of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Climate Change and Director General of the Global Green Growth Institute.
- David Carew – Sierra Leone's Minister of Trade and Industry
- Paul Glasson – National Vice President for the Australia China Business Council
- J. Spencer Lanthier – Former Director at the Bank of Canada
- James Marwick – Director at AT&T
- Richard Solomons – Chief Executive of InterContinental Hotels Group
Target Schools
Want to break into KPMG Strategy straight out of undergrad? You're in luck - the firm recruits undergraduate students for Associate roles in both its Strategy and Deal Advisory practices.
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- Columbia University
- Emory University (MBA and undergrad)
- Georgetown University
- George Washington University
- NYU
- UC Berkeley
- University of Georgia (MBA and undergrad)
- University of Maryland
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Virginia
- West Virginia University
- Yale University
Diversity Programs
As a firm, KPMG is very committed to diversity and the firm has won a number of awards for its stance. For employees, it runs a number of programs including:
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- Key Accounts Rotation: A program that targets ethnically diverse Audit, Tax, and Advisory associates.
- Diversity Advisory Board Scorecard: Developed to set meaningful diversity metrics for the firm.
- KPMG’s Executive Leadership Institute for Women: A professional development series designed by KPMG specifically for women.
KPMG History
KPMG's roots trace back to 1897, when James Marwick and Roger Mitchell, both Scottish immigrants, founded Marwick, Mitchell & Company in New York City. In 1925, that firm merged with William Barclay Peat & Co. to form Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Company.
In 1979, Klynveld's Dutch firm merged with Deutsche Treuhand-Gesellschaft and McLintock Main Lafrentz to form Klynveld Main Goerdeler, known as KMG. Then in 1987, KMG merged with Peat Marwick International to create KPMG Peat Marwick, a defining moment in the firm's history.
In 1999, KPMG Peat Marwick shortened its name to KPMG LLP and restructured its operations into global regions. The firm has spent the years since expanding its advisory footprint and investing heavily in digital transformation and consulting capabilities.
Today, KPMG stands as one of the most recognized professional services firms in the world, with a legacy built across more than 125 years of steady growth.
KPMG Culture
KPMG prides itself on its work culture, with particular emphasis on work life balance. If you speak to employees, some will sing you a sweet melody about how balanced their lives are, while others will hum a somber dirge, lamenting the amount of free time they have. If you want our two cents, you're obviously going to be working hard while you’re there, with some periods being busier than others, but if you’re diligent, a good work life balance is there for the taking.
If you’re looking for an explosive razzmatazz life in consulting, then KPMG will not compare to MBB. If, however, you quite like the idea of getting on closer to the ground floor, KPMG might just be the place for you. Like we said, exit options are expansive but not always high-profile when compared to the very top consulting firms, but they’re headed in the right direction.
Salary wise, KPMG is a way off the top consulting firms and even lags behind its Big 4 competitors.
With such a huge global footprint and with Fortune 50 C-level clients in tow, KPMG is not a firm to turn your nose up at. They also have a history of making very shrewd business relationships. Though subconsciously still an audit and accounting firm perhaps, it’s positioning itself well for the future and is definitely a firm you should keep your eye on. Check out their website for more on KPMG Culture.
KPMG Core Values
KPMG Consulting has some key core values, as summed up by their website:
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- We lead by example
- We work together
- We respect the individual
- We seek the facts and provide insight
- We are open and honest in our communication
- We are committed to our communities
- Above all, we act with integrity
KPMG Interview
The KPMG interview focuses heavily on your technical knowledge and your fit with the firm. Many candidates find the interviews more collegial than confrontational, which can make them feel unpredictable. Don't let that informality fool you. Preparation still matters.
The Full Process
The application process involves several stages and can take a few weeks to a couple of months. The first stage is an online application through KPMG's recruitment portal, covering your resume, cover letter, and academic details. Make sure these are on point, or you may never even get in the door. We can review your resume to make our resume shine.
After the digital assessment, successful candidates are invited to at least two live video interviews with KPMG practice leaders. Both behavioral and case interview questions should be expected.
For advisory and consulting roles, the process typically includes three rounds. The first round consists of two 30-minute interviews, one behavioral and one case-focused. The second round includes a behavioral interview, a case interview, and a written case exercise. Some candidates face a third round with two to three additional interviews.
What To Expect In The Room
Expect roughly 50 to 75 percent behavioral questions and 25 to 50 percent case-based questions. It is hit or miss whether you will receive a full case interview, but you should always be prepared for one. At a minimum, expect market sizing questions.
The case study interview is typically led by a manager or partner and centers on a real-world business scenario. Interviewers focus on how you structure the issue, identify key risks, and explain your reasoning step by step. Clarity matters more than a perfect answer.
By the time you reach your final interviews, KPMG's primary question is: how will you collaborate with their team and function with their clients? The earlier rounds confirm you can do the job. The final rounds confirm you are the right fit.
How To Prepare
You should walk in ready to do the following:
- Have at least 5 behavioral stories prepared and practiced out loud
- Practice at least 10 market sizing questions before your interview day
- Prepare a written case response, including data analysis and a structured recommendation
- Have three strong questions ready for each interviewer
- Know why you want KPMG specifically, not just consulting in general
It also helps to reach out to one or two people at your prospective level at KPMG before your interview. They can help you understand exactly what to expect.
Whether or not you get a case, treat every round as if one is coming. The candidates who land offers at KPMG are the ones who show up prepared for everything. If you want to make sure your case skills are sharp, MC's Black Belt program has helped thousands of candidates master the case interview format before walking into Big 4 and MBB offices.
KPMG Salaries
KPMG Salary levels are competitive within the Big Four but typically lower than MBB firms.
Based on data from our Consulting Salaries Report, entry level advisory consultants at Big Four firms earn base salaries in the range of $85,000 to $100,000, with performance bonuses.
In comparison, MBB firms often offer base salaries above $110,000 for undergraduate hires and significantly higher total compensation for MBAs.
Partner compensation varies widely but can reach seven figures depending on equity and performance.
If you are a candidate interested in working at KPMG, check out our latest Consulting Salary Report to see exactly how much you’ll make.
KPMG FAQs
KPMG is a global professional services firm that provides audit, tax, and advisory services to corporations, governments, and nonprofit organizations. It is one of the largest accounting and consulting networks in the world.
KPMG stands for Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler. The name reflects the legacy firms that merged to form the modern organization.
KPMG delivers services across three primary areas:
1. Audit and Assurance, which focuses on financial reporting and compliance
2. Tax, which includes corporate tax planning and international tax advisory
3. Advisory, which covers consulting, deal advisory, risk, cybersecurity, technology implementation, and strategy
KPMG partner compensation varies widely based on geography and seniority. In the United States, average partner compensation is often reported in the range of 500,000 to over 1 million dollars annually, with top equity partners earning significantly more.
KPMG employs approximately 265,000 professionals globally across more than 140 countries and territories.
Yes. KPMG is one of the Big Four accounting firms, alongside Deloitte, PwC, and EY.
KPMG International is headquartered in Amstelveen, Netherlands. KPMG US is headquartered in New York, NY.
KPMG does not operate as a traditional investment bank. However, it provides deal advisory, transaction advisory, and M and A consulting services that overlap with certain investment banking functions.
KPMG applications typically open in late summer to early fall for the following year’s roles, especially for campus recruiting. Internship applications often open in August or September, with full time roles following a similar timeline. Experienced hire roles are posted year round.
Conclusion
KPMG remains a global powerhouse in audit, tax, and advisory services. For students and professionals seeking a strong brand name, structured career path, and diverse client exposure, KPMG offers compelling opportunities.
While compensation and pure strategy exposure may differ from MBB, KPMG provides broad exit opportunities, global mobility, and a strong professional foundation.