KPMG

KPMG Profile & Stats

The lengthy acronymed KPMG LLP is a member firm of the KPMG global network, and one of the Big Four in world auditing. With 136,000 employees spread across 140 countries , it is also one of the most geographically dispersed firms. Its current network was formed in 1987 – with the merger of Peat Marwick International, Klynveld Main Goerdeler, and all their respective member firms – before consolidating in 2007. KPMG Europe LLP is now one of the biggest accountancy firms in Europe.

Each national KPMG firm is an independent legal entity and is a member of KPMG International Cooperative – headquartered in Switzerland. And each bears the initial of the principal founding members:

K for Klynveld: the accounting firm Klynveld Kraayenhof & Co was founded by Piet Klynveld in Amsterdam in 1917.
P for William Barclay Peat: he founded the accounting firm William Barclay Peat & Co. in London in 1870.
M for James Marwick: the co-founder of accounting firm Marwick, Mitchell & Co., established in New York in 1897.
G for Dr.Reinhard Goerdeler: the long-serving chairman of Deutsche Treuhand-Gesellschaft and later KPMG.

As you would expect to be the case with a Big Four member, KPMG provides clients with audit, tax and advisory services. Major clients include consulting firms, construction and real estate organisations, and financial services groups. Its US consulting outfit was divested in 2001, before filing for bankruptcy in early 2009.

KPMG’s working environment and training programmes have both received accolades. Like other Big Four outfits grads can expect to develop both their hard and soft skill set.