KPMG (2017)

As an integrated business, KPMG in the UK is in a strong position to respond to client needs, bringing together the right teams at the right time, across disciplines and across borders. The key to our success as a firm lies in our ability to match our insights and skills to the strategic goals of clients, day in and day out. KPMG in the UK has 22 offices and is part of a global network of member firms offering Audit, Tax and Advisory services.

Our people are at the heart of our continued success and being part of KPMG is being part of a community of talented and innovative people, working together to have a positive, lasting impact on clients. No one type of person succeeds at KPMG; a diverse business requires diverse personalities, characters and perspectives. There really is a place for you here.

What could you do here?
We have a wide range of opportunities for school leavers, undergraduates and graduates across Audit, Advisory, Tax and Technology. No matter where you join us, you'll have the opportunity to work across functional sectors, giving you depth and breadth of experience. And we don't just mean fantastic, hands-on experience - you'll also have access to wide-ranging training and development programmes, and you'll be able to join our employee networks, societies, and sports and leisure clubs as well as getting involved in volunteering activities.

Who are we looking for?
We're looking for people with a strong interest in business, commercial awareness, intellectual curiosity and the ability to think of new ways to solve problems. We're interested in people who take pride in their work, have integrity, and can build strong, long-lasting relationships that bring out the best in others. As a general rule, you'll also be expected to have at least grade B in GCSE Maths and English and 300 UCAS points (or the equivalents of these)*. We only consider your "top" three A level grades and don't accept General Studies. For our undergraduate and graduate opportunities, you should also have, or be on course for, a 2:1 degree in any discipline. However, it's not just your academic performance we are interested in - we will assess your application by combining a number of different factors.

* Please note that entry requirements may vary for some of our programmes.

Why join us?
At KPMG, your long-term future is every bit as important to us as it is to you. That's why our aim is to offer you experiences that will stay with you for a lifetime. Whether it's great training and development, mobility opportunities or corporate responsibility volunteering activities - you'll gain a wealth of experiences on which to build a rewarding career. We're proud of our culture - it's one that recognises hard work, encourages new ways of thinking and embraces diversity and inclusion. We have an innovative spirit which inspires what we do and how we do it - striving to be better lies at the heart of who we are.

Year-round recruitment, early application advised.

Case Studies

• Name: Lucy Chaplin
• Role: Technology Graduate
• Joined: September 2012
• University: University of Bristol
• Degree: Economics and Politics

“I chose to join Technology Risk Consulting because I knew I’d get a great mix of client work and training. I was also fascinated by the idea of using technology to protect and support different clients. Cyber Security was totally new to me when I joined KPMG, but there’s been loads of training to help me learn quickly."

“I’ve been working in a variety of teams and sectors, giving clients insights and advice to help protect them from risk and improve the way they operate. I’ve learnt a lot about KPMG and the wider consultancy sector – as well as developing all sorts of business skills. I started off working in data analytics before moving on to Cyber and the McLaren Alliance team. Just recently I’ve moved to our Financial Services Technology Risk team. My day-to-day role varies – I could be doing everything from having meetings with senior people at the clients’ offices through to working on bids and proposals at KPMG.”

“We advise our clients on technology – what they have in place and any potential updates – and this advice can make a real difference to improving how they operate.”

“There are so many opportunities to get involved in things at KMPG. You can really push yourself here – having never picked up a rugby ball in my life before, now I’m the Ladies Captain for KPMG’s touch rugby team! I’m a member of the running club too, and of KPMG’s Network of Women (KNOW).”

“KPMG gives you the opportunity, it’s up to you what you make of it.”

Training & Profiles

KPMG is unique in its approach to training. We believe that the success of our business rests with the quality and the expertise of our people and so the effective training of those people is absolutely central to our business.

KPMG promotes an excellence culture and recognises how much work is involved in successfully passing exams. KPMG pay for all costs associated with attending courses for your first attempt at an exam and will reimburse you for all reasonable travel expenses if you have to attend a course a significant distance from your home office. We also pay for all fees levied by your chosen Professional Institute.

Application Procedure

Please apply to the latest KMPG jobs on graduatejobs.com.

What do you look for other than good grades in a potential employee?
In addition to your academic qualifications, we look at your behavioural competencies in nine key areas. By ‘behavioural competencies’ we mean the skills and behaviours you’ll need to be successful at KPMG.

There’s no single type of person who succeeds at KPMG, but we do look for people with something special to offer. We’re just as interested in other aspects of your experience and other parts of your character. Overall, we’re looking for people with a strong awareness of business, a curiosity to find out more and the ability to think of new ways to solve problems. We’re also interested in people who take pride in their work, have integrity, strive to improve themselves and can build strong relationships that bring out the best in others.

I don't meet your minimum academic requirements. Will I be rejected automatically?
No. However, our minimum academic requirements have been developed over time as a guide to how well you should be able to cope with the demands of the role, professional exams and training and, as such, they are very important in the selection process. Although, it’s not just your academic performance we are interested in, we will assess your application by combining a number of different factors including work experience and how you perform in our tests.

I was unsuccessful in my application – how long do I have to wait before reapplying?
If you are unsuccessful at any stage of the application process you are welcome to reapply when vacancies open for the following year’s graduate intake. If you applied for a vacation programme and have been rejected, you don’t have to wait a specified time before you apply for a graduate position.

What happens after I’ve submitted my application form?
You’ll receive a link to a Situational Judgement Test within one working day. Once you’ve completed this test, we’ll typically get back to you within one working day to let you know if you’ve been successful. If you have been, you’ll be invited to sit online numerical and verbal tests. Then if you pass these your application will be reviewed, after which the next stage is a digital submission.