Average to poor company but good social life - Pensions Investment Advisory KPMG Employee Review

2.0
Sep 3, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

One of the partners in the business is one of the most respected consultants in the world (and a great guy too!). Good benefits and social life. Don't have to work if you don't want to (like if you're preparing for interviews, or if you've had a heavy night).

Cons

The head of my department reminded me of David Brent. Except after he'd had a few drinks. Then he was more like Andy Gray. He was a HR disaster waiting to happen. He thought he was adored, but I rarely heard anyone say anything good about him. He talked a great game but he had no idea what he was doing, either as a manager or as an investment professional. KPMG is purely sales focused. Partners are rewarded for increasing revenue (not profits or quality of work) and are not remotely concerned with anything else. This flows through the company. Everyone is focused on doing what they need to do in order to get promoted. Clients are merely a means to this end. Promotions are done on a "first-come-first-served" basis. There is no distinction for ability or performance. You take your ticket and wait to be called. Predictably, the business has lost a lot of talent as individuals have passed their exams and moved on. KPMG is an audit firm and you will be rewarded in line with the performance of the audit business, irrespective of how your business has done. Excellence does not exist in KPMG (one or two individuals excepted).

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5.0
Apr 16, 2026
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Pros

future job moves internal promotions client trust

Cons

Busy season intensity Deadline-driven stress cycles “Always on” expectations during peaks

2.0
Jun 17, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You get to work with an awesome, highly resilient group of local peers in the advisory practice. The KPMG brand still holds value, but the internal team dynamics have become incredibly fractured.

Cons

We have outsourced 80%+ of our Risk Advisory work, leaving onshore seniors with massive gaps in their experience. As a manager, I am stuck doing senior-level work because I typically have only one or zero local seniors or associates on my teams. The best leaders have already resigned because this model prevents actual management and mentoring. Also, it might take you 30+ years to become partner in Risk Advisory, if at all.

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