A motivated and talented workforce is a priceless commodity, and KPMG knows just how valuable its people are.

The firm provides audit, tax and advisory services through 22 offices across the UK. “All we are is people and clients. Good people win good clients. If you want to attract good people you have to treat them like grown-ups,” explains chief executive officer John Griffith-Jones.

At KPMG being an adult means strong working and social relationships among teams and with managers, together with career development, stimulating work and the flexibility to enjoy a rewarding home life.

The company has stepped up its employee focus recently in line with the changing landscape of its work. “Our business is very competitive and there’s not much that differentiates us from our competitors except for our people,” says Griffith-Jones.

<!--var randomdate=new Date();var randomtime=randomdate.getTime();var randomnumber=randomtime;document.write('<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript" SRC="http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/adj/business.timesonline.co.uk/best100companies;pos=middle1;com=jwt;sz=300x250;ord=' + randomnumber + '?">');-->

Company values have been formalised into the “KPMG way” and the company records an 85% positive score for belief in those values, the highest in our survey. A “management for excellence” scheme has entrenched personal development and employees here think their job is good for their own personal growth (scoring 82%). Progress is supported with mentoring and training, which staff say helps them (80%).

“Out of the box” assignments are given to those who have been at the firm a number of years (1,510 people have more than 10 years’ service) and are moving up to partner level. These usually mean working either for KPMG abroad or for a client’s company.

Departments have a strong social identity. “I really enjoy the company of the people I work with,” says accountant George Butterworth.

Thanks to impressive growth last year, which saw pre-tax profits soar to £307m, the company’s profit share pool reached £58m, to be divided among employees.

A flexible benefits package includes the chance to buy up to 35 days’ additional holiday per year, on top of the regular 25. Unpaid leave of between three months and three years is available to those with at least two years’ service, making it possible to realise personal ambitions without compromising on professional ones.

Explore Best 100 Companies

• Best 100 Tables