What is it?

KPMG is one of the world’s largest professional services firms, with a global network spanning 144 countries. The UK firm employs about 10,000 staff, who provide audit, tax and advisory services to multinational companies, public sector organisations and private individuals. KPMG was named “The Sunday Times Best Big Company to Work For” in 2009, the third time in four years that the firm has won the award.

What graduate jobs are on offer? More then 600 graduates joined KPMG this year and the firm is expecting to recruit a similar number in 2010. There are vacancies throughout the firm in each of its main practices. Graduate programmes typically last up to three years and include training and support for relevant professional qualifications, such as ACA, CA or ICAS.

Where are the jobs?

KPMG has offices in 23 UK towns and cities, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff, Plymouth, Bristol, Cambridge, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

What’s the pay?

Starting salaries vary according to role and location — the firm describes its packages as “competitive”.

What’s the competition?

During the last recruitment round, the Big Four accountancy and professional services firms received an average of 15 applications per vacancy. Applicants to KPMG need a 2.1 degree, a UCAS tariff of 320 or more and a grade A in English and Maths at GCSE.

How is it rated?

KPMG has been at No 3 in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers for the past three years but slipped to fifth place in the latest rankings.

How do I apply?

The firm recruits year-round but fills its graduate vacancies on a first-come, first-served basis — applicants can expect a response to their application on the next working day. The majority of roles are for autumn 2010, but there are some spring start dates available, too.

Full details at www.kpmg.co.uk/careers

The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers book is based on research with more than 16,000 final-year university students. The 2009 edition is available from www.Top100GraduateEmployers.com

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