20 KPMG Interview Questions and Answers

KPMG is a professional services firm that provides audit, tax, and advisory services to clients. The company has more than 700 offices in 147 countries and employs over 207,000 people.

When it comes to interviewing for a job at KPMG, there are a few things you can do to prepare. First, research the company and familiarize yourself with its values, culture, and structure. Next, review common interview questions and practice your answers. Finally, take some time to reflect on your own experience and qualifications so you can be ready to discuss why you’re the best candidate for the job.

While there are many different types of questions you could be asked in an interview, there are a few that are specific to KPMG. Here are a few examples:

– What do you know about KPMG? – Why are you interested in working for KPMG? – What do you think makes KPMG unique? – What qualifications do you have that make you a good fit for KPMG? – Can you share a time when you had to deal with a difficult situation? – Can you share a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer? – Can you

KPMG Interview Process

The interview process at KPMG is long, difficult, and overall not a great experience. It can take up to two months to hear back from the company after applying, and the interviews themselves are very challenging. Many of the questions are behavioral and require you to give specific examples from your past work experiences. The interviewer will also ask about your motivation for wanting to work at KPMG and why you think you’re a good fit for the position. Overall, the interview process is very competitive and stressful, and it’s not uncommon for candidates to be rejected even after multiple rounds of interviews.

1. What do you know about KPMG?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your knowledge of KPMG and how you feel about the company. It also gives them an opportunity to share more information with you if they think it’s necessary. To answer this question, research KPMG thoroughly and discuss what you’ve learned in relation to the position you’re applying for.

Example: “I know that KPMG is one of the Big Four accounting firms in the world. I’m impressed by the fact that it has been named as one of Fortune’s ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ for 19 years in a row. I also understand that KPMG offers many different services, including assurance, advisory, tax and transaction services.”

2. What is your salary expectation?

Employers ask this question to make sure you are in line with the salary range for the position. They also want to know if your expectations are reasonable. Before your interview, research what others in a similar role earn. You can find this information on job search sites or by talking to people who work at KPMG. When answering this question, be honest about your experience and qualifications. Explain why you feel you deserve that amount of money.

Example: “I am currently making $50,000 per year as an accountant. I have five years of accounting experience and two years of public accounting experience. My education is up-to-date, and I have passed all necessary exams. I believe my skills and experience make me worth $60,000 annually.”

3. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?

Employers ask this question to see if you have a long-term career plan. They want to know that you are committed to their company and will be there for the long term. When answering, make sure to show your commitment to KPMG and how you can grow with them.

Example: “I would like to stay at KPMG for many years. I am very passionate about accounting and finance, so I hope to continue working in these fields. In five years, I would love to be an accountant or financial analyst. I would also like to become a CPA by then. In 10 years, I would like to be a partner of the firm.”

4. Why are you interested in joining KPMG?

This question is an opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the company and its values. It also gives you a chance to talk about what attracted you to this role in particular. When answering, it can be helpful to refer to something specific that drew you to KPMG.

Example: “I am interested in joining KPMG because of the firm’s reputation as one of the top accounting firms in the world. I have always been drawn to innovative companies that are leaders in their industry, and I think KPMG fits that description perfectly. Another reason I am excited to join KPMG is because of the company’s commitment to diversity. As someone who has worked with diverse teams before, I know how important it is to hire people from different backgrounds and experiences.”

5. Walk me through a time where you had to work under pressure or tight deadlines. How did you manage it?

This question is a great way to show your ability to work under pressure and how you can manage it. When answering this question, be sure to highlight your skills of time management and organization.

Example: “In my current role as an accountant, I have had to work under tight deadlines before. One example was when we were working on our client’s tax returns for the year. We had to submit them by April 15th, but there was one client who hadn’t submitted their information yet. I worked with my team to get all the other clients’ tax returns completed so that we could focus solely on the late client. By doing this, we were able to submit the final tax return in time.”

6. Tell us about an innovative solution that you created for a client and how you went about implementing the idea.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and how you can use them to benefit clients. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight the positive impact that your idea had on the client or company.

Example: “At my previous job, I noticed that one of our clients was having trouble with their budgeting process. They were spending too much time trying to create reports for their board members, so they weren’t able to spend as much time analyzing their financial data. I suggested using an automated reporting tool that would allow them to generate reports in real time. The client loved the idea and implemented the new system, which saved them hours each week.”

7. Describe a time when you effectively responded to a challenging situation with a difficult person. What was the situation and what approach did you take?

This question can help interviewers understand how you respond to conflict and challenges in the workplace. Use your answer to highlight your problem-solving skills, communication abilities and ability to work with others.

Example: “In my previous role as a financial analyst, I worked with a team of five other analysts. One of my colleagues was consistently late for meetings and often missed deadlines. At first, I tried to be understanding about his situation, but after several weeks, it became clear that he wasn’t going to improve his performance. So, I scheduled a meeting with him to discuss his progress. He admitted that he had been struggling with some personal issues and promised to do better.”

8. Give an example of a project that you worked on, from start to finish, that didn’t go as planned.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and how you can adapt to unexpected situations. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight the steps you took to overcome challenges and achieve success in the end.

Example: “In my last role as an accountant, I was working on a project that required me to create financial reports for a client. The client had requested that we send them their financial information every week instead of once a month. After sending the first report, they contacted us requesting more detailed information about certain transactions. We were able to provide the additional information without any issues. However, when we sent our next report, the client again asked for more details. This time, however, there wasn’t enough information to provide what they needed.

I immediately called the client to discuss the issue. They informed me that they hadn’t received the previous report yet. I apologized for the oversight and assured them that the report would be in their inbox by the end of the day. Luckily, I was able to find the missing information and send it out before the deadline.”

9. Do you have experience working internationally? If so, tell us about some of the most interesting things you’ve done while overseas.

This question is a great way to see if you have the experience working internationally and how you handle it. If you don’t have international work experience, you can talk about your willingness to travel for work or any other relevant experiences that are similar.

Example: “I’ve had the opportunity to work abroad twice in my career so far. The first time was when I worked with an accounting firm in London. It was interesting to learn the differences between U.S. accounting practices and those of the United Kingdom. My second experience was when I worked with a small business in Germany. While there were some similarities between German accounting practices and American ones, there were also many differences. Overall, both experiences helped me develop my knowledge of international accounting.”

10. What kind of hours are you used to working? Are you able to travel often?

KPMG is a global accounting firm, so employees often travel for work. The interviewer wants to make sure you’re comfortable with this aspect of the job and that you have experience working long hours or traveling frequently. If you don’t have any experience doing either, explain what kind of commitment you can offer in terms of time and effort.

Example: “I’m used to working long hours, but I also know how important it is to take breaks throughout the day. In my last position, I would start work at 8 am and leave around 6 pm, unless there was an urgent deadline. I’m happy to do the same here if needed, although I understand that sometimes we need to stay later than usual.”

11. What makes a great leader?

KPMG is a large accounting firm that works with many different clients. As such, they need employees who can work well as part of a team and also lead others when necessary. A great answer to this question shows you understand what it takes to be an effective leader. You should describe the qualities of a good leader and how those apply to your own skills and experience.

Example: “A great leader has several important qualities. They are able to communicate clearly and effectively with their team members. They also have strong problem-solving skills and make decisions based on facts rather than emotions. Finally, they are empathetic and treat everyone fairly. I believe these are all traits I possess. Throughout my career, I’ve always strived to help my colleagues succeed and learn new things.”

12. What qualities should one look for in finding a good auditor?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the industry and how you can apply it. When answering, consider what qualities you look for in an auditor and why they are important.

Example: “A good auditor should be highly organized, detail-oriented and able to work under pressure. Auditors must also have excellent communication skills as well as strong math and analytical abilities. These characteristics allow auditors to perform their job effectively and efficiently while maintaining high standards.”

13. Describe a time when you were faced with a challenge at work and what steps you took to overcome it.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and how you can overcome challenges. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight the steps you took to solve the issue and what you learned from the experience.

Example: “At my previous job, I was tasked with creating an audit plan for one of our clients. The client had many different departments that they oversaw, which made creating the audit plan challenging. To create the best audit plan possible, I met with each department head to learn more about their operations. This helped me understand the company better and allowed me to create a thorough audit plan.”

14. Have you ever felt uncomfortable with any aspect of an audit?

This question is an opportunity to show your critical thinking skills and how you use them to solve problems. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of a time when you felt uncomfortable with the results of an audit and explain what steps you took to resolve the situation.

Example: “In my first year as an auditor, I was assigned to review the financial records of a small business owner who had been accused of embezzling funds from his company. The evidence we found during our investigation seemed to support these claims, but I couldn’t help feeling that something wasn’t quite right. So, I decided to spend some extra time reviewing the documents and discovered that the business owner’s wife had taken out several large loans in her husband’s name without his knowledge. He didn’t know about the money she borrowed because he kept all of their finances separate.

I reported my findings to my manager, and they were able to convince the client to admit to the charges. As a result, the case was closed, and the business owner avoided jail time.”

15. What types of industries have you worked closely with?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your experience and how you apply it in different situations. Your answer should include a list of industries you’ve worked with, along with examples of how you helped those companies succeed.

Example: “I have worked closely with many types of businesses, including retail stores, restaurants and small-business owners. In my last role as an accountant, I assisted a local restaurant owner by helping them understand their financial statements and providing advice on how they could improve their business practices. This led to increased sales and overall success.”

16. Can you talk about a time when you disagreed with a manager but handled the disagreement professionally?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle disagreements and challenges at work. Use your answer to show that you’re willing to voice your opinion, but also know when it’s best to compromise or collaborate with others.

Example: “In my last role as an accountant, I disagreed with a manager about the way we were calculating our client’s financial statements. The company was in the process of going public, so I knew this disagreement could have serious consequences if not handled properly. I met with my manager one-on-one to discuss my concerns, and he explained his reasoning for doing things differently. After hearing his explanation, I realized there wasn’t much room for compromise on either side, so I agreed to follow his lead until after the company went public.”

17. Tell me about a time when you motivated your team members to reach their goals.

This question can help the interviewer determine how you motivate others and your ability to lead a team. Use examples from previous work experiences where you motivated your team members to complete projects or meet deadlines.

Example: “At my current position, I have a team of five accountants who are responsible for completing audits on time. In this role, it’s important that we’re all working together to ensure our clients receive their reports in a timely manner. When I first started at KPMG, I noticed some of my colleagues were taking longer than usual to complete their assignments. So, I met with each accountant individually to discuss their progress and find out what they needed to be more productive.”

18. When reviewing financial statements, which areas would you look for red flags?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of financial statements and how you would use them in the workplace. When answering, it can be helpful to mention specific red flags that indicate a company’s financial health may not be as strong as it appears.

Example: “When reviewing financial statements, I look for any areas where there are discrepancies between different reports. For example, if one report shows a company has $100,000 in revenue but another says they have $50,000, this could be a sign of fraud or mismanagement. Another thing I look for is whether companies are reporting all their expenses. If they’re missing some expenses, it could mean they’re inflating their profits.”

19. How familiar are you with international tax laws?

KPMG is a global accounting firm, so it’s likely that you’ll be working with clients from all over the world. The interviewer wants to make sure you have experience with international tax laws and regulations. Use your answer to highlight any specific knowledge or skills you have in this area.

Example: “I’ve worked with several multinational companies throughout my career, so I’m quite familiar with international tax laws. In fact, I helped one of my previous employers navigate through some complex tax issues when they were doing business in Europe. I also took an online course on international tax law last year, which has given me even more insight into how these laws work.”

20. Would you consider yourself more of a big picture person or a detail oriented person?

This question is designed to determine how you approach your work and whether you would be a good fit for the KPMG culture. Your answer should show that you are both detail oriented and able to see the big picture, which is an important skill in accounting.

Example: “I am definitely more of a big-picture person. I find it easy to get lost in details, so I prefer to focus on the overall goals and objectives of projects rather than the minutiae. However, this doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy working with numbers or doing detailed research. In fact, I find it quite enjoyable when I can use my knowledge of the big picture to help me understand the smaller details.”