The UK firm of KPMG, one of the Big Four, whose global network is headquartered in London. It runs apprenticeships in audit, tax, consulting and technology from 18 UK offices.
KPMG is one of the Big Four accounting firms, the four largest in the world. It checks company accounts (audit), advises on tax and legal matters, and gives business advice (consulting) on areas such as technology, risk and change. The letters stand for Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler, the names of the firms that merged to create it.
Its roots include Marwick, Mitchell and Co (New York, 1897) and William Barclay Peat and Co (London), which merged in 1925, and the modern KPMG was formed in 1987. KPMG International is an English company based in London (15 Canada Square). Jon Holt is group chief executive of KPMG in the UK and Switzerland, whose two firms merged on 1 October 2024. Wikipedia reports 275,288 employees across 145 countries in 2024, though we did not find a current UK-only headcount. The careers site lists 18 UK offices plus Gibraltar, from Aberdeen to Southampton.
KPMG's stated purpose is "to be trusted to make the difference for our clients, people and the communities we work in". In its January 2026 results announcement it said its strategy centres on long-term, sustainable growth supported by investment in technology, AI and its people. That announcement also described a new UK and Switzerland exchange programme.
KPMG's work falls into audit, tax and legal, and advisory. Clients range from large listed companies to public bodies. We did not find named clients or projects in the sources we read. For young people the most useful detail is its training routes, which include apprenticeships in Audit, Technology and Engineering, Consulting, Tax and Law, and Business Administration, plus work experience for Year 13 students.
Apprentices at KPMG earn while they learn and can reach the same professional qualifications as graduate colleagues, with study time and a tutor. A Tax and Law apprenticeship advertised in Glasgow in September 2026 was a five-year programme through AAT Levels 3 and 4 and then the ACA (the main chartered accountancy qualification, or the Scottish CA equivalent), with study delivered by BPP and ICAS. That listing gave a salary of £25,500 to £28,000 depending on programme and location. It asked for five GCSEs at grades 4-9 (or five National 5s in Scotland) including English and Maths, and 120 UCAS points from your best three Level 3 grades, though KPMG says it uses contextual recruitment for applicants slightly short. Graduate routes lead to ACA, ICAS or CIMA qualifications. The application has four stages: an online application, two online assessments, a video interview and a half-day in-person Launch Pad. Requirements differ by programme, so check the KPMG careers site for current details.
Website: kpmg.com/uk/en.html
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