KPMG Australia chalks up $1.64b revenue

KPMG Australia has chalked up $1.64 billion of revenue for the past financial year, up 9.4 per cent, continuing a trend of strong growth for services firms across the country.

The 7000-strong accounting and consulting practice says it also had record intakes of graduates and partners over the year as it moved to meet continuing strong demand, particularly for management consulting services.

And the firm also remains on the acquisition trail, snapping up another four practices this year.

Gary Wingrove, who was reappointed this year as chief executive, said the acquisitions contributed a small but growing part of the firm’s offering.

“Clients are trying to drive growth against a backdrop of threats and challenges with leaders being measured on their ability to deliver transformation,” Mr Wingrove said.

Management consulting was the business’ fastest growing sector with the biggest demand in customer consulting, business transformation and people and culture practices.

KPMG also merged its assurance and risk consulting business and chalked up various audit wins, including with Anglo-Australian mining titan Rio Tinto. It was reappointed as the external auditor for Suncorp and the Reserve Bank.

Chair Alison Kitchen said the firm made progress on its 30 per cent target for female partners: 25.5 per cent of the 533 Australian partners are women. It has also made its first external board appointments, hiring former Optus and Crown executive Martin Dalgliesh, former Freehills litigation partner Sarah Dunn and technology consultant Julian Edwards.