KPMG Senior Associate Interview Questions & Reviews

Interview Details – The hiring process was straight forward. There were 3 interviews with senior management. The interview was at a very high level. There is a lot to take in for a firm that has so many employees.

Interview Details – You should realize that the recruiting, assessment, and selection process is decentralized and stratified at the very least by campus and experienced hires per service area Audit, Tax, and Advisory and then again per Management, Risk, and Transactions and Restructuring, and then again per practice area. Each may have its own standard (or not) process. You should also not, there may or may not be a specific job opening, position or role and I had a very hard time clarifying that.

I can't remember but I think I applied to an online posting. I was contacted by a contract recruiter, who I didn't know at the time was sourcing other positions for herself which caused a huge break in continuity in my process. I believe she was trying to do the right thing but was bound by the constraints surrounding her in terms of position, level, salary and namely engagement project in need of staffing.

I had a recruiting interview where I was told they were indeed actively looking for candidates for positions to fill but also for a big picture fit (turns out no one downstream could actually speak to the specifics of what exactly that meant). There was never an actual job, level, project or hiring manager identified so it made the process very nebulous (which, if you are in that business, you know its completely ineffective).

I had two phone interviews from a manager and senior manager (who's title is now a Director). I was flown in for two onsites, with a friendly, pleasant managing director, and was scheduled to meet with the partner (the one in charge though unfortunately I did not find that out until way too late). He no showed and no called. Then AFTER an offer was actually presented, I was told I had another interview with an engagement employee who needed staff. When I asked if this person could maintain input power for the job or only the project resources, I was sideswiped and told to take the interview seriously???

All the interviews were unstructured and more conversational. Easy to control and navigate, especially having experience as a targeted behavioral interviewer, though the climate, culture and actual work was not represented accurately. The major problem was the timing. I had successfully completed the process and told an offer was in the making. This took over a month and in the meantime had foolishly turned down another offer for a similar job with a competing firm as I was told this was the most people focused firm of the big four (big lie). I was strung along, to keep warm and interested, and when push came to shove started looking for other jobs. When I was finally made an offer a month later, a completely unreasonable start date was posed (at the time I had filled out the application, the date I noted for availability was no longer valid) I was expected to relo (unpaid) 350 miles and start in 10 days.

I was met with irritable resistance and complexity when attempting to negotiate a more appropriate date given the circumstances. I stood my ground and when it was finally worked out, onboarded though scheduled for and attending orientation, was told I was expected to be on client site. I again stood my ground (if you don't get orientation opportunity, you better forget it will ever happen--there are a gazillion new employee requirements and tons of "training") and instead of the project waiting another day (orientation was 2, and I only found out on day 2 I was expected elsewhere but not told) they never-minded me. Super childish and unprofessional however, to my benefit because I explicitly stated that I knew of an engagement (this one) in NB, NJ that would NOT be a good match for me and if they were sourcing for that project, it would be more appropriate for me to self select out. I had to dodge that project 2 more times before I got assigned to it 9 months later. A huge thorn in my side and one I never got over given how dysfunctional I knew the project was.

At the end of the day, I was very sorry I took the job

Negotiation Details – Arduous. I had stated up front that I was looking for 6 figures and when asked what's the lowest in the 90s salary I would accept (???? who says this) said 99 (of course). Negotiating the start date was even more of a nightmare given they provided only 10 days from written offer for a no relo job 350 miles away, I stood my ground on ample notice since I was willing to withdraw my acceptance.

Interview Details – The overall hiring process was very quick and straight forward. (Unlike several other firms who made me jump through hoops - hours of personality testing, which makes me think culture fit is all they seem to care about...how is that good for the client? ) At KPMG's management consulting business,I had one interview with HR recruiter, one interview with a Director over the phone and two in-person interviews. Each interview lasted only 30 minutes. Overall it was a positive experience. The people seem to know what they are doing and what/who they are looking for.

Negotiation Details – Was required to put in my last salary in the formal application, which made me uncomfortable because I did not want to minimize my starting salary. They came in with a few thousand more than my previous base and I negotiated and was given more. I had 3 more interviews lined up with other potential employers so I felt I was in a comfortable place to negotiate.

Interview Details – Interview process was quite quick and painless. I had an initial phone interview with national hr rep then local hr rep then a half hour 1:1 with partner and half hour 1:1 with senior manager. I received an offer within the next couple days. They were able to beat a counter offer from another firm and accepted.

Negotiation Details – They were very accomodating as far as negotiating. I advised them I had 2 other offers on the table and they were able to beat both and I'd accepted. My recommendation is to not be intimidated to negotiate an offer. If you are the right fit, they will renegotiate to get you an offer.

Interview Details – Initial screen by a recruiter who contacted me and set up meeting for the following week . Met with Senior Manager and Partner. Discussed the opportunities available to me and the potential clients I'll be working with. Very professional and personable on both interviewers, genuinely seemed interested in where I can fit in and what they can provide and help with in career progression. After interview told that I would hear back within a week. I was contacted 1 week later for additional information and waited another week until the hiring manager called and informed me that I got the position.

Negotiation Details – No room for negotiation.

Interview Details – One on-campus interview by a Director - mostly behavioral to assess organization fit
One onsite technical interviews by a Manager
One onsite case interview with a Senior Manager

The onsite interviews were supposed to be the final rounds. Then I waited for almost a month. When I called them up to check the status, they said that I have another technical interview (telephonic) with a Principal.
After that interview, they took about two weeks to get offer approval and finally made an offer. I was told that the offer was the starting salary at Senior Associate level and since I had a lot of relevant experience, I can negotiate. When I negotiated, they said they can't increase the salary.

Interview Details – Very good initial experience, process was very smooth with multiple rounds of telephonic interviews which were HR, manager level, director level. Then came the face to face round and back ground check with the HR. After this came the HR round and the negotiation process. Once the negotiation process was completed and a background check was done, the offer was rolled out through e-mail. On accepting the offer, an employment contract was drafted with the terms and conditions that needed to be signed for. Work culture is very formal, need to dress in a tie with business formals. Offices are well done up on par with most big organizations in view of the facilities available.

Negotiation Details – Yes, but not much. If you have offers from other competitors, they would negotiate for the best that they can offer.

Interview Details – "KPMG Pulled a Bait n Switch"

I was contacted by the recruiter who found my resume online. After the preliminary interview over the phone, i was recommended to interview with a Senior Manager over the phone. The timeline between first contact with the recruiter and the phone interview with Sr. Manager is about 15 days.

Following the phone interview i was asked to come in for a face to face interview with 2 Sr. Managers and 2 Partners at the local office. The interviews were scheduled for half an hour each.

After the interviews, the following day the recruiter called me to say right now they would like to keep the door open for me, as the projects they are bidding on might not start for the next couple of months, BUT,"In the meantime if i would like to Join them at an Associate level position with a salary cap of 60K".

Just a background, the recruiter already discussed the salary for the Sr. Associate level position at 100K+, i have over 6 years of experience and i hold two graduate degrees.

This BAIT N SWITCH displays the lacks of integrity and morals in my opinion, and not only that, an attempt to be disrespectful to the interviewing candidates.

KPMG expects people to work 50-60 hours a weeks, they will bill their clients anywhere between $80-$120/hr and are offering less than $25/hr is shear disgust.

Reason for Declining – KPMG pulled a Bait n Switch on me, i am looking to enhance my career and not put it in a reverse gear!!

Interview Details – Applied via KPMG website. Interview consisted of HR screening, 2 interviews with Sr. Managers and one with partner. Asked many questions about previous work expierence and why the switch to consulting.

Negotiation Details – Room to negotiate