KPMG Reviews in Chicago, IL Area

Pros

Strong benefits package
Work/life balance
People
Location
Paid time off

Cons

Lack of defined growth opportunities
Moderate compensation
Poor bonus structure

Pros

ability to influence decisions, develop client relationships, lead engagements, name on resume, working on becoming more of a management consulting organization as opposed to a bunch of audit people pretending like they're consultants

Cons

public accounting rules limit management consulting effectiveness, conservative accounting culture struggles with management consulting business to grow business, accounting culture allows partners to be promoted without leadership, industry depth, book of business, or competency in skill areas (strategy, operations, technology)

Advice to Senior Management

watch who you promote, cultivate people to be able to fill the higher roles and let them know what your plans are for them, hold partners accountable for their performance. also, reward your managers and directors who have been loyal to the firm for 7-10 years instead of leaving them at a pay disadvantage relative to the market

Pros

Big 4 experience is valuable.

Cons

Long hours, high attrition, not so competitive pay

Pros

Big 4 firm; large organizational structure to feel that you can find the right places and people to get things accomplished

Cons

Lack of SAP implementations going on which were promised during the interview process; lack of real-time feedback provided; lots of downtime since a lot of SAP projects not supported

Pros

The network of people and knowledge you have access to both within and outside of the firm.

Cons

Limits on investment opportunities and long hours.

Advice to Senior Management

Make salaries more than just 'competitive'; be known as at or near the top rather than just 'competitive'.

Pros

- you learn a lot of stuff with variety of clients
- definitely a good place to start off career
- if you don't mind some extent of traveling and commuting, then it's great!

Cons

- Depending on teams, some people don't care about your work-life balance.
- Didn't enjoy all the commutes and unpredictable schedules

Advice to Senior Management

Be more efficient with the amount of time spent on client site
Planning is hard but I do believe it can be better planned with your resources

Pros

Flexibility in time and location for doing work, Not a face-time place, Client and engagement diversity keeps it from being monotonous

Cons

This is not a 40 hour a week and totaly disconnect when you are at home company. They treat you like a professional but with that comes the expectation of acting like one and putting clients needs ahead of you own at times.

Advice to Senior Management

Need more recognition of individual effort. Raises and bonuses are tightly banded so the difference between a "star" and average is currently minimal.

Pros

Great group, boring work if you get stuck on the same clients year in and year out

Cons

overtime, travel, low salary in public accounting

Advice to Senior Management

none

Pros

Great opportunities to grow and advance. Close interaction with clients. Wonderful people.

Cons

Work life balance is not promoted.

Pros

-Good name on my resume
-They pay for your meals as you work at the client 16 hours per day

Cons

-Pay is horrible compared to both hours work and industry.
-Everyone keeps finding a new job leaving jobs further understaffed
-Most small firms have technology lightyears ahead of KPMG
-Ethics of Partner's and Sr. Managers are questionable at best.
-Work Life balance doesn't exist. We would understand if you actually paid us decent money, but during bust season I make $12 an hour for someone with a masters and 3 years experiance.
-Chicago office makes worst of the Big4 reputation true.
-The smartest leave as seniors, leaving the least compentent to manage the firm.
-Seniors make little more than associates, but basically run the whole audit.
-Client locations are often an hour commute, maing 16 work days even longer.

Advice to Senior Management

-Pay raises. Everyone is looking for new jobs (that's not an exageration eveyone of my friends here are speaking with recuiters).
-Hire more people. We know that audit fees are declining, but either loose a bid, or take the cut out of your draws, we can't work any longer or more efficiently (esp when you impose an inferior tool like E-audit on us).
-Worry about keeping Seniors and managers at the firm before brining in new people. We need more seniors and have been expected to do far more than anyone is capable, but for the same insultingly low wage.