KPMG’s Consulting Business Dies Dramatically While Staff Take a Hike

KEY POINTS

•KPMG Australia announced a 5% workforce reduction on August 17, cutting 27 partners and 360 employees due to economic and scandal pressures.
•Since March 2026, KPMG has faced whistleblower allegations over misuse of confidential client info used to win audit bids, triggering leadership resignations.
•John Sams, appointed CEO in late July, warned economic growth will remain subdued until at least 2028 amid the ongoing parliamentary inquiry.

In what’s either a dark comedy or KPMG’s audition for ‘Corporate Fails: The Sequel,’ Australia’s 10,000-strong powerhouse with 600 partners just dropped 387 employees including 27 partners. Their consulting arm shriveled 16.9% faster than a sunscreen in Darwin’s sun, triggered by their whistleblower info-leak scandal that tanked trust and pushed top brass like CEO John Sams (appointed late July) and his mates out the door. Meanwhile, down in the US, KPMG already shed 400 consulting souls earlier this year. Economic growth? Sams predicts a patience-testing ‘subdued’ wait until 2028 while parliament keeps grilling them, as whistleblowers gleefully dial in with more dirt.