Awards 2007: Global Firm of the Year

Sponsored by RBS

Winner: KPMG

KPMG is this year’s recipient of the Accountancy Age Global Firm of the Year
Award. The firm, which in the past year saw global revenues increase 14% to
£1.45bn, has demonstrated some remarkable performance achievements. But fee
growth certainly hasn’t been at the expense of innovation or commitment to staff
wellbeing.

Revenues across all areas of business have grown in the past year, from a
modest 2% in audit to £421m, to a staggering 33% in forensic, up to £40m. The
company, which today audits more listed companies than any of its competitors,
now boasts 15 of the top 50 London hedge funds among its clients and, in terms
of numbers, has done more deals than its competitors.

Meanwhile, the groundbreaking creation of KPMG Europe, formed through the
merger of the UK, German and Swiss firms, is set to create the single largest
accounting practice in Europe, with unrivalled access to a larger talent pool
for clients, new and increased sources of income, not to mention a decrease in
overheads.

At the same time, it is the first firm to set up Audit Response Teams – a
pool of talent deployed rapidly to enhance client teams on any non-audit
business. As a long-time advocate of corporate social responsibility, KPMG has
created a Carbon Advisory Group to help client organisations measure and reduce
their carbon footprints.

The judges said: ‘KPMG showed phenomenal client development that made for
significant achievements. They have moved to a new structure and showed examples
of new services, innovation and great customer delivery. This is a firm
demonstrating what it means to lead as a global player.