KPMG
KPMG interview process in India: aptitude and communication tests, group discussion, technical and partner rounds, plus questions for audit, tax and advisory.
- 5,315 open jobs
- 1987 founded
- ~12,000 - 13,000 employees in India
- Amstelveen headquarters
About KPMG
KPMG is one of the Big Four professional services networks, with member firms in more than 140 countries and around 275,000 people. It provides audit, tax and advisory services, including deal advisory, risk consulting, management consulting and technology consulting.
In India, KPMG operates through KPMG Assurance and Consulting Services and its affiliated entities, with offices in all major cities, and through KPMG Global Services (KGS) in Bengaluru, Gurugram, Kochi, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Noida and Kolkata. KGS supports KPMG member firms worldwide with audit support, tax, advisory, technology and business services and is one of the network's largest delivery centres. Together they employ well over 50,000 people in India.
KPMG hires chartered accountants and CA articleship trainees, graduates from commerce, engineering and management institutes, and experienced professionals across audit, tax, deal advisory, risk, technology and ESG. It looks for integrity, analytical thinking, strong communication, adaptability and a collaborative approach to client work.
KPMG hiring process
1. Application
Apply on the KPMG India or KGS careers portal, through a campus placement drive or via referral. Campus hiring takes place through the year at CA institutes, commerce colleges, engineering campuses and B-schools; lateral roles are posted continuously. Tailor your CV to the specific practice you are applying to.
2. CV screening
Recruiters shortlist on qualification, academic record, relevant articleship or work experience and skills. Audit and tax roles prefer CA, CA Inter, CMA and commerce backgrounds; advisory roles look for MBAs, CFAs and domain experience; technology and KGS roles often ask for specific tools such as SAP, Oracle, Power BI, Python or cloud platforms.
3. Online aptitude and communication test
Most campus and early-career candidates take an online assessment with quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning and verbal sections, and often a technical or domain section. A spoken English or communication assessment, similar to a versant-style test, is common for KGS client-facing roles because teams work with member firms abroad.
4. Group discussion or case study
Campus candidates typically take part in a group discussion on a business or general topic. Advisory and consulting applicants may instead receive a short case to analyse and present, either individually or in a small group.
5. Technical and managerial interviews
One or two interviews with a manager, associate director or senior team member, each 30 to 45 minutes. Audit interviews cover Ind AS, auditing standards and articleship work; tax interviews cover direct and indirect tax; deal advisory interviews cover valuation and financial modelling; technology interviews test the relevant stack; risk consulting covers internal audit, SOX and controls.
6. Partner or director interview
The final interview is with a partner or director, focused on motivation, integrity, client readiness and long-term fit with the practice. It is usually short but carries significant weight.
7. Offer and onboarding
Offers are typically released within one to three weeks, followed by document verification and background checks. Campus hires join in batches with induction and mandatory compliance training.
KPMG interview rounds
KPMG India and KGS follow a similar sequence, with KGS adding a communication assessment and India client-facing roles weighting the partner round more heavily.
Round 1: Online aptitude and domain test
60 to 90 minutes, online, with sectional cut-offs. The domain section depends on the role you applied for.
- Quantitative aptitude: percentages, ratios, profit and loss, data interpretation
- Logical reasoning: series, puzzles, syllogisms and arrangements
- Accounting, auditing and tax multiple-choice questions
- Coding, SQL or ERP questions for technology roles
Round 2: Communication assessment
15 to 20 minutes, usually automated, testing spoken English fluency, pronunciation, listening and sentence construction. Common for KGS roles that interact with overseas KPMG teams.
- Repeating and completing sentences
- Answering short open-ended questions verbally
- Reading a passage aloud
Round 3: Group discussion or case study
15 to 25 minutes in groups of eight to twelve, or a 30 minute case for advisory roles. Assessors look for structure, listening, quality of points and how you build on others' contributions.
- Topics on the Indian economy, ESG, digital transformation or ethics
- A case on cost reduction or entering a new market
- Analysing a simple financial summary and recommending actions
Round 4: Technical interview
30 to 45 minutes with a manager or associate director. Questions come from your qualification, articleship or projects and the practice's core work.
- Ind AS 115, Ind AS 116 and revenue and lease accounting
- Audit risk, sampling, materiality and internal controls testing
- GST, TDS, transfer pricing and international tax basics
- DCF valuation, comparable analysis and financial modelling
- SAP, Oracle, data analytics or cloud fundamentals for technology roles
Round 5: Partner or director interview
20 to 30 minutes on your motivation for KPMG and the practice, career goals, ethical judgement and awareness of current business and regulatory developments.
Round 6: HR discussion
A short conversation on designation, compensation, location, notice period and joining date.
KPMG salaries
| Designation | Average salary |
|---|---|
Intern / Trainee Experience: 0 yrs |
₹ 3 L /year ₹2,50,000 – ₹3,50,000 |
Analyst / Associate Experience: 0 – 2 yrs |
₹ 6.5 L /year ₹5,50,000 – ₹8,50,000 |
Senior Associate / Consultant Experience: 2 – 5 yrs |
₹ 13 L /year ₹11,00,000 – ₹16,00,000 |
Specialist / Subject Matter Expert Experience: 4 – 8 yrs |
₹ 19 L /year ₹15,00,000 – ₹24,00,000 |
Manager Experience: 5 – 8 yrs |
₹ 28 L /year ₹22,00,000 – ₹35,00,000 |
Senior Manager Experience: 8 – 12 yrs |
₹ 42 L /year ₹33,00,000 – ₹52,00,000 |
Figures are estimates based on typical market ranges for this role and sector, not company-published pay. Actual offers vary by location, skills and negotiation.
KPMG interview questions
Role-by-role question sets for KPMG. Pick the role you are interviewing for.
Audit & Assurance
Advisory / Consulting
Tax and regulatory services
Risk Consulting
KPMG interview FAQs
Q1How many rounds are there in the KPMG interview process?
Freshers usually go through four to six stages: an online aptitude and domain test, a communication assessment for KGS roles, a group discussion or case study, one or two technical and managerial interviews, a partner or director interview and an HR discussion. Experienced hires typically skip the tests and group discussion and have two to three interviews plus HR.
Q2How long does the KPMG hiring process take?
Campus drives are often completed within one to three weeks, sometimes with all rounds on a single day. Lateral hiring at KPMG India and KGS generally takes three to six weeks depending on partner availability and how many candidates are being interviewed, with document verification and background checks following the offer before the joining date is confirmed.
Q3Why KPMG and not another Big Four firm?
Give reasons tied to the practice you are applying to, such as KPMG's strength in a particular sector, its investment in audit technology and data analytics, or the global exposure available through KGS. Connect these to your skills and goals. Avoid comparing firms negatively; interviewers want evidence of research and genuine interest rather than a ranking of employers.
Q4What are the key steps in a DCF valuation?
Forecast free cash flows for an explicit period, usually five to ten years, based on revenue growth, margins, capital expenditure and working capital assumptions. Estimate the discount rate, typically the weighted average cost of capital, and calculate a terminal value using a perpetual growth or exit multiple method. Discount all cash flows to present value and adjust for net debt to reach equity value. Mention sensitivity analysis on growth and discount rate.
Q5Tell me about a time you identified an error or control gap and what you did.
Use an example from articleship, an internship or a project where you noticed an inconsistency in data, a missed reconciliation or a weak process. Explain how you verified it, whom you escalated to, and how it was corrected or documented. KPMG values professional scepticism and integrity, so emphasise that you raised it promptly and objectively rather than working around it.
Q6What is the starting salary at KPMG India and who can apply?
Fresh chartered accountants joining audit or tax at KPMG India typically receive 7 to 11 lakh rupees CTC, commerce graduates in KGS roles typically start between 3.5 and 6 lakh rupees, and MBA or engineering hires in advisory and technology commonly start between 6 and 14 lakh rupees depending on the institute and practice. Eligibility generally requires a relevant degree or professional qualification with a consistent academic record and no active backlogs.
Quick facts about KPMG
- What international experiences can I gain through KPMG careers?
- KPMG careers offer opportunities to work internationally through global mobility programs. These programs are designed to help you gain exposure to global markets, work with international teams, and understand diverse business environments.
- How does KPMG foster innovation within its careers?
- KPMG careers are enriched by a commitment to innovation, where employees are encouraged to engage in initiatives like KPMG's Innovation Labs and Ignition Centers. These platforms allow you to work with emerging technologies and develop solutions that address complex business challenges.
- What types of client engagements could I be involved in early in my KPMG career?
- Early in your KPMG career, you might be involved in auditing financial statements, assisting with tax compliance and advisory services, or contributing to consulting projects that address strategic, financial, and operational issues for clients across various industries.
- What corporate values does KPMG emphasize in its careers?
- KPMG careers are built on a foundation of strong corporate values including integrity, excellence, courage, together, for better. Candidates are expected to embody these values and demonstrate a commitment to ethical professional practice.
5,315 open jobs at KPMG
Apply on Jobaaj, and use this guide to prepare before your first round.
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