KPMG vs Deloitte

KPMG and Deloitte are considered two of the Big 4 consulting firms, with the other two being PwC and EY. The Big 4 terminology stems from these firms’ extensive background in the accounting space. Specifically, they are the four accounting firms with the most amount of revenue. To read more about the Big 4 firms, please see this article here. These firms also have extensive consulting offerings, with Deloitte focused more on strategy consulting whereas KPMG focuses more on implementation consulting.

This article will compare and contrast the differences and similarities between each firm. Areas the article will cover include: salaries, differences in exit opportunities, and how to land a role with each firm.

KPMG vs Deloitte: Differences & Benefits Of Each

KPMG and Deloitte are two of the four Big 4 consulting firms. As such, they have some distinct similarities in terms of having a client-oriented role where you can build out your consulting toolkit. Specific skills you will learn at both KPMG and Deloitte include:

1. Qualitative reasoning skills
2. Quantitative skills
3. Client communication skills
4. Problem solving skills
5. Client management skills

In addition, both of these firms are considered large consulting firms. They both have a global presence, so regardless of where you are geographically located (or want to be located), they can both be great fits.

There are, however, a few key differences between the firms.

Type of Work

Deloitte (especially the Strategy & Analytics team) is more focused on strategy projects whereas KPMG is more focused on implementation projects. Deloitte may be a better fit if you are looking for shorter, blue sky-type projects. For example, how can your client double its revenue in 7 years? On the other hand, KPMG is more focused on implementation projects. This could be a good fit if you want longer-term projects that focus on how projects are executed.

Culture

Deloitte is composed of people that are driven, kind, and intelligent (not unlike other consulting firms). KPMG is also composed of smart, nice people but is less agile than Deloitte. KPMG is known for having a better work life balance than Deloitte.

Salary

See the next section for more details

Deloitte vs KPMG Salary

Per Management Consulted’s salary report here, consultants at Deloitte make more than consultants at KPMG. The salaries are as follows:

Out of undergrad:

Deloitte Consulting:

• • Base: $88,000-95,000
  • Total cash: Up to $95,000

Deloitte S&A:

• • Base: $100,000
  • Total cash: Up to $100,000

KPMG:

• • Base: $78,000-90,000
  • Total cash: Up to $90,000

After MBA:

Deloitte S&A:

• • Base: $175,000
  • Total cash: $218,750

KPMG:

• • Base: $145,000
  • Total cash: Up to $162,400

Can You Move From One To The Other?

Generally, it is relatively easy to move between Deloitte and KPMG. The reason why it is relatively easy to move is the firms are both highly regarded consulting firms that teach you the consulting toolkit. However, Deloitte is generally considered more prestigious than KPMG, and, as such, it is easier to move from Deloitte to KPMG than vice versa.

That being said, working at one firm does not give you an automatic pass to move to the other firm. Instead, you still need to be able to do an A+ job and clearly articulate why you want to make the switch and what makes the other firm enticing.

​​What Are The Differences In Exit Opportunities?

Given both KPMG and Deloitte are well known firms, they both give you a heads up when looking for exit opportunities. Exit opportunities you can expect from both firms include:

• Business school
• Working at another consulting firm (e.g., Accenture, Oliver Wyman)
• Moving to industry

Generally, if you are looking for a strategy and operations roles, working at Deloitte will set you up better than working at KPMG. This is because Deloitte tends to have more pure strategy projects that lend themselves to strategy & operations roles. As such, hiring managers may think the skills you gain in projects are more transferable to future roles.

How To Land A Role With Each

The process to land a role with each firm is relatively similar given each firm is a prestigious consulting firm. Specifically, to land a role at KPMG and Deloitte, you need to be able to ace your case and fit interviews. Throughout the interviews, it is important to:

• Have a clear, concise story around why you want to work at KPMG or Deloitte
• Show second-level critical thinking skills
• Show strong qualitative and quantitative analysis skills
• Be articulate throughout

To read complete guides on fit interviews and case interviews, please see this article and this article, respectively.

Conclusion

Therefore, KPMG and Deloitte are two of the Big 4 consulting firms. While they are both considered prestigious firms, Deloitte is more known for its strategy work other than KPMG. As such, Deloitte S&A’s salaries are usually higher than KPMG and exit opportunities are more likely to be in strategy & operations. To succeed in getting into these firms, it is important to do an A+ job on your fit and case interviews. Specifically, you need a clear articulation on why you want to work at these firms. If you are looking to prepare for a KPMG or Deloitte interview with an ex-MBB consultant, please click here.

 

Additional Resources:

• Deloitte Case Interview
• KPMG Consulting Interviews and Culture
• Top Consulting Firms of 2023
• Case Interview: Complete Prep Guide