Live, Learn, Discover, Achieve
Gen Y-ers in KPMG talk about what makes them tick, why this generation fits into the new role of accountancy, and why KPMG is the place to be.
 What is it that all fresh graduates already know and that all big organisations shell out a lot of money to find out?
We Gen Y-ers have been called many things. Entitled. Narcissistic. Scarily tech-savvy. Addicted to Facebook. It would seem that the range of characteristics we exhibit go from the very bad to the very good, all of which may be true. But amidst it all, one thing stands out: we know what we want from an organisation and we are not afraid to demand it.
So, in choosing a future career, it is no wonder that many of us look at how well an organisation integrates its younger workforce into the overall picture – something KPMG has proven itself adept at doing, having recently been ranked No.3 among Malaysia’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers.
The New Vanguard of Accountants
It wasn’t too long ago that the mention of ‘accountants’ conjured up an image of number-crunchers buried under an avalanche of ledger sheets. Admit it: most of us grew up with this image.
But the simple fact of evolution has seen the landscape of the profession change dramatically and in exciting ways. Social media and alternative information platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, have revolutionised the way businesses are run. Business leaders today see accounting professionals taking the front role in navigating the increasing complexities of the corporate world, deriving fresh models and sourcing stimulating new markets.
All of which, needless to say, Gen-Y is positioned to excel at. The question is, why?
KPMG Staff Partner Siew Chin Kiang says, “Accountants have always been at the heart of value creation and preservation. Gen-Y is strategically positioned to excel in this brave new world of accountancy because of the very characteristics that they are often criticised for. They are opinionated and unafraid to challenge the status quo, which can be a good thing for the organisation as it paves the way for innovation and progress. They are at the forefront of their organisations, this new visionary vanguard of accountants.”
Gen-Y and the KPMG Difference
The central question still remains: what can KPMG do for your career?
“Being able to put KPMG on your résumé certainly opens up a huge range of opportunities. This is why so many fresh graduates choose to launch their careers with us. While the traditional go-to areas to begin a fresh career have always been in Audit or Tax, I find that more and more graduates are opting to start their careers in our Advisory department,” says Siew.
In terms of career planning, graduates at KPMG Malaysia are encouraged to use the ‘Me, Myself and I’ concept.
“This is all about understanding your own strengths and inclinations, and maximising them. Just as in football, where you have different players in different positions according to their strengths, I often tell graduates that the best advice I can give them is this: play to your strengths. Never select a career based on what everyone else is doing or what others say is good for you. Only you can decide what is best for you.”
That’s one to remember at Friday night futsal, boys!
“The Gen-Y phenomenon is really very interesting. You are the lucky generation to reap the benefits of a truly globalised world and it’s no wonder that so many of you demand mobility and flexibility from a job. That is why KPMG has programmes in place that offer overseas work placements and training. We understand that as fresh graduates, it is one of your top priorities to see as much of the world as you can and we can definitely help you do that.”
We Gen-Yers are often said to be a very demanding bunch. At this, Siew smiles. “While it is true that our young workforce can be quite a handful at times, I definitely do not think they are overly demanding. One of the admirable hallmarks of your generation is that you expect a lot more than simple professional success from a career. It is quite a good thing that this generation is starting to think more about doing meaningful work and demanding that organisations match them in values, principles and priorities.”
“To that end, KPMG in Malaysia is extremely active when it comes to corporate social responsibility initiatives and other activities. It is a joy to see our Gen-Y employees throw themselves wholeheartedly into activities like community service and environmental drives. We certainly do our best to keep you guys happy and fulfilled.
“Having said that, in KPMG, it is our priority to ensure you receive rigorous training and develop knowledge and experience that will help you maximise your potential in every way. Our graduates are carefully groomed to be versatile, knowledgeable and all-rounded individuals.”
A Career in Advisory: Is it for You?
Excited about working in KPMG, but have no background in accountancy? Siew says KPMG can offer you a career in Advisory that will put you on the fast-track to the good life.
“Graduates are surprised when we tell them that we frequently hire people from non-finance or accountancy backgrounds. Our HR department keeps diversity and breadth of experience in mind when recruiting, and we hire graduates from backgrounds as diverse as economics, marketing, management, IT and law. They join us in our Advisory divisions to deliver solutions that enhance our clients’ operational performances.
“Aside from that, HR often looks for graduates who have unique stories to tell; perhaps those who have travelled independently or completed unusual internships. Our clients today operate in complex business environments and they require us to support them in broader roles which entail a breadth of knowledge outside the traditional fields of accountancy.”
What’s the Verdict?
KPMG staffers share their experiences working for the accounting giant.
“In Financial Risk Management (FRM), you will encounter all manner of work pertaining to financial institutions. We carry out strategic planning, modelling, validation and all sorts of financial risk management. We get a lot of support from other KPMG member firms whenever needed, and this is an invaluable part of the global KPMG network. In just four months, I have worked with two experts from Australia and this has really helped to improve my knowledge.” - Associate, Financial Risk Management
“I remember the essay question I was given during my second interview with FRM. For a fresh graduate, the question was mind-blowing and totally unexpected. I decided then and there that if this was an indication of how challenging a career with FRM would be, then yes, this is the job for me! My tenure in FRM has shown me that if one is willing to work hard and exhibit tenacity, critical thinking and innovation, the opportunities and exposure are boundless.” - Associate, Financial Risk Management
“As an advisor in our Mergers & Acquisitions practice, you will be advising clients on a full range of transactions, including disposals, acquisitions, management buy-outs, mergers, fund-raising and strategic reviews. You will be given the opportunity to be involved in building, understanding and communicating the outputs of a variety of methods, including discounted cashflow models, leveraged buy-out models, precedent transactions and comparable company metric valuations. If all this sounds interesting and exciting, I can assure you that KPMG is the right place to begin your career.” - Manager, Transaction Services
“KPMG’s IT Advisory practice helps bridge communication gaps between business executives and IT professionals. Our people utilise a powerful combination of technical skills and business experience to deliver maximum value to clients. In today’s increasingly digitalised environment, the reputation and longevity of a business is impacted significantly by the strength of its security, privacy and business continuity mechanisms. Public confidence in an organisation can be quickly destroyed by widely publicised scams and frauds. We, as security professionals, help put vital processes and controls in place to manage these risks.” - Director, Information Technology Advisory
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