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Commercial Awareness for KPMG Apprenticeship Applications
Commercial awareness is tested at every stage of the KPMGapplication: from motivational questions on the form through to case studies and interviews at the assessment centre. Here's what you need to know.
The Business Context
KPMG UK revenue is approximately £2.9 billion. Core service lines are Audit, Tax & Law, Consulting, and Deal Advisory. KPMG audits major UK financial institutions and FTSE 100 companies.
Key Facts to Know
Starting salary
£22,000–£26,000
Programme length
5 years
Acceptance rate
3–5%
Application window
October–February for the following September start
Commercial Awareness Questions to Prepare For
“What do you think are the biggest challenges facing KPMG in the next year?”
“Tell me something recent in the news that you think is relevant to what we do.”
“What trends are affecting our industry right now?”
“Can you explain what KPMG does in a couple of sentences?”
How to build commercial awareness fast
- Read KPMG's latest annual report introduction (10 minutes, just the CEO letter)
- Set a Google Alert for “KPMG” and read one article per week
- Read the FT, BBC Business, or The Economist for 10 minutes each morning in the 4 weeks before your assessment
- Be able to explain what KPMG does in two sentences without using industry jargon
Free prep pack
Preparing for KPMG? Get a full pack free
The full PwC School Leaver pack is free: application stages, the competencies they score, real interview questions, commercial awareness, and a pre-submission checklist. The process it walks through is close enough to the other big schemes, KPMG included, to prep you for all of them.
Want the KPMG pack specifically?
KPMG Apprenticeship Prep Pack
Application stages, competencies, real interview questions, commercial awareness, and a pre-submission checklist: in one complete pack.