KPMG celebrates its skilled migrant workers as borders threaten to close once again

Accounting and consulting firm KPMG has been spotlighting a number of its young professionals in a series on career pathways, including some of its recent arrivals from Europe, Africa and Asia.

KPMG has been one of the strongest corporate voices in recent years on reforming Australia’s skilled migration regime to help address the country’s chronic shortage of accounting and audit professionals, especially in the wake of the closed borders during Covid-19.

More broadly, in its submissions to parliament, the firm has argued the various benefits to the Australian economy through increased skilled migration. But now, ahead of the federal election, the opposition has vowed to slash Australia’s intake by 45,000 people in just its first year in power.

In an unrelated series of posts, KPMG’s careers team has been highlighting a number of the firm’s recent overseas arrivals from all over the world, providing an insight on the benefits of skilled migration from an employee and company perspective as de facto country ambassadors.

Sweden

One of KPMG’s more recent arrivals is assistant audit manager Linnéa Green, who joined the firm in Sydney at the beginning of last year after kicking off her audit career with three years at PwC in her home nation of Sweden. Keen to explore a different lifestyle, Australia was particularly appealing for its abundant nature and comparatively good weather.

“On a personal level, my move to Australia has been great, but on a professional level it’s given me a lot of opportunities,” Green said, urging others considering such a move to just go for it. “It was tough at the start, as you’re basically relearning different processes and ways of working, but the team has been very welcoming and I have a great support network around me.”

Holland

Also arriving from colder climes, but still inexplicably choosing Melbourne, was Dutch native Adriaan De Wit, a member of a fourth-generation family business “passionate about flower bulbs” who instead turned his hand to finance and accounting and is now an assistant manager at KPMG in Australia, after first joining the Big Four firm in its global Amstelveen headquarters in 2019.

He said; “The most rewarding aspect of my experience since making the big move from KPMG in the Netherlands has been the opportunity for personal and professional growth through diverse experiences and challenges. The smooth transition facilitated by KPMG’s support network, including assistance with immigration and integration, has enabled me to hit the ground running.”

For anyone doubting the cultural aspects, De Witt continued; “Living in Melbourne has allowed me to embrace a new culture, enjoy and engage in local sports like footy and the F1, and I am about to compete in my first triathlon – something I certainly would never have taken up if I hadn’t been here. I’ve also attended a wedding in Darwin, and seeing that part of Australia was magical.”

Ghana

Another assistant manager in KPMG’s audit division in Sydney, Desmond Baah arrived downunder in 2022 after completing a business degree at Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (since complemented by a resources masters with the University of East London) and then joining the country’s capital city office in Accra three years earlier.

Speaking on the transition, Baah said, “I’ve found KPMG Australia to be a great place; people accept you regardless of your background and culture. The global mobility team was pivotal and made the whole process so smooth. They were fantastic in addressing my questions from flights and transport through to securing an apartment, and I was also assigned a buddy when I arrived.”

Vietnam

Huy Nguyen joined KPMG’s insurance division in Sydney in mid-2022 after previously being recruited to the Big Four firm’s office in Hanoi on the completion of an economics and finance degree in Vietnam in 2018, before later being seconded to KPMG’s Cambodian practice. He likewise cites the benefits of being part of an international firm and getting global exposure.

“Having that initial experience in Cambodia was really beneficial for my development, both personally and professionally. Experiencing a new culture opens so many possibilities and challenges that stretch how you think as everything around you is different. It’s not just those technical skills that you gain, it’s the soft skills you need in life.”