In September, KPMG is hosting a series of activities in universities - featuring recruitment talks and career fairs - across many Chinese cities, including Hong Kong.
Among the hundreds of new recruits, more than 300 are expected to be local graduates who will join the 2,000 that the company currently employs in the city.
The Big Four accountancy firm is looking for candidates with or without a background in accounting. "People from disciplines other than accounting may have different solutions for different situations," says Melissa Wu, partner in charge of human resources at KPMG China, which also covers Macau. "It is not necessary for applicants to have a degree in accounting as we provide a fully-paid three-month conversion course for [new] non-accounting graduates," she adds.
"Candidates who have joined our internship programmes usually have a higher chance of getting hired," Wu says.
The firm ranked second, behind Google, in Universum's 2010 index of the "world's most attractive employers" - the best position ever attained by a professional services firm. KPMG China was given by www.yingjiesheng.com - one of the most influential student websites on the mainland - the Best Employer for Graduates Award and the Best Recruitment Team in China Award in 2010-2011.
This year, the firm is using multimedia strategies to attract young talent. For the first time, a virtual career fair (vcf.kpmg.com.hk) was launched to allow students to familiarise themselves with the company. It allows students to participate in mock aptitude tests and learn more about the firm's business and selection criteria through videos and case studies. Interviewing tips are also provided.
"As we have been actively recruiting a large number of graduates every year, we have a significant proportion of young people at KPMG," says Wu. "We respect the younger generation and are keen to listen to their ideas and give them opportunities. Our recruitment motto this year is `My Future, My Say'.
"We recruit top talent, help them unleash their maximum potential by providing client exposure and an inspiring and supportive environment for them to work in," Wu adds.
New hires will be integrated into all of KPMG's functional areas - audit, tax, and advisory services.
KPMG's commitment to develop top talent at graduate level is underpinned by its member firms' offering of over 10,000 internships globally each year. Once graduates are hired full-time, member firms provide access to a number of career development opportunities. A signature people-initiative is KPMG's global mobility programme that encompasses short or long-term work assignments, from three months to three years, around the world.
China is a pillar within the firm's global strategy. As such, KPMG Hong Kong will host its 2012 KPMG International Case Competition in April to support its recruitment objectives. In addition, the firm's newly elected global chairman, Michael Andrew, has also chosen Hong Kong for his new office when he assumes duty in October this year. To accommodate more employees here, the firm is preparing to move in June 2012 from its base at Prince's Building in Central to Hysan Place in Causeway Bay.
