In late November last year we reported the rumour that PwC partners were facing a raft of draconian cost-cuts (in addition to those being levied against staff) in relation to the 2009 Partnership conference. An anonymous PwC spy told us at the time that partners were:

bunkered-down KPMG auditors yesterday

• opting to take a bus to the airport instead of taxis;
• flying economy instead of business class; and
• sharing bunk-bed style rooms at a budget hotel.

At the time, we speculated that the share-room set-up might prompt some partners to consider an impromptu after work game of Twister; something that could amount to a PR disaster for a firm with history in allegedly sexually harassing former employees.

Incredibly, it emerged over the weekend that rival Big4 accounting firm KPMG is allegedly currently applying very similar offensive cost-cuts at junior staff on a Queensland junket. We received the following comments from an anonymous KPMG spy on the weekend:

Whats up with the KPMG backpacker-style accomodation for audit staff? KPMG staff on a Queensland engagement have been told to share accomodation and grocery bills while working on an interstate engagement. The rationale for the decision is that expenses are not being picked up by the client, so KPMG doesn’t want to incur the usual costs associated with providing staff an acceptable standard while working away from home. The question is why is staying in a hotel an acceptable standard when a client is paying, but not when KPMG is paying? Is this a ploy to promote “male bonding” or just another case of being beaten by the tight a*se stick…

Or is it a case after-hours twister sprinkled with a little male tight-a*se stick bondage bonding? One thing is certain, it is likely not what disillusioned audit workers need to remain motivated to stay employed by KPMG when so many of their colleagues are apparently walking out the door.

Meanwhile, at the same time that the KPMG National Head of Audit Peter Nash had a brain explosion apparently sending all audit staff a picture he drew whilst thinking of ways to keep overworked staff tied to the firm (available here), came the following controversial comments from another anonymous KPMG spy:

I’m not sure if you guys have heard the brew-ha-ha in the papers about the RSPT in the past week.. I thought that it was interesting that KPMG was engaged by BOTH sides (the government and the miners) and came up with DIFFERENT conclusions depending on who was bankrolling them! Admittedly, they were two separate divisions but surely they should have some QA/Independence issue there.. or at least make sure they don’t appear to be in the pocket of their client! Way to maintain the brand, KPMG…

Yes we had heard of this remarkable story, but in the interest of keeping our noses out of the highly controversial current political landscape, we declined to investigate the issue more thoroughly. However… we have found it curious that none of the major media has to date joined the dots with Kevin Rudd’s former employement at KPMG and the curious way that the firm seems to be so successful in securing lucrative work from the federal government.

Perhaps KPMG and Krudd are in bunk-beds together?

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