Worst Decision I've Ever Made - Business Tax Services Associate KPMG Employee Review

1.0
Aug 16, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Fair opportunities to women and minorities

Cons

Poor pay, long hours, unrealistic expectations, toxic environment. The Big 4 model has long been underpaying and overworking those at the associate and senior associate positions to compensate Partners of the LP more. This results in a toxic environment in which the tone at the top is often stated with greed. The Business Tax Services unit in Houston is impressively incapable, relative to other big 4 service lines. In it, you will find unrealistic managers who do not care to assist you in your career development. Long hours are mandated (minimum weekly 55-65 hour requirements) from July - October, and many are lucky enough to also experience it from January - April. The compensation resembles that of a moderately motivated uber driver, even for those who have obtained a Master's Degree and CPA. Those who desire to leave will find out that the exit opportunities are much less fruitful than peers in Audit or Advisory. I strongly advise anyone in accounting to focus their search on those fields, or, if insistent on tax, to seek out mid-market or industry positions elsewhere. Big 4 Tax Services is a dying pit of toxicity, and KPMG is the black hole in this metaphor.

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5.0
Apr 16, 2026
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Pros

future job moves internal promotions client trust

Cons

Busy season intensity Deadline-driven stress cycles “Always on” expectations during peaks

2.0
Jun 17, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You get to work with an awesome, highly resilient group of local peers in the advisory practice. The KPMG brand still holds value, but the internal team dynamics have become incredibly fractured.

Cons

We have outsourced 80%+ of our Risk Advisory work, leaving onshore seniors with massive gaps in their experience. As a manager, I am stuck doing senior-level work because I typically have only one or zero local seniors or associates on my teams. The best leaders have already resigned because this model prevents actual management and mentoring. Also, it might take you 30+ years to become partner in Risk Advisory, if at all.

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