In this episode of What I Learned in Business (That Didn’t Kill Me!), James Stewart sits down with Andrew Yates, CEO of KPMG Australia, to explore what it really takes to lead one of the country’s largest and most scrutinised professional-services firms.

Andrew oversees more than 10,000 people including c.800 partners across Australia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji, and manages some of the most complex audit, assurance and advisory relationships in the country, including Westpac, ANZ, Macquarie Bank, Qantas, IAG, Sydney Airport, Perpetual and the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Before stepping into the CEO role, Andrew led KPMG’s national audit and risk consulting practice, worked in Hong Kong and New York, and guided audit engagements at the highest levels of corporate Australia. On Day 1 as CEO, he made headlines by introducing 26 weeks of fully paid parental leave for every new parent, signalling a bold stance on culture, inclusion and purpose.

In this candid conversation, Andrew and James unpack:

• Andrew’s early years, his love of cricket — and the truth behind his nickname “The Kettle”
• How his international experience shaped his leadership philosophy
• The transition from audit leader to CEO in a partnership model where you lead your peers
• The inside story of managing culture and cohesion across a 10,000-person organisation
• How KPMG responded to the PwC Australia tax scandal and the sector-wide scrutiny that followed
• The heavy regulatory environment the Big 4 operate in — including Royal Commissions, Senate inquiries, ASIC oversight and global regulators
• The future of audit vs non-audit services, and the UK’s “operational separation” model
• The impact of AI and emerging technologies on professional-services firms — structurally, commercially and culturally

A wide-ranging conversation with a leader who “likes to bowl straight at the stumps,” this episode offers a rare, inside view of the pressures, decisions and opportunities shaping the future of the professional-services industry.

Disclaimer.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individuals involved and do not represent the views, positions or policies of any organisations they are associated with, including KPMG Australia.

Nothing in this episode is intended to constitute financial, legal, professional or other advice. Listeners should seek their own independent advice relevant to their circumstances. All discussion is for general information and educational purposes only.

Connect.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jameshstewart

Website: www.jameshstewart.com

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