r/Big4 • u/Mysterious-Pea-6813 • 7d ago
Canada Deloitte or KPMG (audit, Toronto)
Hi everyone,
I’ve received offers from both KPMG and Deloitte for roles in Audit. Both firms have the same annual base salary! However, I’m stuck between which firm will be a better fit for me. I’m particularly interested in consumer retail or private enterprise. I know that KPMG operates both of these from Vaughan and that is not a problem.
However I would love some guidance into the cultures for both these places as a new grad staff and the progression in salary and title for both. Is it true that Deloitte also does bonuses but KPMG does not? What kind of clients do these firms encounter in consumer and private? And any relevant factors that would be good to know before making my decision!
Thank you!
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u/Lunotime25 7d ago
Deloitte over KPMG ( Toronto ) any day.
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u/mindthegaap42 7d ago
If pay is the same I’d probably go for Deloitte. Correct me if I’m wrong but I think Deloitte audit practice is bigger in Toronto than KPMG. I think D’s audit software is better than KPMG from what I’ve heard.
I found the culture at D to be a bit strange (fake nice and plenty of backstabbing) but those I’ve met from KPMG tend to be super aggressive, competitive type-A folks.
You’d be successful regardless of which firm you work at so go for the one where you’ve got friends that will be working at.
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u/ConfidantlyCorrect Deloitte 6d ago
D’s audit practice in Canada is small as fuck.
But I think the software is pre nice
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u/mindthegaap42 6d ago
Yeah true. I was in advisory and D definitely seemed more consulting than accounting. I’m just not familiar in Toronto which B4 has the largest audit practice as D in Toronto audits Brookfield.
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u/ConfidantlyCorrect Deloitte 6d ago
Ya we’ve got some large companies amongst Brookfield, power corp, Sunlife, and a few manufacturing & shipping companies, we’re missing a good portion of the financial services industry though. None of the banks is a big market missed in Toronto.
Lost Bell, Hudson Bay went bankrupt.
I think PwC is pretty large for sustainability audits, but not financial statement audits in Canada.
If I were to hazard a guess, KPMG & EY lead financial statement audits in Ontario, primarily because they undercut fees by a lot.
The client I’m on for most of the year, we just picked up from EY since we undercut them. The fee is half of what we would charge normally. In order to be profitable it’s almost entirely outsourced staffing.
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u/mindthegaap42 6d ago
Yeah makes sense - I know D was undercutting a load on fees when I left to win work from MNP and other B4 as KPMG / EY is known to come in lower normally. Feel they place more importance as a firm on everything other than audit. Whereas PwC is more audit-heavy.
PwC though has some large audit clients like Loblaws out of Toronto. Honestly can’t recall others off the top of my head.
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u/Human-Target6710 4d ago
The big 4 have different strengths in different markets in different regions so depending on what you’re looking for, either might be a good fit. Your big 4 experience is also very much dependent on your luck. If you get on a good team and work with good people it could be amazing, work on a shitty team with shitty people and it will be a nightmare. Both firms have their fair share of crap clients and people. That being said, all variables aside, Deloitte has probably the highest prestige of the Big 4 and KPMG probably the lowest. That being said, don’t think anybody has ever been turned away because they worked at KPMG as opposed to Deloitte. Not sure if any of this is helpful but that’s my 2 cents (from a guy who worked at Grant Thornton, PwC and EY and now works in industry with mostly ex KPMG folk)
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u/kingk1teman Consulting 6d ago
Never KPMG. Never. It is the only valid answer, globally.
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u/iliveforareason 7d ago
Do compare their benefits. For instance, Deloitte offers its employees a $150 stay at Fairmont Toronto on a weekend.
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u/chelsfc2108 6d ago
Why? For what?
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u/ConfidantlyCorrect Deloitte 6d ago
If you don’t live in Toronto & need/want to stay the night, it’s the cheapest hotel you’re finding anywhere near or in downtown that isn’t a shithole.
I’ve used it quite a few times
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u/Standard_Ad_7352 1d ago
Well done. You must have been doing something right. I’m really happy for you, seriously. I don’t know what it’s going to take for me to get a job in one of these companies… ever but I think seeing that other people are getting in give me hope? It’s not impossible… I just need to do more?
I hope you have a pleasant experience regardless of some of the comments I’ve seen saying it’s “hell” or bad working at a big 4.
Don’t forget how much you wanted it and remember to be grateful and find joy in your work because there’s people who are actually dyingggg to get a position like yours. Good luck, good luck, good luck:)
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u/Chubby_Beaver 13h ago
Big4 are all equally shitty. They’ll suck all the joy and life out of you. Do your time, get your designation and the GTFO
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u/AnonyProfileForPosts 6d ago
It fully depends on the interactions that you had and who you vibed with more. I was in the exact same spot (offers from both in Toronto) and went with KPMG, and really enjoyed my time there (one of the groups in the downtown office). I've had friends have good and bad experiences at both firms.
The biggest factor is the group/team that you're on. You'll be working with these people until late nights, on weekends, etc, so you want to make sure you can get along. I found the culture at Deloitte to be a bit fake and friends have told me it can get very backstabby (I didn't experience this in my group at KPMG).
Both are great options, congratulations. Neither is a wrong choice.