Big Four firms focus on recruiting grads for consulting divisions

An increase in graduate recruits within the Big Four accountancy firms invariably means larger numbers within volume (and more boring) areas like audit. This year, however, this is not the case.

Graduate numbers are indeed greater at Big Four firms this year, and audit is included in this increase, but there's also a focus on bumping up this intake in consulting and advisory divisions.

Research from High Fliers released in June suggested that accounting and professional services firms have increased their graduate intake by 30.9% this year on 2009 levels. This isn't too far off the mark within the Big Four.

KPMG's graduate intake has increased from 600 last year to 820 in 2010 and PricewaterhouseCoopers will be taking on 1,100 - including 100 new advisory roles. Looking ahead, 2011 also looks good, with Ernst & Young increasing graduate recruitment by 30% to 900, while Deloitte is planning on hiring 1,100 (this figure is usually closer to 1,000).

Amanda Burt, head of graduate recruitment at KPMG, says: "The biggest increase in 2010 has been in our advisory functions - particularly performance and technology and risk and compliance - which have ambitious growth targets over the next two years. We've also increased numbers in transaction and restructuring."

Part of the reason for this push in KPMG in particular may be its lofty ambitions to treble consulting revenues to 600m and steal a march on its Big Four competitors.

However, other firms are also focusing on this area. A spokesperson for PwC tells us that 2011 grad numbers are yet to be confirmed, but that "consulting will be a big focus for recruitment again for 2011. We've got ambitious growth targets in this area."

Similarly, a Deloitte spokesperson says next year's increase will be "predominantly in our technology and consulting areas".

Despite the increase, you can expect competition for places to be tough. KPMG says it receives on average 14,000 applications for its graduate vacancies, while High Fliers figures say there's 15 applications per vacancy.

"Do not wait until the world tells you the graduate market is picking up, in fact things aren't as bad as they have been made out to be," says Sarah Shillingford, graduate recruitment partner at Deloitte. "Not applying for graduate positions because the jungle drums aren't telling you to could lead to missed opportunities."