By Andre Atallah, CEO of EP Advisory
Graduate Tax programme · ACA, or CA with ICAS in Scotland · Offices across the UK · Autumn 2027 start
Rolling, no closing date givenClosed this yearCheck your office’s adOffice not listed? Your options
Short answer: Apply now. KPMG recruits on a rolling basis and gives no closing date. Eight Tax offices had an ad on 15 October 2026.This year’s Tax ads had closed when we checked on 15 October 2026. Use this guide to prepare.KPMG hires Tax graduates across the UK. Check your office’s ad for its closing date. You take a short quiz and fill in a form with no CV. Then come two online tests and a video interview with KPMG’s avatar Leah. Last is a half-day Launch Pad in person. KPMG sponsors visas for Tax in London only. London had no Graduate Tax ad on 15 October 2026.London had a Graduate Tax ad on 15 October 2026.London’s Graduate Tax ad had closed by 15 October 2026.Check KPMG’s site for a London ad.
Applying now?Applying next year?Applying?
Pick one office and apply. Then take the tests soon after.This year’s ads had closed when we checked on 15 October 2026. Prepare now for the next intake.Pick one office and check its ad on KPMG’s site. How to apply
Office not listed?
Try another office or a sister Tax programme, or join the Talent Community. Your options
Where are you now?
Independent guide. EP Advisory is not affiliated with KPMG.
KPMG calls Tax “a high-profile discipline and one which is constantly changing”. This guide to the KPMG Tax graduate application process uses KPMG’s own pages for every date and rule.
This playbook covers every listed office, including for international students. For nearly 10 years, we’ve helped more than 5,000 professionals get hired. Want to know if your CV will pass screening in the UK? Check your CV for free: a score in 30 seconds, then a fix for each problem.
01/10
Your route to an offer
Pick your stage and tick each step when done. Prep times are our suggestions.
1. Application: rolling, no closing date1. Application: closed this year1. Application: an online form
A job preview quiz, then a form with no CV. KPMG says allow up to 45 minutes.
2. Online tests: skills, then reasoning
An untimed skills assessment and a 36-minute cognitive test. Prep a few days.
3. Video interview: six questions from Leah
You record six answers for KPMG’s avatar Leah. Allow 40 minutes. Prep about a week.
4. Launch Pad: half a day, in person
A half day in person, with your final interview. Offers come within 2 working days.
Your ticks save on this device.
02/10
The role at a glance
Everything you need to decide, on one screen. If KPMG has not published something, we say so.
8ClosedRolling
Offices listed on 15 Oct 2026When we checked on 15 October 2026Hiring basis, KPMG says
3 years
Programme length
12 of 14
ACA exams in year one
No CV
A quiz and a form only
36 min
Cognitive test, timed
Competitive
Salary, no figure published
ACA: 6 offices
Year one is study first: “12 out of 14 ACA exams”. BPP is the tuition provider.
CA with ICAS: 2 Scottish offices
Edinburgh and Glasgow study for ICAS, with “11 out of 13 ICAS exams” in year one.
Where these facts come from
- Offices. KPMG’s vacancy search. On 15 October 2026, no ad showed a closing date.This year’s Tax ads had closed when we checked on 15 October 2026.Check each ad for its closing date.
- Programme. KPMG’s Tax programme page: “ACA or CA equivalent (Scotland locations)”.
- Pay. KPMG’s reward page says “Competitive salary”, with 25 days’ holiday.
- No CV. KPMG’s form video says “You won’t need to upload a CV”.
03/10
What KPMG Tax looks for
KPMG scores the same 12 skills at every stage. The quotes below are KPMG’s own definitions.
Career Motivation
“Why you want to work for KPMG and your chosen programme and location.”
Learning & Curiosity
“Absorbing new information and techniques quickly.”
Resilience
“Keeping calm under pressure and staying positive when facing difficulties or criticism.”
Relationship Building
“Making new connections easily.”
Effective Communication
Being able to “communicate with clarity and impact”.
Initiative
“Seeking additional work and responsibilities proactively.”
Planning & Organisation
“Setting yourself clear objectives, managing your own time and work.”
Results Focused
“Getting work done to a high standard.”
Critical Thinking
“Using it to make rational judgements and decisions”, after evaluating the information.
Inclusive Collaboration
“Fostering team cohesion, appreciating others’ efforts and actively seeking their input.”
Integrity
“Always upholding ethical standards and being trusted to do the right thing.”
Applying Expertise & Technology
“Applying relevant knowledge to the job” and the right technology.
What shapes Tax, in KPMG’s words
Constantly changingDigitisationEnhanced regulationSustainability agendaClient contact from day one
The Tax work, in KPMG’s words
- Specialisms. From “International, Business and Indirect Taxes” to People Taxes, which covers “employee reward and compliance for internationally mobile workforces, as well as supporting high-net-worth individuals and entrepreneurial families”.
- Service lines. KPMG’s Tax & Law page names “International Tax, Deal Advisory Tax, Transfer Pricing and Indirect Tax”. It also lists “Private Client Advice, Employment Taxes and Global Mobility Services”.
From KPMG’s skills page, Tax page and Tax & Law page. Grades: GCSE Maths and English at grade 5 or B, 120 UCAS points and a 2:1 in any discipline.
04/10Stage 1 · Apply
How to apply
Apply now: KPMG recruits on a rolling basis. It says some programmes “fill faster than others”. On 15 October 2026, no ad showed a closing date.This year’s Tax ads had closed when we checked on 15 October 2026. KPMG recruits on a rolling basis, so ads close when places fill. Use these steps to plan for the next intake.Check your office’s ad for its closing date. KPMG says some programmes “fill faster than others”.
1
Pick one office
One application per intake year
2
Take the quiz
A job preview, not assessed
3
Fill in the form
No CV, allow up to 45 minutes
4
Watch your inbox
The tests come by automatic invite
Tax offices KPMG listed
| Qualification | Offices listed on 15 October 2026Offices with an ad this cycle |
|---|---|
| ACA, 3 years | Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Reading |
| CA with ICAS, 3 years | Edinburgh, Glasgow |
| London | Not listed when we checked on 15 October 2026Listed when we checked on 15 October 2026Closed when we checked on 15 October 2026Check KPMG’s vacancy search |
From KPMG’s vacancy search, checked on 15 October 2026. London is the only Tax location KPMG sponsors. To hear about new roles, join KPMG’s Talent Community.
Where to apply, the rules and KPMG’s help
- Where to apply. Each office has its own ad, such as Birmingham or Edinburgh. Scottish ads say ACA in the title but train for ICAS.
- One at a time. “You can only make one application per intake year.” You cannot switch office after you submit.
- If you are rejected. “You cannot make another application until the next intake year.”
- The form. Grades, work experience and any mitigating circumstances. KPMG’s form video walks through it.
- Be accurate. KPMG checks your certificates against your form, and “your offer could be withdrawn” if they differ.
- Adjustments. Ask on the form. KPMG lists “Extra time, larger fonts, coloured backgrounds”.
- Questions. Call KPMG on 0800 328 5764, or use its contact page.
Your form answers: do and don’t
Do
“Maths (A), Economics (B), History (B), 2024”
KPMG checks your certificates against your form. Match them exactly.
Don’t
“Applied for Leeds, then asked to switch to Manchester”
KPMG cannot change your programme or location once you submit.
KPMG asks for no CV. Our CV achievement examples help you find a result for each of KPMG’s 12 skills. Getting ready to apply for jobs in the UK? Check your CV for free: see it the way a recruiter does, then fix each problem.
Save KPMG and over 2,000 other UK schemes to one free calendar. See what closes next and what you have applied to.
Track my schemes freeFree account, no card.
Office not listed or missed it? Your options
- The rule first. One KPMG application per intake year, so choose your route first.
- Another office. On 15 October 2026, Tax was listed in eight offices.This year’s Tax ads had closed when we checked on 15 October 2026.Check KPMG’s vacancy search for other Tax offices.
- Sister programmes in London. Japan Practice in Tax needs Japanese at “JLPT Level N1”. Global Mobility Services Technology trains for the ATT, a tax qualification. Japan Practice also assesses your Japanese at the Launch Pad. Need a visa? Ask KPMG if these are sponsored.
- Tax technology. Software Engineering in Tax was listed in Glasgow when we checked on 15 October 2026.had closed in Glasgow when we checked on 15 October 2026.is hired in Glasgow. Check its ad on KPMG’s vacancy search. It asks for a 2:2, with technology-focused training.
- Talent Community. For when “your preferred office location or programme isn’t available right now” (sign-up page).
- Penultimate year? The 4-week Tax vacation programme for July 2027 was listed in Glasgow when we checked on 15 October 2026.had closed when we checked on 15 October 2026.has its own ads on KPMG’s vacancy search. You need to be on track for a 2:1. It can lead to a Tax graduate role in 2028.
- Placement year? The One Year Business Placement in Tax was listed only in Birmingham and Manchester on 15 October 2026.had closed when we checked on 15 October 2026.has its own ads on KPMG’s vacancy search. It can lead to a Tax graduate role in 2029.
- Final year or graduated? KPMG’s Tax and Law Talent Insight programmes are paid and last three days. Each is “a step towards a possible Graduate offer” in the same location and business area. They were not open when we checked on 17 October 2026. KPMG says “Sign up to hear first”.They were open when we checked on 17 October 2026.They had closed when we checked on 17 October 2026.Check KPMG’s Talent Insight pages for dates.
- Does that use your one application? KPMG does not say for vacation, placement or Talent Insight. Ask its student recruitment team first.
- School leaver? KPMG’s Tax Apprenticeship runs for 5 years.
05/10Stage 2 · Online tests
KPMG’s online tests
KPMG sends two online tests by automatic invite. Tax adds no test of its own. Afterwards you get a “personalised skills feedback report”.
Untimed
Skills assessment, allow 20 min
36 min
Cognitive assessment, timed
Chrome
On a desktop or laptop
From KPMG’s application process page. The cognitive test asks you to “interpret information, complete numerical calculations and draw logical conclusions”. KPMG calls “behaviour based and general (cognitive) ability tests” the most relevant, and links SHL’s practice.
Likely SHL; KPMG does not name the product. SHL’s factsheet for Verify Interactive G+ gives 36 minutes and up to 24 questions. Those are SHL’s figures, not KPMG’s.
Step through the tests
Numerical: timed
Build the chart
Read the facts on the left, then drag each bar to the right height or type the total under it. Employers set their own version, so yours may differ.
Split the pie
Work out each share of the budget, then drag the handles round the pie or type the percentages.
Sort into order
Work out a value for each row of the table, then drag the items into order from highest to lowest.
The classic version
SHL also offers a multiple-choice version. Read the table and chart, then pick one of five answers.
Your moves
- Drill percentage change and ratios from tables.
- Read the units and the axis before you drag a bar.
Inductive: timed
Fill the next grid
Spot how the pattern moves from grid to grid, then click squares in the big grid to draw the one that comes next. Employers set their own version, so yours may differ.
Join the points
Each step adds a line. Find the rule, then drag from point to point to draw the lines that finish the sequence.
The classic version
In the multiple-choice version you see a row of figures and pick the one that comes next from five options.
Your moves
- Check one change at a time: shape, position, then count.
- Say the rule in words before you answer.
- Try SHL’s free example questions first.
Deductive: timed
KPMG says the test reviews your “numerical and logical reasoning”. SHL’s G+ includes deductive items, so expect some. You get a set of facts or rules and pick what must be true.
Your moves
- Write each rule as a short note.
- Start with the item that has the most rules.
- Check every rule again before you move on.
Skills assessment: untimed
KPMG says you “rank how you would think, feel or respond” in work scenarios. Its recruiter adds: “We recommend that you do not prepare for the skills assessment”.
Your moves
- Picture yourself at work and answer as you would really act.
- There is no timer, but KPMG suggests you allow 20 minutes.
Our own simplified drawings of SHL’s screens, not screenshots. Likely SHL; KPMG does not name the product, so your screens may differ.
For more on reasoning items, see our tips for psychometric tests.
The rules: do and don’t
Do
- Use Chrome on a desktop or laptop
- Finish each test in one sitting
- Try the practice items before the live test
- Ask for adjustments before you start
Don’t
- Use any AI tool
- Take help from anyone else
- Use other resources, such as answer packs
KPMG says to work “without the assistance of others, or any artificial intelligence or other resources”. Breaking this can mean withdrawal. KPMG adds: “We will also be re-testing elements of the online assessments.”
On the day: time, calculator and scoring
- Time to finish. Your invite gives the number of days.
- Calculator and paper. KPMG does not say. Check your invite email or ask KPMG.
- Practice. KPMG says you can try “practice tests and examples right before moving into the live assessment”.
- Scoring. KPMG publishes no pass mark.
Go further: the best outside help
Our own picks, checked on 15 October 2026. We are not linked to any of these sites and earn nothing from them.
From KPMG
- KPMG explains its two online testsKPMG UK Careers on YouTube · Jan 2026 · 3 minA KPMG recruiter explains both tests.Free
Practise
- SHL’s free practice testsSHL, the test maker · free SHL account neededThe practice KPMG itself links to.Free
- SHL’s example questionsSHL · no account neededTry numerical and inductive. Skip verbal.Free
Watch
- 15 SHL reasoning questions solved, step by stepAptitude-Test-Prep on YouTube · Mar 2025 · 54 min · the host is a JobTestPrep affiliateReasoning items in the SHL style, worked through.Free
Skip AI helpers and paid KPMG test packs. KPMG bans outside help, re-tests results and says it has no link with paid prep providers.
Next: build your speed on numbers and logic with our guide to psychometric and logic tests.
06/10Stage 3 · Video interview
The Leah video interview
You get “6 pre-recorded questions asked by our AI avatar Leah”. KPMG gives you a “set time to prepare and then record” each answer.
6
Questions from Leah
40 min
KPMG says allow this long
A person
Scores your answers
From KPMG’s application process page. Answers are “reviewed and scored by a member of our Student Recruitment team”. It checks your skills and your “motivation to join your chosen programme”.
Step through the video interview
Leah asks the question
Leah, KPMG’s AI avatar, asks one of six pre-recorded questions. This is our sketch from KPMG’s description, because KPMG publishes no screenshot.
Prepare your answer
You get a set time to think before you record. KPMG sets the time and does not publish it.
Record your answer
You record your answer on camera within a set time. KPMG does not publish the time or say if you can record again.
Six questions, then done
After six answers you are finished. A member of KPMG’s Student Recruitment team reviews and scores your answers, not the AI.
Your moves
- Use the prep time to pick one story and two or three points.
- Link each answer to one of KPMG’s 12 skills.
- Practise recording yourself first, as KPMG suggests.
Our own sketch from KPMG’s description. No real screen is public, and our Leah is a drawing, not KPMG’s avatar. KPMG sets the prep and answer times and does not publish them.
How to answer
Build each true story in four parts:
The moment
Where and when, in one line.
Your aim
What you set out to do, and why it was hard.
What you did
Your own steps, not the team’s.
What changed
The result, with a number if you can.
Reasons to have ready
Why Tax?Why KPMG?Why this office?What did you do, not the team?
See our guide on how to pass a job interview, then rehearse the toughest interview questions.
Practise: one question at a time
Motivation and drive
Our own practice prompts, built on KPMG’s 12 skills. KPMG publishes no interview questions.
Career Motivation
Why Tax, why KPMG, and why this office?
What they’re testing: your “chosen programme and location”.
Show a strong answer
- Two reasons for Tax and one for the office, each tied to something you have done.
- Name one change in tax that interests you, such as digitisation.
Resilience
Tell me about a time something went wrong under pressure.
What they’re testing: “keeping calm under pressure”.
Show a strong answer
- The setback, your next step, the result and what you learned.
Initiative
Tell me about a time you took on work nobody asked you to do.
What they’re testing: “seeking additional work and responsibilities proactively”.
Show a strong answer
- What you saw needed doing, and why you stepped in.
- What you did on your own, and the result.
Planning & Organisation
Tell me about a time you had several deadlines at once.
What they’re testing: “managing your own time and work”.
Show a strong answer
- The deadlines, the plan you made and how you kept to it.
- Year one is mostly exams, so show you can plan your study.
Thinking and integrity
Our own practice prompts, built on KPMG’s 12 skills. KPMG publishes no interview questions.
Integrity
Tell me about a time you did the right thing when it was not easy.
What they’re testing: being “trusted to do the right thing”.
Show a strong answer
- A real moment, what you did and why. Keep it honest and specific.
Critical Thinking
Tell me about a decision you made by weighing up information.
What they’re testing: “rational judgements and decisions”.
Show a strong answer
- The facts you checked, the options and why you chose one.
Learning & Curiosity
Tell me about a time you had to learn something new quickly.
What they’re testing: “absorbing new information and techniques quickly”.
Show a strong answer
- What you had to learn, how you learned it and how fast.
- KPMG calls Tax “constantly changing”, so show you enjoy learning.
Applying Expertise & Technology
Tell me about a time you used technology to do a task better.
What they’re testing: “applying relevant technology” to do the job well.
Show a strong answer
- The task, the tool you chose and what it saved or improved.
- KPMG names digitisation as a force in Tax, so this fits a Tax answer.
Your story bank: a worksheet to print or copy
Two stories per row. One story can cover two rows.
| KPMG’s skills | Story 1 | Story 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Career Motivation: why Tax, KPMG and your office | ||
| Learning & Curiosity, Initiative | ||
| Resilience | ||
| Relationship Building, Inclusive Collaboration | ||
| Planning & Organisation, Results Focused | ||
| Critical Thinking, Integrity | ||
| Effective Communication, Applying Expertise & Technology |
Go further: the best outside help
Our own picks, checked on 15 October 2026. We are not linked to any of these sites and earn nothing from them.
From KPMG
- KPMG’s guide to the Leah video interviewKPMG UK Careers on YouTube · Jan 2026 · 2 minHow the six questions work, from KPMG.Free
- KPMG’s tips for the Launch PadKPMG UK Careers on YouTube · Jan 2026 · 3 minFive tips for the final day.Free
- The 12 skills KPMG scoresKPMG Careers · with a 5 min video · no account neededPrepare one story for each skill.Free
- KPMG’s free live sessions, including TaxKPMG on Microsoft Teams · Tax 26 NovTax session ran 26 Nov · Interview Skills 17 FebInterview Skills ran 17 Feb · free registrationHear KPMG’s Tax team and ask questions, live.Check the page for new sessions.Free
07/10Stage 4 · Launch Pad
The Launch Pad and offers
The Launch Pad is “an in-person, half day event”. It mixes “assessed and non-assessed activities”, and your final interview is part of it.
Meet the team
You meet people from your business area and office, “from partners to trainees”.
Your final interview
KPMG does not publish its format or who interviews you.
An offer within 2 working days
“If successful you will have your job offer within 2 working days!”
Feedback if not
“You will be offered the option to request feedback.”
Before the day: KPMG’s own tips
- An online session first. KPMG invites you to one before the day.
- Instructions. These arrive ahead of the event, “including travel expenses and what to wear”.
- Research. Be ready for “Why do you want to work here?” and why you chose Tax.
- Your questions. KPMG says “prepare some questions to ask the interviewer”.
Launch Pad dates, 2026-27
| Date | Place |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 17 November 2026 | London, the Oval |
| Tuesday 1 December 2026 | Birmingham, NEC |
| Wednesday 9 December 2026 | Manchester, The Midland hotel |
| Tuesday 16 March 2027 | Bristol, Ashton Gate Stadium |
| Tuesday 23 March 2027 | Glasgow, Radisson Blu |
| Tuesday 27 April 2027 | London, the Oval |
| Wednesday 5 May 2027 | Leeds, New Dock Hall |
From KPMG’s application process page. KPMG does not say which offices go to which date.
When things happen: Tax, 2026-27
15 Oct 2026
Tax listed in eight offices, none with a closing date
15 October 2026
This year’s Tax ads had closed when we checked
15 October 2026
Ads checked. See your office’s ad for its closing date
17 Nov 2026 to 5 May 2027
Seven Launch Pads, from London to LeedsSeven Launch Pads under way, from London to LeedsSeven Launch Pads ran, from London to Leeds
1 June 2027
Need a visa? Last day to accept your offerVisa needers had to accept their offer by this date
08/10
Visa sponsorship
KPMG sponsors Tax graduates only in London. No London Graduate Tax ad was listed when we checked on 15 October 2026.A London Graduate Tax ad was listed when we checked on 15 October 2026.The London Graduate Tax ad had closed when we checked on 15 October 2026.Look for a London Graduate Tax ad. Check the vacancy search again before you apply.
London
Only Tax location KPMG sponsors
1 Jun 2027
Accept your offer by this dateVisa needers had to accept by this date
18 months
Graduate visa, if you apply from 2027
Our reading: if you need a visa, aim for a London Tax role. Then accept any offer early.
KPMG’s rules and the GOV.UK facts
- London only. KPMG’s international students page lists “Any Tax graduate programme based in London”.
- Accept early. Accept “at least three months prior” to starting. For the Autumn 2027 intake, accept your offer by 1 June 2027. This is the date to accept an offer, not to apply.For the Autumn 2027 intake, visa needers had to accept their offer by 1 June 2027.
- Students. Finish your course before you start. You must be free to work full-time from 1 September 2027, the programme start date.You had to be free to work full-time from 1 September 2027, the programme start date.
- Can change. Sponsorship is “subject to change with little notice”.
- Placements and Talent Insight. KPMG cannot accept visa needers where the graduate role is not sponsored.
- Graduate visa. It lasts “2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026” and “18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027” (GOV.UK).
See our guides to staying in the UK after studying and UK companies that sponsor visas. This is general information, so check GOV.UK.
09/10
Key takeaways
Before your next step
- Apply now. KPMG recruits on a rolling basis.This year’s Tax ads had closed when we checked on 15 October 2026. Prepare now for the next intake.Check your office’s ad for its closing date. Some programmes fill faster than others.
- You get one KPMG application per intake year. Pick Tax and your office before you submit.
- Year one is mostly exams: 12 of 14 for the ACA, or 11 of 13 for ICAS in Scotland.
- The tests are an untimed skills assessment and a 36-minute cognitive test. Do them alone, with no AI.
- Leah asks six video questions, and a person scores your answers. Have a clear reason for Tax and your office.
- The Launch Pad is half a day in person, with your final interview. Offers come within 2 working days.
- Need a visa? KPMG sponsors Tax only in London. No London Graduate Tax ad was listed when we checked on 15 October 2026.A London Graduate Tax ad was listed when we checked on 15 October 2026.The London Graduate Tax ad had closed when we checked on 15 October 2026.Look for a London Graduate Tax ad on KPMG’s site.
When a scheme gives a close date, we email you a few days before it closes. Save KPMG once and the reminder is set.
Set my reminders freeFree account, no card.
10/10
Frequently asked questions
How does the KPMG Tax graduate application process work?
You take a job preview quiz, then fill in a form with no CV. Next come a skills assessment and a 36-minute cognitive test. Then you record six answers for KPMG’s avatar Leah. Last is the Launch Pad, a half day in person with your final interview.
Does the KPMG Tax graduate programme have a deadline?
KPMG gives no closing date. It recruits on a rolling basis, and some programmes fill faster than others, so apply early. On 15 October 2026, Tax was listed in eight offices.KPMG gave no closing date. It recruits on a rolling basis, so ads close when places fill. This year’s Tax ads had closed when we checked on 15 October 2026.Check your office’s ad for its closing date. KPMG says some programmes fill faster than others, so apply early.
Is there a Tax-specific online test at KPMG?
No. Tax uses KPMG’s two standard tests. The skills assessment is untimed, and KPMG suggests you allow 20 minutes. The cognitive assessment is timed at 36 minutes and covers numerical and logical reasoning.
Which qualification will I study on the KPMG Tax programme?
The ACA, or the CA with ICAS in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Year one focuses on exams: 12 of 14 for the ACA, or 11 of 13 for ICAS. In years two and three you build work experience and finish your exams.
Do I need a finance or law degree for KPMG Tax?
No. KPMG asks for a 2:1 in any discipline, plus GCSE Maths and English Language at grade 5 or B and 120 UCAS points. If you are a few grades short, KPMG still encourages you to apply.
Does KPMG sponsor visas for Tax graduates?
Only for Tax programmes based in London. No London Graduate Tax ad was listed when we checked on 15 October 2026. Check KPMG’s vacancy search again.A London Graduate Tax ad was listed when we checked on 15 October 2026.The London Graduate Tax ad had closed when we checked on 15 October 2026.Check KPMG’s vacancy search for a London Graduate Tax ad. If you need sponsorship, accept your offer by 1 June 2027. This is the date to accept an offer, not to apply.Visa needers had to accept their offer by 1 June 2027.
