This Month
Speedboats v cargo ships: AI engineers are shaking up consulting
Businesses are deploying highly specialised in-house techs to help extract value from their AI investments, bypassing the traditional approach.
The future of consulting: Fewer staff, but same deliverables
Delivering a project with less than a quarter of the people - if you use AI agents. Plus: Hackers expose McKinsey’s IT flaws and a new tax leaks fine for PwC.
PwC deploys AI to slash consulting delivery times
The big four consultancy is expanding its use of artificial intelligence to supercharge efficiency and ward off competition from a host of industry newcomers.
Chartered Accountants paying thousands to ‘teach themselves’ revolt
Last week’s exam blow-up has led to questions from accountants-in-training about what, exactly, they’re paying for. Plus: the Luke Sayers saga continues.
Roll up, roll up! Horizon Nexus heads north for PKF carve-out
PKF Brisbane’s five equity partners, led by managing partner Liam Murphy, have agreed to divorce from the global network.
Finance warned KPMG over cheating disclosure
How did the government find out about the cheating scandal? In the AFR, of course. Plus: with apologies to real programmers everywhere, I vibe coded an app.
KPMG executive assistants get the overseas trip from hell
It’s hard to pick whether the destination or the purpose of the trip is worse.
‘Eyes wide open’: Female founders swap safety for satisfaction
These women had their pick of traditional careers but chose to make something entirely of their own.
Australia’s newest consultancy is here. Big four need not apply
As AlixPartners opens in Australia, its chief here tells us what he’s looking for. Plus: how the industry’s doing on the pay gap, by the numbers.
Bain struggles to walk the talk
The only thing worse than the consulting group’s stubborn gender pay gap is its silence on the issue.
PwC leads big four firms in race to close gender pay gap
Big four consulting firms Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC now have gender-balanced workforces of at least 40 per cent at every income level.
February
A degree is ‘not enough’ to get hired in consulting
Accenture says it needs a “degree plus” – and of course it’s plus something AI. Also: suburban accountants say they are carrying the can for big four misconduct.
Deloitte tells staff to stop uploading confidential data to ChatGPT
In an extraordinary email, the firm said the audit division was “considerably out of step with the rest of the firm” when it came to protecting information.
‘Nousferatu’ double-dipping in uni clients’ blood
The self-described “ethical” consultancy has made a pretty penny advising the government on higher education reforms, then charging unis to help navigate them.
Boss of New York firm raiding Sydney rejects ‘eat what you kill’ label
Alvarez & Marsal is here to take the Australian consulting business by frontal assault. Plus: another AI startup that reckons it can replace consultants.
KPMG takes Las Vegas during troubled times
Self-styled leadership conferences usually involve some aggrandising. But even then, it’s a push for the big four consultancies to paint themselves as winners.
KPMG partner fined for using AI to cheat – on an AI test
More than two dozen KPMG Australia personnel have also used artificial intelligence to cheat on internal exams since July.
Alvarez & Marsal plots major expansion with big salaries – and demands
The global advisory firm came to Australia in 2023 and has plans to keep hiring and increase revenues rapidly even as the industry’s biggest players shrink.
Alvarez & Marsal ‘vikings’ come for Australia’s consulting giants
Bryan Marsal has plenty to say about the New York-headquartered firm’s local prospects. Just don’t suggest it’s an “eat what you kill” operation.
Luke Sayers’ medical issue blamed for photo scandal
Just when we thought the saga couldn’t get more tawdry, it has.
