KPMG Australia has confirmed its treatment of a whistleblower and investigation into their allegations “fell short of the firm’s expectations, those of the whistle-blower and the broader community”.
The allegations relate to client documents being inappropriately shared internally. The whistleblower made three complaints, and KPMG now accepts with hindsight the initial investigation was not conducted with the necessary rigour.
A new external legal investigation into the sharing of client data is currently ongoing, after an internal investigation and external review found the complaint to be unsubstantiated.
As a direct consequence, both the CEO Andrew Yates, and national manging audit partner, Julian McPherson have now both resigned.
Yates said; “I have been committed to a speak-up culture in our firm, it is clear that in this case we have let ourselves down and I take accountability.”
The resignations follow on from the 2023 scandal where PwC shared confidential Australian government information with prospective clients.
