I will start with the positives first: - HR was able to organise an on-site interview at relatively short notice, especially during the busy Christmas period. - The interview was conducted on time and calm and friendly. A pleasant experience. Now onto the negatives: - I applied for the 'Analyst' position but was curiously put forward for the 'Assistant Manager' vacancy, despite only having about 50% of the skills of the listed for the analyst job, let alone the more senior role. - My first interview was stated as a one hour technical phone call. So I took a whole morning off work. Turns out it was only a 20min preliminary chat for the interviewing manager to tell me about the role. If I had known this I wouldn't have booked a morning off work. - I asked whether I would be reimbursed travel expenses ( a considerable cost as well, about £60 in petrol). This email was ignored not even a polite 'no, unless you make the final round'. Or something to that effect. - I was considering other job opportunities during this process so I was in need of a relatively quick progression through each stage. The interviewer informed me he would make a decision that very afternoon of the interview; however I was not given a reply (a rejection as well) until 3 weeks later! (I was told that the interviewer was annual leave) - During the rejection phone call I was given the feedback that I did not have broad enough experience for the Assistant Manager position. Well duh, that why I applied for the analyst role. Nevertheless I took the feedback onboard and I then emailed HR back to see if I would be considered for the more junior role that I had originally applied for. As with the travel expenses, no reply, not even a courtesy, "thank you for your continued interest in KPMG, but on this occasion we will not consider you for the analyst position". In summary KPMG really need to improve their communication with candidates. It genuinely felt like I was called in just to make up the numbers with no intention of ever being offered a job.

(1) Chat with HR, (2) telephone interview with mid level staff, (3) in person tests plus interview with senior staff (half day in total) All parts of the interview contained a mixture of technical questions covering excel, VBA, SQL and general finance knowledge. The test covered all of the aforementioned skills.