You should be talking about KPMG’s training center, but you might not be. We’ll provide the reasons why you should be.
Reason 1
This could change the Big 4's FutureBig 4 Training Changes
This could change the future of big 4 accounting firms training. In the past, you had to go to boring old hotels to get your training, but now you will go to a training center built by KPMG. This shows that KPMG is willing to invest in their people and their training. That is a step in the right direction
Reason 2
The Training Center Is Near OrlandoBenefits of Orlando
Orlando has great weather all year round. This means that you can relax any time of year while attending training. You won’t have to look outside at huge piles of snow while attending training.
Reason 3
This Shows That KPMG Cares About Their EmployeesKPMG Cares
KPMG was already the best big 4 accounting firm to work for according to Fortune. This investment in their people will no doubt help that ranking. Building a huge facility that is employee oriented shows that KPMG cares about their people.
Reason 4
The Pictures Of The Facility Look AmazingAmazing Pictures
Check out KPMG’s press release to see the pictures of the new training facility
The pictures in that press release make the training facility look amazing. Hopefully it turns out to be that cool once it is complete.
Reason 5
There Will Be An Innovation CenterInnovation Center
The facility will have an innovation center that will be built to facilitate team creativity and collaboration. This sounds like a great place for employees to innovate and collaborate together without being judged in a stuffy hotel conference center. Conference centers are conducive to feeling innovative, but this training center will be.
Reason 6
800 Single Occupancy RoomsDid you say Single Occupancy?
There are 800 single occupancy rooms. Single occupancy? Wow. sounds great. You don’t have to shack up with someone you don’t know anymore.
Reason 7
There are Many Dining OptionsMultiple Dining Options
Multiple dining options on site is great. You don’t have to be at one of those mega resorts in the middle of nowhere without dining options. The big 4 usually make you hire a cab, call an Uber, or get on a bus to go off site for dining options. Now you will have multiple options on site.
Reason 8
There are Recreational FacilitiesRec Facilities
There will be recreational amenities onsite as well. This won’t be your boring old hotel gym. There will be a fitness facility, hiking and biking paths, a softball field and a volleyball court. If you want to connect with your colleagues over fitness activities, this is a great option that KPMG is offering.
KPMG Orlando Training Facility Details
KPMG announced in 2017 that they will be building a state-of-the-art training facility in Orlando, Florida. The facility is slated to open in 2019.
They will be building a 55 acre campus in the Lake Nona area.
This training center will be a facility to foster learning, development and innovation. This supplements KPMG’s already impressive learning programs.
The center is being designed by Gensler which is a New York based design and architecture firm.
All the big 4 accounting firms have really strong training programs, and they frequently send their recruits to nationwide trainings.
Similar programs from other Big 4 Accounting Firms
PwC has the Discover program for senior associates. This is where senior associates go to a resort in California to learn how to be leaders.
Deloitte has Deloitte University. Deloitte University is a 700,000 sq ft center that cost Deloitte $300 million.
KPMG’s training center is 800,000 sq ft and cost $430 million.
What the center aims to accomplish
The center will focus on anticipating and understanding emerging trends in accounting and other lines of service.
Technical Specs of the facility
800 rooms
A fitness center
An outdoor recreational facility
Multiple food and beverage venues
80 full time employees to work at the facility
Estimated to cost KPMG about $430 million
Statements from KPMG
At KPMG, we’re passionate about developing our people and creating growth opportunities for them. This facility is a significant investment that will ensure our partners and professionals continue to have access to leading-edge learning and development opportunities to enrich themselves, stay connected to our inclusive, innovative culture, and remain equipped to deliver the highest quality in this fast-changing marketplace. Delivering a world-class training experience also is an investment in our ability to attract and retain the best talent.
Our center will be the cornerstone of our learning and development strategy, which will continue to blend in-person training and virtual options. It will give our partners and professionals the benefits of alternating between classroom and field-like training environments for an experience that is interactive, innovative, and collaborative.
Statements from Orlando Community
Lake Nona has become an economic engine for our entire region. KPMG’s learning, development and innovation facility will build upon Lake Nona’s development success, creating more new jobs for Floridians and bringing a continuous economic boost to our community.
Orange County is extremely pleased to join in announcing KPMG’s decision to build their new, innovation-driven global training center in Central Florida, and I look forward to bringing this proposal to our Board of County Commissioners for their consideration later this month. This project includes 80 high-wage jobs, as well capital investments of more than $400 million. KPMG executives from across the nation will travel here for extended training, providing us with an excellent opportunity to showcase our world-class community. Their presence in Central Florida signals the strength of our professional service sector, as well as the preparedness of our workforce.
We believe that Orlando International Airport is a tremendous asset to the regional business community and KPMG’s expanded presence significantly enhances further economic growth and business opportunities. The Authority is honored to be part of the team that is bringing a firm with the intellectual capital of KPMG to this highly skilled and diverse market.
Closing Thoughts
The Big 4 Accounting firms appear to be tired of spending millions of dollars sending their people to expensive hotels for training.
Hotels are just like the big 4. They raise their rates every year. Rising hotel rates coupled with increased hiring means expensive training costs each year.
By owning their own facilities, KPMG will be able to make their training costs more predictable from year to year.
It will be interesting to see how far the big 4 take this. Will they own their own airline too? Between this and PwC’s acquisition of GE’s tax department, I think anything is possible from the big 4.
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