# Pulse

The heart of the GLP community

# Pulse

The heart of the GLP community

# Welcome

## to Pulse

By Martin Sheppard, guest editor.

As guest editor, I want to highlight the need for us, as leaders, to embrace innovation, champion change as opportunity and constantly encourage new thinking to solve the complex challenges our clients face. Throughout this edition you will find articles, such as An appetite for innovation, that discuss the need for, and benefits of, this type of an approach.

We all know we can provide solutions. But increasingly today we must add value by looking beyond the obvious, thinking long-term and finding new ways to help our clients achieve better results. We can only do this through our culture and the way we operate. Our people must be empowered to innovate and not be afraid of failure.

> Read more

# In Depth

## An appetite for innovation

### How innovative are we as a firm? Should we be doing more?

The business environment is changing and innovation is rising up the boardroom agenda. Innovation and long-term success are intrinsically linked – it’s no longer enough for companies to simply do what they’ve always done but do it better, faster and more efficiently.

Rather, as guest editor Martin Sheppard points out, companies need to “remain agile and open to new thinking; especially now they’re facing increased competition.”
In this issue, we consider the importance of innovation for global businesses and reflect on the things we’re doing well and areas where we might improve as a firm.
Part one: why creativity is crucial to success
Part two: innovation at KPMG

> Read more

## A place in the world: Japan

### Can the world’s third-largest economy escape its deflationary shackles?

There’s a new-found sense of optimism in Japan and the watching world is just as positive about the Land of the Rising Sun’s prospects. Tokyo is preparing to host the 2020 Olympic Games and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is determinedly pushing on with his reforms, commonly known as Abe-nomics.
“People are now more vibrant and more upbeat. It is not twilight, but a new dawn breaking over Japan,” declared Prime Minister Abe in his opening address at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year.
Japan was very much at the forefront of peoples’ minds at Davos.

> Read more

## Half the world away

### Would you accept an overseas assignment and, if you did, what would you gain from it and what challenges might you face along the way?

Overseas placements are often considered the preserve of mid-management, but there’s a lot to be said for partners moving abroad, too – and huge opportunities to be seized by those who take up the challenge. We hear from two of our people who’ve done just that.

We meet Derek Meates and Daniel Camilleri – two partners from KPMG Australia who stepped out of their comfort zone and relocated overseas to develop their careers, broaden their skillset and experience life in a very different part of the world.

> Read more

# Opinion

## Back to the future

### Isabelle Allen considers how technology might affect professional services

Although certainly not advertised as such, attending Davos is a bit like taking a rollercoaster ride!

> Read more

## Open for business

### Introducing Thomas Hofman-Bang

In February 2014, Thomas Hofman-Bang was appointed Senior Partner and CEO of our new member firm in Denmark: KPMG 2014.

> Read more

# Digest

## Transfer speculation

### “Transfer pricing is at the top of the Chief Tax Officer agenda.”

Head of Global Transfer Pricing Sean Foley shares his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities for our multinational clients as they come to grips with tax transparency in the transfer pricing arena.

> Read more

## United by Unilever

### Innovative proposal demonstrates our attention to detail

The overarching theme of this issue of Pulse is how fresh thinking in everything we do can help KPMG achieve its aspirations – and in part two of our feature on innovation we share some recent creative thinking from around the global firm.

> Read more

## Leading the way on corporate citizenship

### Confronting big global challenges at Davos

Our people present talks at the World Economic Forum that demonstrate our commitment to tackling some of the world’s most complex social and economic problems.

> Read more

## A measure of confidence

### We announce the results of the first GLP Confidence Index

In issue one of Pulse, we conducted the first GLP Confidence Index, a quarterly gauge of client and market confidence, and your outlook on your accounts. The results of the first index are in.

> Read more

You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”

Attributed to Christopher Columbus

# Client Wins

## Driving the change

French multinational vehicle manufacturer Renault appoints KPMG as its auditor.

> Read more

## Provincial government in Canada chooses KPMG

Global collaboration sees KPMG appointed as advisor to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to support its strategic systems upgrade project.

> Read more

## BBVA banks on us

The Spanish banking group chooses KPMG as its leading advisor on financial regulation.

> Read more

# Making GLPs Lives Easier

## New GMSA framework

The global board approves a new initiative that will enable GLPs to contract globally with our global non-audit clients.

> Read more

## The Hub – stay connected with your fellow GLPs

Please remember to stay connected and informed through the GLP group of the Hub – which keeps the GLP community engaged in relevant conversations and up to date on issues and topics facing both our clients and account teams.

> Read more

## The CFO Room

We share the latest on this initiative designed to help develop relationships and engage in conversations with new and transitioning CFOs.

> Read more

## Leading the way

Our clients’ needs are changing and their operations are becoming ever more global. That’s why we’re launching a new Global KPMG Thought Leadership portal this month.

> Read more

# Publications

## Tackling the data challenge

KPMG Capital study reveals that 96 per cent of businesses say they’re not managing data effectively.

> Read more

## The KPMG Survey of Corporate Responsibility Reporting 2013

Corporate citizenship and responsibility were key themes at Davos this year. This survey covers 4,100 companies in 41 countries and is a deep-dive into the quality of reporting among the world’s largest 250 companies.

> Read more

## The value of audit

Read (and see) candid and sometimes surprising views of KPMG’s audit leaders on the value of an audit and the changes they believe must take place to meet the needs of the capital markets.

> Read more

# Proud To Be KPMG

## Diversity award

KPMG Canada has been named as one of the country’s best diversity employers for 2014 in the annual Mediacorp competition for the nation’s best places to work.

> Read more

## Santiago Superbrand

KPMG in Chile has been awarded the coveted Business Superbrands Award 2013-2014, which recognizes some of the world’s best business-to-business brands.

> Read more

## Reader recognition

Readers of Finance Monthly have voted KPMG the 2014 anti-money laundering firm of the year for the United Kingdom.

> Read more
^ Back to top

Issue 2 / March 2014