The trend of acquiring forward-thinking, technologically sound companies is a persistent one, as many big-ticket consulting and financial firms scramble to be superior in their offerings. In a step towards amplifying its cloud service and digital capabilities, big four accounting firm KPMG’s Australia Branch has recently acquired Certus Asian Pacific, a Melbourne-based Oracle platinum partner.
This acquisition is just one of the few technologically aimed acquisitions that KPMG has made since 2015, including Microsoft partner Hands-On Systems and IT Markets, a Murex software specialist.
“The pandemic has forced organizations to re-evaluate how they interact with their customers, staff and suppliers, and determine if their current systems are fit-for-purpose. Remote work and reduced face-to-face contact have changed mobility and virtual accessibility needs, and driven the requirement for more robust human capital management systems to engage with staff. Supply chains have become increasingly complex, requiring more sophisticated and flexible systems. Our clients are looking to us to help solve these problems, and Oracle cloud capabilities will add a further dimension to our technology enablement offering,” said Andrew Yates, Chief Executive Officer of KPMG Australia.
Certus APAC, first founded in 2014, provides support and training for Oracle cloud services to clients across multiple industries, such as financial services, retail, and utilities, as well as within the public sector. The firm also specializes in Human Capital Management, Oracle ERP and Recruitment, and Talent Management Services.
Its Founder and Managing Partner, Ian Wood, will now be joining KPMG as a Partner. In addition, his co-founders Richard Atkins, Rebecca Hodgson, Sumit Malhotra, and Lee Martin will also be working under the KPMG name, along with 38 other Certus APAC employees spanning across Sydney, Melbourne, and India.
Certus APAC is set to complete full integration into the KPMG workforce by the end of this year. The financial and commercial terms of this deal have not yet been disclosed.
