KPMG vs PA Consulting: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
KPMG (4.6/5) edges ahead of PA Consulting (4.0/5) overall. KPMG is the better choice for regulated firms needing audit-grade AI governance. PA Consulting is the stronger option for UK public bodies wanting advice plus delivery. The right choice depends on how independent you need the advice to be, your regulatory exposure, and your budget.
KPMG vs PA Consulting: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | KPMG | PA Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1987 | 1943 |
| HQ | London, UK (KPMG International) | London, UK |
| Team size | 275,000+ | ~3,900 |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Governance and assurance depth, backed by its own ISO/IEC 42001-certified AI management system | Advice from teams that also design and build, strong in UK government |
| Pricing model | Engagement fees per scope; rates not published | Consulting fees; rates not published |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | EU AI Act, ISO/IEC 42001, NIST AI RMF | Azure, AWS, GDPR |
| Industries served | Banking, Insurance, Public sector, Healthcare, Energy, Manufacturing | Public sector, Defense, Healthcare, Energy & utilities, Consumer |
KPMG vs PA Consulting: overview
KPMG
KPMG was formed in 1987 through the merger of Peat Marwick International and Klynveld Main Goerdeler, and its member firms employ around 275,000 people. In December 2025 KPMG International announced ISO/IEC 42001 certification for its own AI management system, audited by Schellman; member firms in Australia, Spain, India, and the US had certified earlier. Its Trusted AI approach covers governance design, risk classification under the EU AI Act, controls testing, and assurance. For a CFO or chief risk officer who needs advice that an audit committee will accept, few firms have a larger bench. Auditor-independence rules can bar it from advising its own audit clients. Check that first.
PA Consulting
PA Consulting started in 1943 as Personnel Administration and is now a London-based firm with about 3,900 employees and £753 million in 2024 revenue. Jacobs has owned 65% since 2021, with staff holding the rest. Its AI advice tends to come from teams that also design and build products, especially for government, defense, and health clients in the UK and Nordics. That makes the advice practical, though rarely independent of a build.
Services and capabilities: KPMG vs PA Consulting
| Capability | KPMG | PA Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Readiness assessment | ✓ | ✗ |
| Use-case prioritization | ✗ | ✓ |
| TCO / ROI modeling | ✓ | ✗ |
| AI governance & EU AI Act | ✓ | ✗ |
| Build vs. buy advice | ✗ | ✗ |
| Independent audit or assurance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Roadmap any vendor can implement | ✗ | ✗ |
| Delivery capability after advice | ✓ | ✓ |
Frameworks and platforms: KPMG vs PA Consulting
| Framework / platform | KPMG | PA Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| EU AI Act | ✓ | ✓ |
| GDPR | ✓ | ✓ |
| DORA | ✓ | N/A |
| NIST AI RMF | ✓ | N/A |
| ISO/IEC 42001 | ✓ | N/A |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| AWS | N/A | ✓ |
| Google Cloud | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: KPMG vs PA Consulting
| Criterion | KPMG | PA Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed-scope assessment, Multi-use-case advisory, Audit or certification, Delivery team | Multi-use-case advisory, Delivery team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: KPMG vs PA Consulting
| Dimension | KPMG | PA Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Enterprise | Mid-market to enterprise |
| Best industries | Banking, Insurance, Public sector | Public sector, Defense, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | Designing an AI governance framework that an audit committee will sign off., Classifying an AI portfolio under the EU AI Act across several countries. | AI planning for UK government departments., Health service AI adoption. |
| Typical project type | Fixed-scope assessment | Multi-use-case advisory |
KPMG vs PA Consulting: pros and cons
| KPMG | |
|---|---|
| + | Runs its own certified AI management system, so it advises from first-hand experience of ISO/IEC 42001 |
| + | Risk, audit, and regulatory specialists work in one network |
| + | Can carry governance work across dozens of countries |
| + | Assurance work is set up to satisfy audit committees and regulators |
| - | Auditor-independence rules may stop it advising its own audit clients |
| - | Fees and team sizes suit large organizations more than mid-size ones |
| - | The same network sells implementation, so ask how advice and delivery are separated |
| PA Consulting | |
|---|---|
| + | Long record with UK government and health clients |
| + | Design and engineering behind the advice |
| + | Partly owned by staff |
| - | Jacobs holds 65%, and one database reports a full acquisition in 2026 that we couldn't confirm |
| - | Advice usually comes packaged with delivery |
| - | Rates not published |
Who should choose KPMG?
A typical fit: designing an AI governance framework that an audit committee will sign off.
Governance and assurance depth, backed by its own ISO/IEC 42001-certified AI management system. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Banking, Insurance, Public sector, Healthcare, Energy, Manufacturing.
Who should choose PA Consulting?
A typical fit: AI planning for UK government departments.
Advice from teams that also design and build, strong in UK government. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Public sector, Defense, Healthcare, Energy & utilities, Consumer.
Decision matrix: KPMG vs PA Consulting
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You want advice with no build contract attached | Neither; write the build as a separate decision |
| Finance needs run costs before approving anything | KPMG |
| Some of your use cases may be high-risk under the EU AI Act | KPMG |
| You need an outside check on a system already built | KPMG |
| You want the same firm to build what it recommends | Both can deliver |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: KPMG (Not disclosed) vs PA Consulting (Not disclosed) |
| You need advisers in many countries at once | KPMG |
Use case fit: KPMG vs PA Consulting
| Use case | KPMG fit | PA Consulting fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Designing an AI governance framework that an audit committee will sign off. | Strong | Limited | KPMG |
| Classifying an AI portfolio under the EU AI Act across several countries. | Strong | Limited | KPMG |
| AI planning for UK government departments. | Limited | Strong | PA Consulting |
| Health service AI adoption. | Limited | Strong | PA Consulting |
Verdict: KPMG vs PA Consulting
KPMG (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most AI Advisory projects. Governance and assurance depth, backed by its own ISO/IEC 42001-certified AI management system.
PA Consulting (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need health service AI adoption. If your situation matches that, PA Consulting is a competitive option.
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KPMG vs PA Consulting FAQ
Is KPMG better than PA Consulting?
KPMG (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. KPMG's strongest advantage: runs its own certified AI management system, so it advises from first-hand experience of ISO/IEC 42001. PA Consulting's strongest advantage: long record with UK government and health clients.
How do KPMG and PA Consulting differ in pricing?
KPMG's pricing: engagement fees per scope; rates not published. PA Consulting's pricing: consulting fees; rates not published. Any hourly bands shown come from Clutch, not a published rate card, so a scoping call is still needed for a project quote.
Which is better for enterprise: KPMG or PA Consulting?
KPMG is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each firm before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between KPMG and PA Consulting?
KPMG's primary differentiator is: governance and assurance depth, backed by its own ISO/IEC 42001-certified AI management system. PA Consulting's primary differentiator is: advice from teams that also design and build, strong in UK government. They also differ in team size (275,000+ vs ~3,900), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Banking, Insurance vs Public sector, Defense).
Verify all details directly with each firm before making a decision.