The Financial services practice is co-ordinated formally on an international basis to ensure cohesion, consistency and an ability to deliver quality professional services, wherever our clients operate.

Companies competing in today's integrated financial services markets have experienced unprecedented change. Banks, insurance and securities companies are having to respond at an even greater pace to:

• demanding capital adequacy and risk management standards
• corporate governance and increasing monitoring of internal financial reporting
• increasingly sophisticated clients
• global expansion by major national and regional financial institutions
• consolidation, merger and acquisitions
• new technologies and distribution channels
• issues in dealing with new markets, economic uncertainty and changing relations.

KPMG member firms work closely with client around the world to help them develop appropriate strategies, manage the business and technology risks, and put in place the necessary implementation programmes in a timely and effective way.

KPMG's approach is based on understanding the issues affecting the marketplace. We work closely with a number of leading industry organisations providing support in understanding and tackling some of the major issues facing the industry. We are also active in the sponsorship of industrywide research and events.