澳大利亚四大会计师事务所之一KPMG因员工不当保管客户保密文件而面临联邦议会调查。[1]该事务所前员工曾将Lendlease的保密审计文件存放在悉尼办公室的更衣柜中，并与同事共享这些文件以帮助争取Westpac和Dexus的重要审计合同。[1]
KPMG的外部调查证实了举报人的指控，导致前首席运营官Eileen Hoggett因保留和分享保密文件而被解雇。[1]2024年11月，时任董事长Martin Sheppard曾在邮件中指示独立董事在与举报人联系时咨询首席法律顾问。[1]该事务所已向澳大利亚证券投资委员会（ASIC）、澳大利亚特许会计师协会和财政部披露此事。[1]
ASIC已正式调查Eileen Hoggett、Paul Rogers和Kim Lawry三人，并将调查范围扩大至德勤、EY和普华永道等其他四大事务所。[1]此外，政府正在考虑分拆会计师事务所的审计和咨询业务。[1]Westpac与KPMG的年度审计合同金额达3200万澳元，Macquarie则在2025年11月宣布KPMG为推荐审计师，将从财政年度2028年起生效。[1]
KPMG is set to undergo a federal parliamentary inquiry into allegations that the firm improperly retained and shared confidential client documents to secure audit contracts.[1] A former employee at the accounting firm's Sydney office stored confidential audit files belonging to Lendlease in an office locker and shared them with colleagues to help win major audit mandates from Westpac and Dexus.[1] An external investigation commissioned by KPMG confirmed the whistleblower's allegations, leading to the dismissal of former Chief Operating Officer Eileen Hoggett over her role in retaining and disseminating the confidential materials.[1]
The controversy has triggered broader regulatory action and concern about the conduct of major accounting firms. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has formally launched investigations into three individuals—Eileen Hoggett, Paul Rogers, and Kim Lawry—and has expanded its inquiry to include other Big Four firms including Deloitte, EY, and PwC.[1] Several KPMG partners have departed the firm in the wake of the scandal.[1] In November 2024, then-chairman Martin Sheppard instructed independent directors to consult with the firm's chief legal officer before contacting the whistleblower.[1] The government is considering splitting the audit and consulting operations of accounting firms, reflecting wider concerns about potential conflicts of interest.[1] KPMG has disclosed the matter to ASIC, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and the Department of Finance.[1]