In case you missed it, read last week’s issue here

Hey everyone, there will not be a full issue released on Friday this week like there usually is. This is due to me currently being on spring break. But, I thought it would be nice to still catch you guys up on some Big Four moves this week. Thanks for reading, see you all next week!

KPMG Selects Gary Wingrove as Next Global CEO

KPMG has chosen Gary Wingrove, currently the firm’s global chief operating officer and former head of KPMG Australia, as its next global chief executive. Wingrove is expected to succeed current global CEO Bill Thomas when he steps down in September 2026, pending formal ratification by KPMG’s global council. The appointment follows an internal leadership contest in which Wingrove emerged as the preferred candidate over KPMG UK chief Jon Holt

Wingrove is widely viewed as a continuity candidate who has been deeply involved in KPMG’s global strategy, particularly around operational integration and technology investments. During his tenure leading KPMG Australia from 2013 to 2021, the firm reportedly doubled revenue, profits, and headcount, helping establish it as one of the fastest-growing Big Four member firms. His more recent role as global COO has also included oversight of the firm’s global delivery network and major transformation initiatives.

Student Takeaway:

Leadership changes at the Big Four often signal strategic shifts in consulting, technology, and global integration. Again, I’m reminding you how important it is to pay attention to AI’s role in accounting, especially because Wingrove is known for pushing technology investment and AI-driven services during his time leading KPMG Australia.

Former EY Executive Launches Private-Equity-Backed Tax Challenger

Jeff Soar, a former senior leader at EY’s tax and law practice, has launched WTS UK, a new tax advisory firm designed to compete with the Big Four. The venture is backed by private equity group EQT and begins with around ten partners, with plans to expand to roughly 100 partners within five years. The firm is part of the broader WTS international tax network, which received more than €500 million in investment to accelerate global growth.

WTS UK is positioning itself as a “conflict-free” tax adviser, emphasizing that it does not provide audit services. This is a key strategic distinction because Big Four firms often face regulatory and independence restrictions when offering advisory work to audit clients. By operating outside those constraints, the new firm believes it can compete more aggressively for large corporate tax mandates.

Operationally, fewer but larger audits can improve margin stability and reduce reputational risk exposure. Smaller audits often carry similar regulatory burden relative to fee size, making them less attractive in a more compliance-intensive environment. Strategically, this shift may also open space for mid-tier firms like BDO and Grant Thornton to gain share in the lower end of the listed market — something UK regulators have explicitly encouraged to reduce Big Four concentration.

Student Takeaway: This development shows that the Big Four are no longer the only high-growth career path in professional services. Private-equity-backed advisory firms and specialist tax boutiques are expanding rapidly and often offer earlier responsibility, equity participation, or faster promotion tracks.

I hope you enjoyed this shorter issue once again, I am still trying to figure our how doing one of these each week would look along with the main issue that is released on Friday’s. So, please reply below if you have any ideas or if there is anything specific you want to see within the newsletter. Thanks again.

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My name is Braunsen Bax, I’m a honors finance and accounting student-athlete at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois (45 mins outside of Chicago). I graduated from Walton High School in Marietta Georgia. Outside of the classroom I compete in the throws events for the Track & Field team, 35 time NCAA DIII national champions. I’ve had a love of finance and the business world since my sophomore year of high school and started Campus Capital to share that love with my community and like minded individuals in a similar position, with similar goals. My mission is to help people like me shape their futures to ensure they reach their goals while being up to date and educated in the Finance industry.