We ensure that stakeholders’ interests and views regarding our sustainability matters are incorporated into our strategy and business model. This involves a structured yet dynamic approach to engaging frequently and actively with KPMG’s key stakeholder groups, as defined in “Overview of stakeholder engagement activities.”
The engagement process includes regular surveys, one-on-one meetings, participation in sector organizations, workshops, public events, recurring consultations with the Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), and representation on the boards of professional bodies and standard setters, such as the Royal Netherlands Institute for Chartered Accountants (NBA) and EFRAG. Through our global KPMG network, we also engage with an international group of stakeholders. The feedback and input received from stakeholders are systematically documented and reported, and are actively used to inform our strategic priorities, risk management, and materiality assessments. Outcomes of stakeholder engagement are regularly shared with the Board of Management and incorporated into strategic discussions and decisions.
We also engage with both national and international stakeholder groups. This includes national initiatives such as Anders Reizen, which supports our efforts to reduce GHG emissions from business travel (including commuting) and United Nations (UN) Global Compact NL, which helps us align our practices with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and advance responsible conduct. Internationally, we participate in knowledge-sharing platforms such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, which enables us to collaborate on global sustainability challenges, including emission reduction, circular economy, and resilience. Our approach is formally documented in the Stakeholder Engagement Policy of KPMG.
Developments in 2024/2025
Although engagements with affected stakeholders took place in multiple forms during the year, we did not directly engage with external affected stakeholders specifically about the 2024/2025 double materiality assessment (DMA). Instead, external perspectives were considered by subject-matter experts from our Sustainability Advisory department and representatives from Compliance, HR, Procurement, Sales & Marketing, and Finance. Their insights contributed not only to the assessment of material sustainability matters during a workshop and validation session, in which we discussed and validated our material topics, but also to the enhancement of the policies, actions, targets, and metrics reported in this sustainability statement.
Our stakeholder engagement in 2024/2025 also emphasized the importance of the sustainability transition in a tight labor market. For example, as regulatory complexity grows, institutions must attract and invest in developing the right skill profiles. Meanwhile, employee retention and engagement within a safe and productive workplace are crucial conditions for sustainable employment and the achievement of strategic goals. This, therefore, continues to guide developments in our strategy and business model.
Integrating outcomes into our strategy
Not only does our stakeholder engagement inform the identification and assessment of sustainability matters in our DMA, but the outcomes of engagement activities are also embedded in our strategy and business model. The views and interests of affected stakeholders regarding our sustainability-related impacts are communicated regularly to the Board of Management and incorporated in strategic discussions and decision-making. This ensures that our strategy remains responsive to, and closely aligned with, the evolving needs of our stakeholders.
For example, we frequently engage with our own workforce through various channels, such as our Global People Survey (GPS) and pulse surveys, to gather their views on workplace issues. The resulting feedback has recently driven initiatives related to diversity and inclusion, psychological safety, and new career paths. For more information, see “Own workforce” and “Consumers and end-users” within the Social topical standard.
Two other important stakeholder groups are our clients and our regulators. We engage with clients on sustainability issues through satisfaction surveys and interviews (as part of our Client Care program) and with regulators through quarterly meetings, feedback sessions, and participation in steering groups or sector events (in order to ensure our firm’s compliance with new and upcoming regulations). The insights gained help us better understand evolving expectations around sustainability and compliance, enabling us to enhance our service offerings through the integration of ESG perspectives and solutions.