The KPMG offices in London, England. The 'Financial Times' says KPMG has withdrawn job offers to foreign graduates because the starting salaries fall below the government's new threshold for sponsored visas. Getty Images
The KPMG offices in London, England. The 'Financial Times' says KPMG has withdrawn job offers to foreign graduates because the starting salaries fall below the government's new threshold for sponsored visas. Getty Images
The KPMG offices in London, England. The 'Financial Times' says KPMG has withdrawn job offers to foreign graduates because the starting salaries fall below the government's new threshold for sponsored visas. Getty Images
The KPMG offices in London, England. The 'Financial Times' says KPMG has withdrawn job offers to foreign graduates because the starting salaries fall below the government's new threshold for sponsored

KPMG withdraws job offers to foreign graduates after visa salary rules change


Matthew Davies
  • English
  • Arabic

Foreign graduates have had job offers revoked at the accounting and auditing firm KPMG because the starting salaries fall below the required threshold to obtain a skilled worker visa in the UK.

Foreign graduates who had been offered a job at the 'Big Four' firm had those offers cancelled, because the government has increased the minimum salary level necessary to acquire a sponsored visa.

A spokesperson for KPMG told The National that throughout the recruitment process for graduates, applicants are reminded of the firm’s "ability to process applications or honour a job offer is subject to the latest UK immigration rules at the time".

"In March 2024, these rules were updated, and we’ve since been in touch with all offer holders and applicants impacted."

Back in January, the government announced that the salary threshold for skilled workers would increase in increments from £26,200 a year to £38,700 from April, and to £30,960 for people under the age of 26.

The move was part of the government's efforts to reduce inward migration.

The 'Big Four', Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC, pay their graduates starters between £25,000 and £35,000 a year, depending on the area of specialisation.

The change in the visa rules means that, apart from junior actuaries, KPMG has stopped hiring foreign graduates who need sponsored visas outside of London, according to the Financial Times, which first reported the development.

Those graduates who have had their job offers withdrawn would not be able defer a start date until next year either, although they could transfer to another graduate programme, but only if there were still spaces available and they meet the new visa rules.

The City of London financial district. Experts say the new salary threshold rules could severely affect the number of foreign graduates recruited into London's financial firms. Photo: City of London Corporation
The City of London financial district. Experts say the new salary threshold rules could severely affect the number of foreign graduates recruited into London's financial firms. Photo: City of London Corporation

'Bring numbers down substantially'

Between them the Big Four recruit thousands of graduates every year. It is thought that they will now start to try to fill any gaps left in their graduate recruitment programmes with individuals who have a pre-existing right to work in the UK.

KPMG has been approached for comment.

Experts have claimed the move to raised thresholds could lead to significant pay disparity within companies that employ both foreign nationals and British citizens.

A rush of applications for skilled worker visas was predicted in March, before the new salary threshold were applied from April 4. Those statistics won't be released until November.

In January, Tom Pursglove, the minister for legal migration and the border said that the plan will "not only bring numbers down substantially, but also tackles the inherent unfairness of a system which, if left untouched, would reward employers seeking to recruit cheap labour from overseas at the expense of the British worker".

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Playing position: Winger

Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda

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UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

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Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

David Haye record

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Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

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THE BIO

Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain

Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude

Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE

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Updated: April 25, 2024, 8:18 AM