Florida business growth continues and, as usual, Orlando is at the center of it all.
Orlando (May 11, 2021) – KPMG, one of the world’s largest audit, tax and advisory service organizations, has doubled down on its investment in Orlando, announcing plans to bring 350 jobs – with plans for more in the future – to its new “Capability Center” in Lake Nona.
This marks KPMG’s second major expansion in Orlando, having just opened its $450 million “KPMG Lakehouse” – the firm’s learning, development and innovation facility in Lake Nona that represents its largest-ever capital investment project. Access to top talent in the Orlando region was cited as a key driver for the firm’s continued expansion and investment.
“We are very excited about the opening of the Capability Center, and further enhancing our partnership with Orlando and Lake Nona,” said Carl Carande, U.S. vice chair and global head of advisory, KPMG. “To ensure we continue to deliver excellence in client service as the business environment continues to evolve, the ability to modernize our delivery model and become more digitally enabled are crucial. At the new center, our Advisory professionals will help us deliver exceptional service, quality, efficiency, and affordability to our clients, across a wide range of consulting services.”
“There’s been a lot of conversation lately about the migration of businesses to Florida, and this announcement places Orlando squarely at the center of that discussion,” said Orlando Economic Partnership President and CEO Tim Giuliani.
“We often say that when it comes to business in Orlando, ‘You Don’t Know the Half of It.’ Well, KPMG clearly does, and judging from the calls we’re getting from businesses around the country, there’s no doubt the secret is out.”
Orlando Economic Partnership President and CEO Tim Giuliani.
Orlando’s growing reputation as a center for business relocation and expansion is no secret to financial services organizations like KPMG. In fact, the organization’s growing partnership with Orlando cements the region’s status as a hub of such activity. Recent financial services projects here include Deloitte, Verizon and ADP, creating 2,250 jobs, 1,100 job and 1,600 jobs, respectively.
According to a recent report from Moody’s Analytics Senior Economist Kwame Donaldson, the share of professional service jobs in Orlando is “more than 21% today, the state’s biggest share,” driven by the “hundreds of thousands of jobs” created here.
“Tax and how it’s viewed, computed and operationalized is vastly transforming, perhaps at a more rapid pace than ever before,” said Greg Engel, Vice Chair – Tax, KPMG LLP. “At KPMG, we’re embracing new ways of working, making outsized investments in tax technology, and hiring and training our people to be technologists as well as tax specialists — all so that we can be one step ahead for our clients, navigating the way forward. Our new Capability Center is a physical manifestation of that objective, and we’re thrilled to better serve our clients through its innovative offerings.”
Access to talent and the attractiveness of the region’s quality of life in supporting talent recruitment are increasingly leading to similar expansion and relocation decisions across multiple industries. Civix, a leading GovTech innovation company, established its headquarters in Orlando due largely to its strong higher education network and quality of life factors that attract current and future employees to relocate. Orlando’s talent pool was also the top reason Sonesta – the eighth-largest hotel company in the U.S. according to Skift – cited in March in establishing a new corporate office in Orlando.
KPMG’s Capability Center will open in stages based on local data and guidance from authorities. Lake Nona, the fourth fastest-growing U.S. community, is adjacent to the Orlando International Airport that has been called a “modern mecca” for technology, innovation and community.
“We are delighted that KPMG has once again chosen Orlando and Lake Nona to establish a state-of-the-art home for their employees. KPMG’s continued investment in human capital and exceptional service demonstrates why they are consistently ranked among the best places to work,” said Rasesh Thakkar, Senior Managing Director of Tavistock Group, owner/developer of Lake Nona.
“KPMG is an anchor tenant in Lake Nona’s living lab, where our goal remains laser focused on creating the most innovative and extraordinary environment that enables people to perform at their peak, enhancing their productivity, which is priceless.”
Rasesh Thakkar, Senior Managing Director of Tavistock Group, owner/developer of Lake Nona
Quotes from senior government officials
“Orlando is a place where we use the power of partnerships to foster one of the best business climates in the nation and where our quality-of-life amenities help attract the best and brightest talent to our workforce,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “KPMG’s state-of-the-art Capability Center will create more than 350 new-to-Orlando jobs, resulting in these new employees further stimulating our local economy by shopping in our stores, dining in our restaurants and enjoying our abundant sports and entertainment amenities.”
“We are thrilled that KPMG has decided to further invest in Orange County by locating their state-of-the-art Capability Center in Lake Nona,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings. “As we continue to work towards business recovery from the pandemic, 350 new jobs in our community will be a welcome opportunity for our citizens and a boost to our economy.”
“Today’s announcement is good news for Florida,” said Florida Secretary of Commerce Jamal Sowell. “KPMG is bringing hundreds of jobs to Orlando and Lake Nona, along with a reputation for delivering solutions and innovation. We wish them well as they expand their critical footprint in the City of Orlando and Orange County.”
About KPMG LLP
KPMG LLP is the U.S. firm of the KPMG global organization of independent professional services firms providing audit, tax and advisory services. The KPMG global organization operates in 146 countries and territories and has close to 227,000 people working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients. KPMG is widely recognized for being a great place to work and build a career. Our people share a sense of purpose in the work we do, and a strong commitment to community service, inclusion and diversity, and eradicating childhood illiteracy. Learn more at www.kpmg.com/us.
