KPMG Just Moved 200 Jobs to the Philippines—Should You?

When one of Australia’s biggest consulting firms quietly offshores hundreds of executive assistant roles to Manila, it’s not just a headline, it’s a signal. The question is: are you ahead of the curve, or still lagging behind?

In a move that’s sending ripples across boardrooms from Melbourne to Brisbane, KPMG Australia has confirmed plans to relocate approximately 200 executive assistant (EA) roles to the Philippines, a phased transition rolling out across April, May, and June 2026. Only the most senior KPMG executives will retain locally based EA’s, representing roughly a fifth of the headcount the firm once employed on Australian soil.

If a Big Four consulting giant—one generating $2.3 billion in annual revenue—is restructuring its workforce this aggressively, the message to Australian SME’s and mid-market businesses can’t be ignored: offshoring to the Philippines is no longer a fringe strategy. It’s mainstream.

Why Australian Businesses are Looking to the Philippines Right Now

The KPMG announcement reflects a broader, accelerating trend that recruitment professionals, HR leaders, and business owners across Melbourne, Brisbane, and even Sydney have been watching for years—one that has now hit a tipping point.

Job ad data from SEEK tells the story in numbers: administration and office support roles—the category covering EA’s, PA’s and secretarial staff—fell 5.5% in a single month alone in May 2025, one of the steepest declines of any sector. SEEK’s February 2026 Employment Report confirmed job ads have now fallen for seven consecutive months, down 2.6% year on year. The roles aren’t disappearing because there’s no need for the work, they’re shifting because Australian businesses have found a smarter way to get it done.

“The number of executive assistants fell by more than 20 per cent to 82,300 over the past decade due to the automation of administrative functions through smartphones and apps.”

— KPMG Australia’s own analysis of fastest-growing and declining occupations

The Philippines Advantage: The Why for Australian Businesses 

For businesses in Sydney’s CBD, Melbourne’s Southbank, or Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, the appeal of Filipino talent comes down to five factors that consistently outperform other offshoring destinations:

• Near-native English proficiency. The Philippines ranks among the top non-native English-speaking countries in the world. According to the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index, the Philippines ranked 28th out of 123 countries globally and second in Asia, scoring 569 out of 800—well within the “high proficiency” band and well above the global average of 488. Filipino professionals communicate clearly, write professionally, and understand Australian business culture, reducing the friction that undermines offshoring in other markets.
• Compatible time zones. Manila operates in Philippine Standard Time (PHT, UTC+8), which overlaps meaningfully with AEST and AEDT. Your offshore team in Manila can collaborate in real time with your Sydney or Melbourne operations—no overnight handoffs needed.
• Significant cost reduction without quality compromise. Industry benchmarks consistently show that outsourcing administrative, operational, and support roles to the Philippines delivers cost savings of up to 70% compared to equivalent Australian hires. For a Sydney business paying $75,000–$90,000 for an executive assistant, an equally skilled Filipino professional can cost a fraction of that, freeing capital for growth, technology, or new headcount where it truly matters.
• A deep, growing talent pool. The Philippines has built an entire ecosystem around its outsourcing industry. From executive assistants and bookkeepers to digital marketers, data analysts, and IT specialists, the country produces thousands of skilled graduates annually who are specifically trained for international client work.
• Proven track record with Australian businesses. Australian companies have been offshoring to the Philippines longer than most realize. From real estate agencies in Brisbane to accounting firms in Melbourne and tech startups in Sydney, the model is battle-tested across virtually every industry sector.

What Roles are Australian Businesses Outsourcing to the Philippines?

KPMG’s move focused on executive assistants, but the spectrum of roles being successfully offshored by Australian businesses is wide and growing. Here’s what’s moving offshore right now:

• Executive assistants, personal assistants, and administrative coordinators
• Bookkeeping, accounts payable/receivable, and payroll processing
• Customer service and inbound call handling (voice and non-voice)
• Digital marketing, social media management, and content creation
• Data entry, CRM management, and database administration
• Recruitment coordination and HR support
• IT helpdesk, software development, and QA testing
• Graphic design, video editing, and creative production
• Legal administrative support and document management

The Offshoring Debate: What About Strategic Roles?

Not every function is a candidate for offshoring, and the best operators know the difference. Roles that requiring a deep knowledge of the business and local stakeholder understanding can be harder to move offshore. Strategic EA’s who sit in on executive meetings, manage sensitive relationships, or contribute to decision-making may be better retained locally.

The smart approach for Australian businesses isn’t all-or-nothing. It’s right-shoring: keeping high-judgment, relationship-intensive work close to home, and delegating high-volume, process-driven tasks to a skilled offshore team. That’s exactly the model KPMG is implementing—and it’s the model that delivers the best return.

Is This the Right Moment for Your Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane Business?

The economic signals are clear. Demand for consulting services has softened. Operating costs in Australia continue to climb. The labor market remains tight for skilled administrative and operational roles. SEEK data confirms that EA and PA roles are declining at nearly three times the rate of the broader job market.

For businesses that have been watching and waiting, this is the moment. Not because offshoring is a silver bullet—it requires proper onboarding, robust communication infrastructure, and a clear scope of work—but because the competitive landscape is shifting. The businesses in Sydney’s North Shore, Melbourne’s inner east, and Brisbane’s south side that move now will be leaner, faster, and better capitalized than those that don’t.

How nXscale Makes Philippines Offshoring Work for Australian Businesses

At nXscale, we specialize in helping Australian businesses—from sole traders to mid-market companies—build high-performing offshore teams in the Philippines. We handle the complexity so you can focus on growth. Talent sourcing, compliance, onboarding, cultural alignment, and ongoing performance management: you can leave all these to us.

Whether you’re looking to hire your first virtual assistant in Manila, build a 10-person admin team, or scale a customer service operation from Sydney to the Philippines, we’ve done it before—and we’ll do it with you.