A "big four" consultancy firm holding more than half a billion dollars in taxpayer-funded contracts has been referred to the corruption watchdog ahead of a mammoth inquiry into its conduct.
KPMG is being pursued by the federal parliamentary panel over its alleged misuse of client information to win audit work and the mistreatment of a whistleblower.
On Friday, the Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services will hear from at least 31 witnesses, including 14 KPMG leaders such as chair Martin Sheppard and interim Australian boss Stan Stavros.
An unnamed "senior employee who oversaw (an) internal KPMG investigation" is also in the line-up.
On Monday, four days ahead of the hearing, the Department of Finance placed a moratorium on KPMG bidding for any new contracts until September 30.
