2023 Top Consultants: Atif Zaim

Atif Zaim is the National Managing Principal for KPMG's Advisory practice, with primary responsibilities including the advancement of the Advisory strategy and growth investments, including investments in new solutions and emerging technology; the Advisory Data and Advisory Technology Organizations, and ensuring quality, risk and excellence in client engagements. He is a member of KPMG's Global Advisory Steering Group (GASG), representing the U.S.. He recently authored the report Enterprise Innovation: The vision-execution gap.

He has spent his career advising C-suite executives on business transformation initiatives across technology and data adoption, organizational structure, improved governance and risk management. Prior to his current role, Atif served as the U.S. Customer and Operations Service Line leader for KPMG's Management Consulting practice. He helped grow the practice through development of clients, new capabilities and service offerings and technology alliances, and he continues to serve as the executive leaders of KPMG's Salesforce alliance. Earlier in his career, Atif served as the lead partner for a number of large global banking clients and helped financial institutions transform their finance, operations and risk functions. He holds a Diploma in Accountancy from London Guildhall University and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

What has motivated you to excel over the course of your career?

My family, and my mother in particular, always encouraged me to aim high and to set ambitious expectations for myself. My family role models encouraged me to strive for excellence and to do so by making a difference. I thrive when challenged to understand the struggles an organization is facing and finding suitable, long-lasting solutions that improve outcomes for their customers, their employees and their business. Making a real difference in a crowded world, is what sets you apart from the competition. I also had numerous mentors throughout my career that played a critical role in my professional and personal development. They provided the direction, support and encouragement necessary to succeed, and for that they will always have immense gratitude.

What has been the biggest factor in your success so far?

My focus has always been on people and their role as difference makers. This plays out in a few ways. As a leader, I am passionate about developing our people. There is no happier moment for me than having someone who I have helped mentor and coach become a partner at KPMG. I also strongly believe in a diverse workforce where professionals can reach their fullest potential in an inclusive work environment.

As a client advisor, there is nothing more rewarding than putting together the right team to successfully meet and exceed a client's expectations, and deliver impact that not only improves their business but also delivers positive economic and societal benefits. These days, I'm focused on the role of people in successful digital transformation. I have a passion for technology and how to best implement emerging technology in finding long-lasting solutions; but people drive transformation, not technology. I work with my clients to help them identify the right executive sponsor for a transformation in their organization – someone who can establish a strategic vision, work across structural siloes to get things done, and design comprehensive but flexible platforms and investment strategies.

What do you enjoy most about your career in the consulting industry?

I have spent more than 25 years in consulting, having the opportunity to work together with some exceptionally talented people in learning, implementing, and working with the latest technology to drive successful outcomes for multiple organizations. It is the combination of interacting and being part of a team of people with great knowledge across multiple disciplines, and simultaneously having the opportunity to utilize emerging technology to drive solutions that makes my line of business massively rewarding. I am intellectually stimulated on a daily basis with the advancement in technology and the solutions we can bring to rapidly evolving problems organizations face. In consulting, we are given the opportunity to be innovative, forward-looking and strategic thinkers in making the world a better place; and that is an exciting and rewarding position to be in.

What is your proudest achievement to date?

Personal: Becoming a Chartered Accountant and fulfilling a professional and academic dream. I remember walking into Victoria Station in London at 11 p.m. on a Saturday in 1994 so see if my name was included on the list in the Sunday London Times. It was a proud moment for me and for my family. It was a validating point in my life; hard work and dedication to what I loved doing paid off. That's why I have great interest in helping my colleagues in advancing their careers and reaching a point in their professional lives that makes hard work seem meaningful.

Professional: During the COVID-19 pandemic, I had the opportunity to lead and support a KPMG team that worked alongside Morehouse School of Medicine to build a technology platform to disseminate COVID-related information to minority populations. The platform used advanced data and analytics to reach target populations and pair them with the services and support they need. It was very rewarding to work on this initiative that focused on the betterment of minority communities, especially during very challenging times.

What's the best advice you've ever been given?

From a young age my mother told me to reach for the stars and treat people with respect and integrity. I have based my professional life on that principle, by never stop building and leading teams of talented and diverse professionals that have ambition and intelligence, coupled with the desire for hard work and the innate want to deliver the best outcomes for our clients. Working closely with people and getting to know them and helping them develop professionally, is very near and dear to my heart.

What does this recognition mean to you?

I have great passion for consulting and helping my clients transform and be successful. I thrive in building and leading teams with a focus on growth, while working with creative people and developing innovative, out-of-the-box ideas and solutions. This recognition means that my life-long work has been of value, not only to my clients but also to my colleagues and collaborators.