Partner Perspective: Helping Clients Modernize Finance with the Right Foundation

Q: Brendan, can you introduce yourself and describe your role at KPMG?

A: My name is Brendan Lee, and I’m a Manager at KPMG. I’ve been with the firm for about five years, spending most of my time focused on the Advisory space. Our work typically includes implementations, health checks, process optimization, and increasingly managed services, which has become a major focus as clients look for sustainable, long-term value.

KPMG’s Implementation Philosophy: “Measure Three Times, Then Execute”

Q: KPMG’s Implementation Philosophy: “Measure Three Times, Then Execute”

A: At KPMG, we use what we call the Powered Methodology. It starts with Vision and Validate, where we spend significant time upfront designing the right solution. One of our core mottos is “measure three times, then execute.” We focus on thoroughly documenting requirements before moving into build and deploy. Once live, we provide care to ensure strong user adoption and long-term success.

Deployment Strategy: No One-Size-Fits-All Approach

Q: What guidance do you give clients on deployment strategy?

A: Deployment planning is critical—and it’s different for every organization. Some clients consider a “big bang” approach, rolling out all modules at once. But more often, we recommend a phased approach. A common path is starting with optimizing the close process to achieve faster speed to value, then layering in other modules based on business needs. For global organizations, we may phase by region—often starting in the U.S. to establish a global design before expanding.

Getting the Most from Transaction Matching & Reconciliation

Q: What are common best practices you see for optimizing transaction matching and reconciliation processes using Trintech?

A: For transaction matching, data readiness is everything. Standardizing data formats and minimizing custom import definitions allows clients to:

• Reduce complexity
• Build fewer, more effective match rules
• Achieve higher automation rates

This approach significantly improves efficiency and control. For reconciliations, we often recommend a minimum viable product approach—bringing in general ledger balances and a few key subledgers first, such as AP or fixed assets. That allows clients to realize auto-reconciliation benefits quickly, then optimize over time by adding more data and templates.

Why Trintech + KPMG: A Unique Big Four Partnership

Q: What differentiates Trintech as a technology partner from KPMG’s perspective?

A: Trintech is unique—especially in its longstanding relationship with KPMG.

Trintech makes the right people available—from product experts to support teams—so issues are resolved quickly, especially during implementation when questions are more frequent. Their support model is also strong: ticketing, escalation paths, regular issue reviews, and the ability to pull in senior resources when projects are complex. And the idea portal gives customers a real voice in shaping the roadmap.

Beyond Technology: Improving Processes, Not Just Systems

Q: Why is having a partner important during a financial transformation project?

A: A partner helps ensure the project isn’t treated as just a technology deployment. If you put a bad process into great technology, you’ll still get a bad result. Our role is to help clients improve processes at the same time they’re implementing Trintech—bringing in KPMG’s process, controls, and transformation expertise to modernize the finance function holistically.

Advising Clients: Start with the “Why”

Q: What advice do you give organizations starting their financial transformation journey?

A: It always comes back to planning upfront and understanding the primary driver for change.

Some clients need Journal Entry automation immediately due to regulatory requirements or an IPO. Others are focused on improving close efficiency. There’s no wrong answer—but the implementation sequence should align with the business objective. Once that’s clear, we design the path that delivers the fastest speed to value while allowing room to optimize over time.

Biggest ROI Opportunity: Transaction Matching Automation

Q: Where do clients typically see the largest time savings?

A: Without question, the automated transaction matching delivers some of the most immediate and measurable ROI.

While all Trintech modules improve controls and efficiency, transaction matching automation can save hours every week. As AI continues to evolve, that answer may change—but today, transaction matching automation consistently delivers outsized value.

Looking Ahead

Through a combination of strong upfront planning, phased deployment, and deep collaboration, KPMG and Trintech help clients achieve faster results while building a foundation for long-term finance transformation.