The Canadian arm of KPMG, the leading audit, tax and advisory firm, has announced the introduction of its Digital Ledger Services – a comprehensive suite of services designed to help financial services companies realize the potential of blockchain capabilities.

The Digital Ledger Services include full lifecycle support – from strategic qualification and business case development to relevant use-case development, systems and operations integration, and ongoing management of a company’s blockchain infrastructure. It will combine management consulting and risk consulting proficiency in financial processes with regulation as the backbone. KPMG’s specialized in-house coding and development will also be part of the services offered to clients.

In addition, KPMG announced that it will expand its strategic alliance with Microsoft to work on blockchain initiatives. Microsoft will provide blockchain as a service platform and KPMG will provide its comprehensive suite of services, in order to help clients efficiently and securely move to the cloud for storage, while adopting disruptive blockchain technologies.

“We’re excited to be expanding our efforts with KPMG to develop blockchain services,” said Marley Gray, director of business development & strategy for blockchain at Microsoft. “The global availability of Microsoft Azure, with its hybrid cloud capabilities, extensive compliance certification portfolio, and enterprise-grade security help to enable blockchain adoption, especially in highly regulated industries like financial services, healthcare and government.”

Yvon Audette, Canadian IT Advisory Leader, said that KPMG’s proficiency in business transformation and wide-ranging services will be combined with Microsoft’s industry leading cloud technologies and business solutions.

“In turn, this will allow companies to improve their scale, agility and gain valuable insights across the enterprise to quickly make well-informed decisions, and meet changing customer demands,” Audette added.

Currently, KPMG is working with clients worldwide on a range of global blockchain projects. These include qualification of a blockchain solution for a major bank’s global payments, the development and prototyping of smart contracts in insurance and involvement in blockchain workshops across Canada and Europe.