Boutique consulting firms are piling into Canberra to fill the vacuum left by the big four, with KordaMentha the latest to make a play for public sector work despite a less than receptive government attitude.

The Canberra strategy has been bolstered by a string of recent hires from the big four, as a downturn in the consulting market – and the lingering effect of the PwC tax leaks scandal – forces partners and staff at the major firms to look elsewhere.