SHORT HILLS -- Mega auditing firm KPMG has agreed to pay out $420,000 to settle allegations that it discriminated against 60 Asian job applicants, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs announced.

As part of the conciliation agreement, KPMG did not admit any wrongdoing.

The settlement comes after a Department of Labor investigation said the firm discriminated against Asian applicants for associate audit jobs at its Short Hills facility between October 2011 and March 2013, the department said. The company, investigators said, violated an executive order prohibiting federal contractors from discriminating against employees based on race.

KPMG has about $14 million in contracts with several federal departments, including the U.S. departments of Energy, and Housing and Urban Development, NASA and the IRS, it said.

"Together, the department and KPMG will ensure that this issue is resolved, and that the company has the measures in place to comply with federal hiring and employment law," OFCCP Acting Director Thomas Dowd said in a release about the settlement.

The $420,000 payout will cover the 60 applicants' back pay, interest, and benefits. The settlement also includes job opportunities, as they become available, to six of the affected applicants.

In response to the settlement, a KPMG spokesman Monday touted the company's hiring practices.

"KPMG has long been recognized as a great place to work and build a career, including being named the 2017 Best Employer for Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) by the Asia Society," he said.

"We could not be more proud of our diverse and inclusive culture, which influences everything we do and is an essential element of our business strategy."

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.