Big Four giant KPMG downgrades equity partners April 24, 2026 Big Four giant KPMG has begun demoting UK senior equity partners – members who hold a stake in the firm and share its profits – and instead offering them lower status salaried partner roles. KPMG, which last year paid its equity partners on average £800,000 each a year, has reportedly been inviting the partners for [...]
How to tax in an energy crisis April 23, 2026 Whether the government wants to maximise North Sea oil extraction or home grown renewables, tax policy can help, says Tim Sarson Recent global events seem to have a knack of happening in places that send energy prices through the roof. Last time it was the loss of piped gas from Russia into Europe. Now it’s [...]
PwC consulting overhaul reveals AI reckoning for the Big Four April 16, 2026 The influx of AI is putting the Big Four’s structures under strain, and cracks are beginning to appear in their consultancy divisions, argues senior reporter Maria Ward-Brennan. The industry is facing a storm of problems, including over-recruitment during the pandemic, low staff attrition rates due to economic issues, and a drop in fees as the [...]
BDO culls senior partners to clear path for younger staff April 9, 2026 Leading mid-tier advisory firm BDO is set to cut around 6 per cent of its total partner headcount, targeting older partners. The firm is set to axe 31 partners, mainly older staff who were expected to retire soon, or hires from rivals, as it seeks to open space for younger staff, according to the Financial [...]
As the Big Four cut back on staff BDO is building its own pipeline – from school April 7, 2026 As the accountancy sector faces a “perception problem” among younger talent, advisory giant BDO is moving the goalposts by engaging school-level students. Speaking to City AM, Louise Sayers, audit partner and head of audit, people and culture at BDO, explained that when it comes to attracting new talent, the sector does not have an image problem [...]
Big Four KPMG cleared as regulator drops Entain audit probe April 2, 2026 The regulator has closed a probe into the Big Four giant, KPMG, over its audit of the Ladbrokes owner, Entain. In January 2025, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) announced an investigation into Entain regarding its financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022. At the time, a KPMG UK spokesperson said: “We will cooperate [...]
As KPMG looks to cut hundreds of staff, expect more layoffs at the Big Four March 31, 2026 The Big Four giants, after hitting pandemic-era highs, are currently navigating a perfect storm of challenges: a harsher market, a surge in AI investment and a stagnant economy. These pressures are forcing firms to take a pair of shears to their workforces as the industry’s traditional “attrition model” fails to keep pace with reality. Over [...]
KPMG to dismiss more than 400 auditing staff March 28, 2026 KPMG UK is set to fire more than 500 staff in a redundancies round hitting the auditing industry, reports have suggested. The Big Four consultancy is set to fire staff across its advisory arm in the UK as well as the audit business, which will be more heavily affected. Consultancy bosses reportedly told staff on [...]
Starmer vows to use ‘every lever’ to protect Brits from damage to UK economy March 23, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to use “every lever” to prevent households from being hit by higher energy prices amid growing fears the Iran war is wreaking havoc on the UK economy. On Monday morning, the Prime Minister suggested an emergency Cobra meeting between the most senior government ministers and the Bank of England governor [...]
Michael Hayman elected chair of British Chambers of Commerce March 16, 2026 Michael Hayman has been elected the new chair of the UK’s leading business network, succeeding former management consultant Sarah Howard. Hayman will take the chair of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) after being picked unanimously by board members. As chair, Hayman will lead the network’s strategic direction as it supports business growth, lobbies the [...]