Deloitte set to cut more than 800 jobs in UK

Deloitte is set to cut more than 800 jobs in the UK in response to a slowdown in demand and an easing in the pace of workers choosing to leave, according to a source familiar with the matter.

That is equivalent to about 3 per cent of its UK workforce of 27,000, the person said.

Despite the UK cuts, a Deloitte spokesman said there were no plans to cut staff in Ireland.

The UK cuts come after growth slowed in the second half of the year because of falling client demand. Accountants at the Big Four firms – which also include Ernst & Young, PwC and KPMG – are clinging to their jobs amid economic uncertainty and a sharp drop in open roles.

“Today we announced some targeted restructuring across our businesses, which may put some roles at risk of redundancy,” Deloitte chief executive Richard Houston said in a statement, responding to queries.

The cuts are subject to consultation, the CEO added.

The plans follow rival EY’s announcement last month that it will cull about 5 per cent of staff from its UK financial services consulting division. PwC also said it is cutting pay increases and bonuses for some of its 25,000 UK employees.

The news was first reported by Financial News. – Bloomberg