PwC to create 800 new jobs in Northern Ireland

PricewaterhouseCoopers has announced 800 new jobs are to be created in Northern Ireland.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has revealed it is to create 800 new jobs in Northern Ireland.

The accountancy firm is putting £40 million into the province in order to develop and deliver cloud-based management information services.

Money will also go towards establishing specialist project management teams that will offer support to clients across the world

Ian Powell, chairman and senior partner at PwC, said the announcement reinforces its strategy of "developing innovative client services that draw on the strength of the UK's skilled workforce".

He insisted that growth needs to be achieved in all regions of the country in order to achieve economic prosperity, which is why PwC is continuing to invest in its regional divisions.

"Our decision to invest in Northern Ireland reflects our confidence in the strong local talent," Mr Powell commented.

He added that the additional investment in the province demonstrates PwC's commitment to delivering responsible and profitable growth across a balanced and sustainable business.

Mr Powell said it has made a direct investment of more than £200 million throughout the last year, which is part of a wider £750 million investment to "grow and transform the business" since 2008.

PwC has already created more than 300 jobs in Northern Ireland during the last two years and these latest positions will be aimed mainly towards graduates..

This additional investment comes on the back of positive trading figures for the group.

During the year to June 30th, the company's revenues went up by five per cent to £2,814 million. This compared with £2,689 million during the same period of the previous year.

PwC also recruited a record number of people during this time, with 2,700 new staff joining its ranks.

News of the latest investment and recruitment drive came this week from first minister Peter Robinson, deputy first minister Martin McGuinness and trade and investment minister Arlene Foster.

According to the Marks Sattin Insight Report 2014, only four per cent of financial sector professionals regard Northern Ireland as a place they would like to relocate to. However, this figure may rise after the PwC news.