Accounting firm PwC is to create a standalone technology and AI unit in the UK as part of restructuring plans, according to a report by the Financial Times (FT).

The newspaper said that PwC plans to launch a “digital delivery unit”, concentrating on innovation, AI engineering cloud and data.

It added that the firm will also create six new teams by moving and merging certain operations including tax, consulting deals and risk.

According to documents seen by The FT, the changes will affect around 2,700 employees – or around 10 per cent of its UK workforce – and is part of the firm’s “new vision to become the pre-eminent firm.”

A source told the publication that the measures are respond to changing demands from customers and the need to promote the company’s AI advisory business, which PwC partners see as a “lucrative” area of growth.

In a video message from Laura Hinton, PwC’s UK managing partner, employees were told that the reorganisation was designed to “simplify” the business and “reduce duplication.”

Hinton added that the changes would increase the company’s market impact as well as create scale.

National Technology News has reached out to PwC for comment.

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