PwC: Robust Worldwide Growth

"PwC's firms around the world have continued to increase revenues despite ongoing tough economic conditions and increasingly fierce competition in our markets. That is a testimony to the talent of our people, the strength of the PwC network, and our investment in the quality of the work we do for our clients," said Dennis M. Nally, Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Ltd.

 

In the fiscal year 2013, PwC recruited some 20,000 graduates and nearly 15,000 experienced professionals, making PwC one of the largest graduate recruiters in the world. PwC now has over 184,000 employees on the globe. PwC anticipates recruiting even more graduates in the fiscal year 2014.

 

PwC firms in North America and South America grew strongly for the third consecutive year, with revenues up by 7 percent in North America and 9 percent in South America. This sustained growth reflects PwC's increasing share of the market for advisory and consulting services in the region.

 

Revenue growth also continued in the developing markets of the Middle East and Africa. Revenues in the region were up by 7 percent following sustained investment and the benefits of a consolidation of PwC firms across Africa.

 

In Europe, PwC revenues also increased, despite the impact of continued adverse economic conditions in many European countries. PwC firms reported revenue growth of 2 percent in Western Europe and 3 percent in Central and Eastern Europe. PwC anticipates a gradual return to better economic growth across much of the region in 2014 as conditions in the Eurozone stabilise.

 

Revenues from Asia were up 2 percent, a good result given the increasingly competitive market for assurance services and the slowdown in economic growth across the region, and in China and India in particular. Tougher economic conditions also impacted revenues of PwC firms in Australia and the Pacific, where revenues were down 1 percent.

 

Overall, revenues from developing markets account for 20 percent of PwC's global revenues. They are expected to double in the next few years.

 

Revenues in PwC's global assurance practice, the largest in the world, grew by almost 1.5 percent to US$14.8 billion at constant exchange rates. This growth was achieved despite very tough competition and a mature market for traditional audit services. Demand for other assurance services was strong and growing, led by an increased appetite for additional forms of assurance such as risk reporting and total impact measurement.

 

In the next three years, PwC plans to invest over US$1 billion in the development of its operations around the world, with a particular emphasis on emerging markets, and growing client offerings such as cyber security services and risk assurance.

PwC's advisory operations continued to grow strongly around the world. Global advisory revenues increased by 8 percent to US$9.2 billion. Advisory revenues now account for 29 percent of PwC's total global revenues. The continued growth in advisory revenues is driven by the increasing strength of the PwC brand in the area of strategy consulting and a strong performance by PwC's deals practice; achieved despite the relatively low levels of merger and acquisition activity around the world.

Growth in PwC's advisory practice is the result of a strategy focused on organic growth. Although PwC firms have made selective acquisitions in the advisory market, these are pursued only when they are perceived to make a significant impact on PwC's operations at a sensible price.

 

Revenues from PwC's global tax practice grew well for the third consecutive year. Tax revenues increased by 5 percent to US$8.2 billion, confirming PwC's position as the largest tax practice in the world. Demand for tax services is expected to remain strong in the year ahead driven by growing needs for both tax compliance and tax advisory work around the world. PwC firms operate under a global tax code of conduct, which was first issued in 2004.

 

Across all its lines of business, the PwC network serves 84 percent of the companies in the Fortune Global 500 list, and 90 percent of the FT Global 500.

 

Business is increasingly recognising that it has an important role to play in society, and PwC believes in being part of the solution to the important issues that society faces. In that regard, PwC's strategic intent is to do the right thing and to be a catalyst for change. In the fiscal year 2013, PwC firms and people donated nearly US$74 million to community activities and more than 47,000 PwC people donated more than half a million hours in volunteer activities.