Deloitte to slash bonuses and scale back hiring as profits slump
Deloitte has warned staff that it will slash bonuses and scale back hiring in response to a slowdown in profits this year.
The accountancy giant unveiled the cost-cutting plan in an email to UK staff on Tuesday, as bosses said they were responding to an underwhelming performance across its audit and consulting business.
Richard Houston, senior partner at Deloitte's UK business, told staff that the firm's consulting arm had 'faced a particularly challenging year', which led to a 'worse-than-expected' performance.
Staff in Deloitte's consulting business will see their bonuses cut by 20pc after the unit 'fell materially short of its performance goals,' Mr Houston's email said.
He also confirmed that Deloitte will limit promotions to 5,500 this year, with the firm having previously handed out 6,800 promotions in 2024 and 7,000 the year prior.
Deloitte's partners, who took away payouts worth more than £1m in 2024, will also see their pay affected.
Mr Houston said: 'At the start of FY25, we expected greater economic stability and a gradual return of growth opportunities. But an early election, geopolitical complexity and unexpected economic headwinds – like changes in trade policies – have continued to cause market uncertainty.'
In addition to slashing its consultants' bonuses, Deloitte's cost-saving measures will see the firm limit pay rises for all UK employees to 2.9pc in 2025, compared to the 5pc increases handed out last year.
Mr Houston added that Deloitte's UK firm will be overhauling its bonus structure to pay out higher bonuses to employees in more profitable segments 'to reflect the variations in performance across our businesses'.
Meanwhile, employees in Deloitte's tax and legal business will be paid full bonuses after a better-than-expected financial performance.
The cuts come as other 'big four' accountancy firms have struggled to navigate a recent slump in activity post-Covid, which has led to layoffs across the industry.
A Deloitte spokesman said: 'Amid ongoing market uncertainty, we are pleased to be able recognise our people for their hard work with salary increases, bonuses and promotions this year.
'This is alongside other benefits such as fully funded private medical insurance, recently enhanced family policies, and our commitment to offering flexibility and choice in our ways of working.'
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