Half of PwC Australia EAs to be Manila-based

The PwC Acceleration Centre in Manila will be the home to about 58 per cent of PwC Australia’s EAs, up from 38 per cent, after a review of its 2019 offshoring and onshoring EA plan, with changes to roll out throughout June, the firm told Accounting Times.

The firm confirmed that around 48 Australian EA roles will be impacted during this transition. “Following a recent review of our EA model, the firm will transition an additional number of EA roles to our existing PwC Acceleration Centre in Manila,” the firm said in a statement.

The 2019 plan commenced around the time the firm established its Acceleration Centre, which, as part of the PwC network, is 27 per cent owned by PwC Australia.

According to its website, PwC has acceleration centres located in Buenos Aires, India, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Mexico. These centres are tech-enabled hubs to support client teams virtually, the website added.

Currently, about 140 PwC Australia partners and managing directors are supported by these Manila-based EAs.

The firm added that Australian EAs affected by these layoffs will be offered redeployment opportunities, with career transition services, access to reskilling courses, and dedicated wellbeing support throughout the transition.

It confirmed that PwC Australia will continue to have onshore roles.

This news follows KPMG’s announcement that it would offshore 260 EA roles to the Philippines to drive growth and competitiveness, with 100 roles impacted in April and a further 100 projected to be impacted in May or June.