Partners cash in as Deloitte profits rise

Revenue at the firm grew 6.4 per cent from £2.55 billion to £2.71bn in the 12 months to the end of May this year.

This resulted in profit, which is distributable, unevenly, to partners - 42 of whom are in Scotland - reaching £593 million, up from £554m.

David Sproul, senior partner and chief executive, said: “The past 12 months have been marked by improved economic conditions and stronger business confidence.

“Whilst we saw some hesitation in the run-up to the General Election, the broad-based increase in appetite from UK plc to invest in growth, productivity and efficiency improvements, governance and risk management and their customer focus has contributed to a positive set of results for our firm.”

Audit services remained the largest part of the practice, signing off more than 16,000 reports in the year, but only grew 0.3 per cent from £706m to £708m.

The consulting arm saw revenue increase 10.5 per cent from £622m to £687m while tax advisory revenue was up five per cent from £562m to £590m.

The financial advisory division grew nine per cent from £424m to £462m.

Mr Sproul, first elected as chief executive in 2011 and re-elected earlier this year, said the firm was working to get more women into senior roles and is targeting 25 per cent of partner positions being filled by women by 2020.

He also hopes to close the gender pay gap of 17.8 per cent at the firm, which is around 1.3 per cent below the UK average.

He said: “However, when looking across the organisation as a whole the pay gap between male and female employees at each grade is significantly lower, at 1.5 per cent.”