…. KPMG cuts graduate intake by 29 percent, Deloitte by 18 percent, EY by 11 percent and PwC by 6 percent
Accounting entry-level graduate job listings in the United Kingdom (UK) have fallen 44 percent year-on-year, while graduate recruitment at its biggest accounting firms is also declining, signalling a structural squeeze on the traditional entry point into finance as artificial intelligence (AI) and offshoring reshape the profession.
For instance, KPMG has cut its graduate intake by 29 percent, Deloitte by 18 percent, EY by 11 percent and PwC by 6 percent. EY has also delayed graduate start dates for three consecutive years, suggesting that the contraction in entry-level recruitment is becoming more than a temporary response to weaker economic conditions.
The figures matter because graduate schemes have traditionally served as the finance industry’s talent pipeline. Young accountants typically begin with routine tasks such as processing invoices, reconciling accounts, categorising transactions and preparing reports before progressing into analysis, risk management, client advisory and strategic roles.
The impact will be particularly relevant to foreign talent, including Nigerian graduates and finance professionals abroad who view the UK as a route into international careers, as much of that foundational work is now being automated.
