PwC is investing £40m and creating 771 new technology and operational jobs in Northern Ireland over the next five years, with a new Advanced Research and Engineering Centre.
The new centre is part of PwC’s Belfast-based Operate division and will be located at the professional services firm's new headquarters in Merchant Square, set to open later this summer.
Recruitment will begin immediately in the areas of software engineering and other technology roles.
Economy Minister Paul Frew said that the new positions will "generate approximately £25m in additional annual salaries for our economy."
“The new Advanced Research and Engineering Centre will drive future innovations in technology. It will enhance our reputation as a world leader in technology innovation and our capabilities in important research areas such as robotic process automation (RPA), workflow automation, data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI)," he continued.
Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University will also be brought together to develop joint research teams with an additional 38 roles to help deliver the centre’s research and engineering programme.
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In the last decade, PwC has grown its presence in Northern Ireland from 650 employees to over 2,500 currently.
Established as one of the 'Big Four' accountancy and professional services firms, Ian McConnell, Partner Lead for PwC Operate, said basing the Advanced Research and Engineering Centre in Merchant Square places Northern Ireland at the heart of PwC’s future technology strategy.
“Our goal is to turn amazing ideas into technology that’ll solve complex business problems into the next decade and beyond. We’re creating a team of engineers and technologists who’ll work within a bigger innovation ecosystem, including government, academia and business, to help our clients take giant leaps, rather than incremental steps," he noted.
“It’s a huge statement of confidence from PwC UK’s Executive Board in both the Operate business and our local talent. The strength of our people has already enabled us to turn Operate into PwC’s fastest-growing division and I’m very proud that this gives us the opportunity to create hundreds more highly skilled jobs in Northern Ireland.”
Invest NI has offered PwC over £9.8m of support towards the investment.
