Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
PwC confirms cybersecurity incident involving employee learning records
Issue disclosure
PwC confirmed a cybersecurity incident involving employee learning records. The supplied evidence does not specify further details, such as the scope of the incident, the number of individuals affected, or the cause. The confirmation is limited to the existence of the incident and its connection to employee learning records. No additional information on the incident's impact or the response taken is provided in the available material.
Source excerpt
PwC confirms cybersecurity incident involving employee learning records
2021
PwC launches firm-wide review after racist trivia-event incident
Company response
PwC CEO Tom Seymour launched a firm-wide review of how professionals of diverse backgrounds are treated at the firm after an investigation into a trivia-event incident. The article also reports that staff accused of racist behaviour would leave their roles and that associated partners were financially penalised.
Stated objective. To review how professionals of diverse backgrounds are treated at PwC.
Company response
Investigation — PwC
Mr Seymour also launched a firm-wide review of how professionals of diverse backgrounds are treated at PwC after an investigation into the event that took nearly a fortnight to finalise.
Personnel action — PwC
PwC staff accused of racist behaviour at a trivia event of the firm will “leave their roles” at the consulting giant
Source excerpt
Mr Seymour also launched a firm-wide review of how professionals of diverse backgrounds are treated at PwC after an investigation into the event that took nearly a fortnight to finalise.
PwC staff accused of racist behaviour at a trivia event of the firm will “leave their roles” at the consulting giant and the partners associated with the incident have been financially penalised as part of CEO Tom Seymour’s response to the scandal.
2020
PwC pledges review of fraud detection
Company response
In the wake of the Wirecard and other accounting scandals, PwC's global chairman pledged an aggressive review of how the firm could better detect fraud. The commitment, reported on 26 August 2020, concerned the firm's own fraud-detection practices rather than any finding of wrongdoing by PwC. The pledge indicated that the firm would examine ways to strengthen its ability to identify fraud in the course of its work. No specific measures, timelines, or outcomes were announced in the source account.
PwC’s global chairman pledged an aggressive review of how the firm could better detect fraud following Wirecard and other accounting scandals.
Stated objective. “to ensure the relevance of the profession”
Company response
Investigation — PwC
The global chairman of PwC has pledged to “aggressively” review how the firm can better hunt for frauds following Wirecard and other accounting scandals.
Source excerpt
The global chairman of PwC has pledged to “aggressively” review how the firm can better hunt for frauds following Wirecard and other accounting scandals.
2020
Watchstone sues PwC over alleged confidential information disclosure
Lawsuit filed
Watchstone said it filed and served a High Court claim against PwC seeking £63 million plus other damages and costs. Watchstone alleges that PwC disclosed confidential information to Greenhill during due diligence and negotiations for Slater and Gordon's acquisition of Quindell's professional services division. PwC denies the allegations and said it will defend the claim.
Source excerpt
Watchstone’s claim against PwC is for breach of contract and/or breach of confidence and/or breach of fiduciary duty and/or unlawful means conspiracy.
Watchstone plc, formerly known as Quindell, told the London Stock Exchange on Friday that it had filed and served a claim against Big Four outfit PwC in the High Court.
PwC denies the allegations and said it will vigorously defend the claim.
2020
Choppies directors sue PwC
Lawsuit filed
In a legal action reported in December 2020, Choppies chief executive Ramachandra Ottapathu and executive director Ismail Farouk sued PwC and its director Rudi Binedell for R600-million. The claim alleged that PwC used unethical tactics to pressure Choppies to hire Binedell. The dispute centered on the alleged conduct of the firm and its director in connection with the hiring of Binedell by the Botswana retail group.
Choppies chief executive Ramachandra Ottapathu and executive director Ismail Farouk sued PwC and its director Rudi Binedell for R600-million, alleging that PwC used unethical tactics to pressure Choppies to hire Binedell.
Source excerpt
Two directors of retail giant Choppies Enterprises are suing auditing firm PwC for R600-million for allegedly using unethical tactics to force the company to hire a director from the firm.
2020
FRC launches investigations into KPMG and PwC audits
Investigation
The Financial Reporting Council launched investigations into KPMG and PwC over their audits of Eddie Stobart Logistics plc for the years ended 30 November 2017 and 30 November 2018, respectively.
Company response
Ongoing disclosure — KPMG
A spokesman for KPMG said: “We will cooperate fully with the FRC to conclude this matter as quickly as possible.”
Ongoing disclosure — PwC
A PwC spokesman said: “We will cooperate fully with the FRC in this investigation.
Source excerpt
The Financial Reporting Council on Tuesday said it has launched investigations into KPMG and PwC over the audits of Eddie Stobart Logistics.
A PwC spokesman said: “We will cooperate fully with the FRC in this investigation.
A spokesman for KPMG said: “We will cooperate fully with the FRC to conclude this matter as quickly as possible.”
2014
Caterpillar tax arrangement
A US Senate investigation examined PwC's role in developing a tax structure for Caterpillar that allegedly moved profits to Switzerland and substantially lowered the company's US taxes.
1989
Price Waterhouse gender-discrimination litigation
The US Supreme Court held that gender stereotyping could constitute sex discrimination in the partnership-promotion case brought by Ann Hopkins. The litigation became an important precedent concerning mixed-motive employment decisions.
Audit-quality and independence controversies
PwC and predecessor firms have repeatedly faced criticism, litigation, and regulatory sanctions concerning alleged audit failures, conflicts of interest, tax planning, and work for controversial clients. The specific findings and responsible entities vary by country and engagement.