In the latest career development updates, BDO income hits £405m, 7% rise in EY revenue to £2.1bn, Deloitte restructures North West Europe to create a single firm, CognitalGroup expands reach with investment in Baldwins

Gender diversity within financial services remains absent as less than one fifth (19%) of senior positions in the top 1000 accounting and finance firms are held by woman, while the top 100 perform better, a third (33%) still have no female partners or board members, according to research

The gender pay gap for full-time employees in 2016 remains unchanged year on year for full-time workers although the overall salary divide is showing slight signs of improvement at management level although it remains above 10%

Grant Thornton has set up an office in Aberdeen in a move to expand in the north east of Scotland as part of plans to achieve long-term growth in Scotland, part of the firm’s 2020 strategy of focusing on increased profits, investment in people and a more dynamic range of services

After accusations the Chancellor is too like an accountant in his attitude to Brexit, and the prime minister, Theresa May’s criticism of the accounting profession at the Conservative party conference, ACCA policy manager Anthony Walters calls for government support

Baker Tilly International has shaken up its leadership team by creating a chief quality officer (CQO) role, which the network says is part of a move to strengthen its global office team in London and push forward its long-term strategic vision

Financial services firms have published their gender strategies showing ambitious targets to tackle the gender gap, as part of the government’s Women in Finance Charter which was introduced by the Treasury earlier this year

Top six firm BDO has breached the £400m mark for the first time as it announced revenues of around £405m in its annual results, released today

Deloitte is to plough €200m (£176m) into creating a single North West Europe firm which will bring together a total of eight member firms including the current UK and Swiss operation, which will merge with Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Finland, Norway and Sweden in a bid to increase its global and regional presence

PwC has merged PwC Legal into its UK business with effect from 1 October in a bid to create a multi-disciplinary practice

Paul Eagland starts his four-year term as BDO’s managing partner today, seeking to build the firm's profitability and sustainable growth, after revenues increased by 40% over the last three years

Professional development news roundup includes income growth for both PwC and Deloitte, growth of 20% at Menzies, OTS hires three non-execs