The professional services firm embroiled in a national scandal told Adelaide staff today that 141 roles at the Skilled Services Hub would be made redundant and a further 201 “realigned to our national workforce teams”.

The majority of redundant roles are in PwC’s trust and risk, and consulting teams, a spokesperson said.

The 201 realigned roles will remain in PwC’s Adelaide offices.

Former premier Steven Marshall opened the Skilled Services Hub in Rundle Mall Plaza on February 10, 2022.

He highlighted PwC’s commitment to expand the hub – which services PwC’s public sector and corporate clients – over the next three years to employ 2000 people.

“These 2000 desks are not about just servicing the South Australian business community – people will be doing work for companies right around the country,” Marshall told reporters at the time.

“There will probably be more work done here for Sydney then there will be for companies in Adelaide because that’s where a lot of that cyber work is.”

But PwC has since been engulfed in scandal and investigations after revelations senior partners passed on confidential federal Treasury information it gained as an advisor on multinational tax avoidance, to corporate clients.

In July, PwC sold off its government consultancy arm to Allegro Funds for $1. Allegro then spun off the government consultancy arm into a new firm called Scyne Advisory.

A further 197 PwC roles nationwide are being made redundant as part of the restructure, PwC announced today.

PwC said closing the Skilled Services Hub would address the divestment of its government business to Scyne and “a change in portfolio and strategic focus, as well as economic and business headwinds”.

“This decision is a result of our changed client base and our business environment, and does not reflect our commitment to South Australia and the South Australian economy,” the firm said.

“PwC Australia’s Skilled Service Hub was opened in 2021 in large part to support the firm’s growing public sector business and the data sovereignty requirements of those clients.

“But in light of the Scyne divestment, the impact the past few months has had on our business, and broader market conditions, many of the workforce demands met by the delivery centre are no longer required.”

Around 1300 staff and 100 PwC partners are transferring to Scyne Advisory.

PwC Australia chief executive Kevin Burrowes said: “These are extremely difficult decisions and my thoughts are with all of those people and their families impacted by the changes we have been forced to make.

“While we are optimistic about the future, PwC must take pragmatic action to manage these challenges and make difficult decisions to meet the needs of its clients and to ensure the long-term success of the firm.

“In South Australia and across the rest of the country, we will continue to serve our clients with the highest degree of quality and professionalism – and we are grateful to our people for the resilience and dedication they have shown their clients.”