PwC’s main involvement with sport in Ireland has been through partnerships with the IRFU on under age rugby and with the U20 National team and with the GAA through the Gaelic Players Association.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino welcomed the decision of the Bureau of the FIFA Council as a further important step in the reform process underway at FIFA and an example of how the organisation is restoring its financial control and management mechanisms to the fullest. “We are delighted to have appointed PwC, and we look forward to working with them as FIFA moves forward with its programme of reforms,” said Mr Infantino.
The FIFA statement went on to read that “The appointment of PwC is the result of a thorough, transparent and open selection process conducted by FIFA with several different auditing companies. The offers received were assessed by the appropriate experts within the FIFA administration who submitted their proposal to the Bureau of the FIFA Council, in consultation with the chair and deputy chair of the Audit and Compliance Committee.”
“PwC is one of the world’s most respected professional services firms, and one of the “big four” providers in the field of auditing and advisory services, featuring a network of firms in 157 countries. Assurance is one of PwC’s core sectors, generating almost half of its revenues. PwC’s capabilities, reputation and global reach make it an ideal fit for FIFA as it continues its comprehensive reform programme.”
“PwC’s appointment will initially be valid until the next FIFA Congress, which will take place in May 2017. This Congress will decide on the appointment of FIFA’s statutory auditors for a full three-year period, as provided for by the FIFA Statutes.”
It is not known whether there will be any opportunity for staff from the Irish offices in Dublin, Cork or Belfast to have any part in the work for FIFA but it does take a step in differentiating the company from others in the space.
Two of those working in the Dublin office – Cian O’Sullivan and Seamus O’Shea, will have another busy week juggling their commitments in the tax and Advisory practice with playing a key role in the final destination of the All Ireland Football Championship.
It is unlikely they will be revealing any of the Dublin or Mayo tactics to each other though it would be interesting to eavesdrop any conversations between the pair in the Spencer Dock Offices just down the Quays from AIG
