PricewaterhouseCoopers has announced 71 new appointments at partner level today.

The changes consist of 56 promotions in addition to 15 new partners recruited externally. The UK arm of the PwC network will now have a total of 850 partners, the firm stated.

With 30 admitted to the assurance practice, 23 to tax and 18 to advisory, the new partners span all of the firm's business areas and regions.

PwC's chairman Kieran Poynter said: 'We are delighted to see the promotion of so many skilled and experienced individuals, together with a set of extremely high-quality external partner appointments.

'Our strategy is to ensure that we are able to offer our clients a breadth and depth of talent and experience across all areas of our business, and this year's partner admissions demonstrate continued confidence in our future.'