Clients would be more likely to buy EY’s audit and consulting services if they were offered by separate outfits instead of as a combined firm because the split entities could offer higher quality audits and more technology-focused advice, new research shows.

Companies would be 62 per cent more likely to use EY's audit business and 57 per cent more likely to use its consulting services if they were offered by two standalone firms, according to Source Global Research, which provides research about the management consulting industry.