Top partners at accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers yesterday took advantage of a surge in growth by paying themselves more than £700,000 a year.
All partners hold equity status, there are now 793 of them, and their average income is £716,000, up 17 per cent.
The increase comes on the back of an 11 per cent improvement in UK turnover to £2 billion for the financial year to June 30.
Turnover has now grown by 25 per cent over the last two years, increasing a total of £400 million.
Underlying operating profits surged 24 per cent to £577 million, achieved with the help of a tight control of costs.
In the Midlands, PwC has achieved double digit growth for the third year running. That has lead to a record number of promotions to partner (eight) and director (twelve). The number of new recruits totalled 93, of which 60 are Birmingham-based.
Mark Smith, the region's new head of assurance, said: "Naturally, we are delighted that our growth continues apace. Over the last twelve months we have supported clients on a variety of important issues that may affect them ranging from technical matters surrounding Sarbanes-Oxley and IFRS to cross industry issues such as cost reduction, risk management and staff retention.
"Our support for companies wishing to list on the Stock Exchange or Alternative Investment Market also remains high.
"The international dimension is of vital importance for businesses of all shapes and size. There is little doubt that emerging economies such as China, India, Russia and Eastern Europe offer some companies the chance to significantly drive down their cost base and tap into new markets in order to sell their products.
"We are already working with existing clients to this end and such opportunities are here to stay. Arguably then our global reach is more important to us than ever before. But it is not just the FTSE 200 and mid cap business that we work with. A significant part of our growth has come from work with private companies and private clients. In fact, we have a thriving practice in this area supported by a great many people dedicated to supporting this important business sector."
Nationally, the firm's tax practice recorded growth of 15 per cent. There was strong demand for human resource services, particularly pensions and actuarial advice, which grew 20 per cent. There was also solid progress in the assurance business of 11 per cent.
Transactions services activity was at record levels, ahead 27 per cent. Advisory, up eight per cent overall, enjoyed significant gains, in particular within performance improvement consulting, which saw an 18 per cent jump in turnover. Corporate finance grew 13 per cent and there was a three per cent increase in turnover from business recovery services.
Kieran Poynter, PwC's UK chairman, said: "It is great to have reached £2 billion of turnover, but more important for me is the sustained growth and achievement in all aspects of our business.
"We have real momentum and are seeing an increasing differentiation between ourselves and our competitors."
The firm paid bonuses of £68 million - 31 per cent higher than the previous year - to staff.
PwC has also committed £140 million of additional funding to eliminate the staff pension fund deficits over the next three years.
Mr Poynter added: "Three years ago, just over one third of the firm's turnover came from non-audit clients and now, following a strategic refocusing, our turnover derives evenly from audit and non-audit clients.
"Our adherence to a simple winning strategy of leading through quality in each of our chosen markets and being a great place to work for all our people is paying off. I look forward to us building further on our achievements."