PwC Finland was founded in 1954 when two visionaries, Olle V. Salmi and Henrik Virkkunen, established a small auditing firm. They soon hired Antti Helenius as an assistant, who became a significant figure in the auditing field and led the company for an impressive 37 years.
As the operating environment has evolved, PwC Finland has grown into an organisation with a broad range of services. Today, the company has more than 1,400 specialists helping clients grow, operate efficiently and responsibly, and report reliably. The purpose of our company and the entire PwC network is to build trust in society and solve important problems.
PwC Finland remains a Finnish-owned company, although it is part of the international PwC network. The firm has approximately 8,000 clients, including growth companies, family businesses, publicly listed companies, public sector entities, and private individuals.
Supporting businesses for 70 years
PwC Finland will celebrate its 70th anniversary at the end of 2024, marking a long and eventful history. You can explore the most significant milestones of PwC Finland on the timeline.
Founders
Olle V. Salmi (1905–1987) was the oldest and most experienced of the trio. He served as the representative of the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation until 1960. Before the war, he had worked in various financial management positions at SOK, OKO, and OKL. From 1960 onwards, he worked as a full-time auditor.
Henrik Virkkunen (1917–1963) was a professor of accounting and later rector at the Helsinki School of Economics, respected by students and in the business circles. He was known as an innovative developer of business ideas. His ideas played a big role in founding Konekirjanpito Oy and Tehokaluste Oy (now Martela). In addition to accounting, he was interested in management skills.
Antti Helenius (1930–2019) was an economist still learning the auditing profession when he joined Salmi and Virkkunen. Gradually, he became a central figure and opinion leader in the Finnish auditing field. During his 40-year career as an auditor, Helenius worked with a wide range of matters and acquired exceptional knowledge of the Finnish economy. In the auditing field, Helenius was known as an advocate for the core competencies and independence of traditional auditors.
"PwC Finland has grown and developed alongside its clients. Collaboration with our clients has been key to our success – without Finnish entrepreneurship, we would not be where we are today."
