Ernst & Young's 13,000 partners are expected to pocket multimillion dollar payouts should a proposed break-up of the so-called "big 4' accounting giant go ahead.
Under a plan to split its audit and advisory operations, partners in the auditing business would receive a cash payout up to four times their annual pay - between US$1.7mln and US$3.6mln.
Meanwhile, consultancy firm partners would receive stock awards worth up to nine times annual pay, of US$5.95mln to US$8.1mln.
The average US or UK-based EY partner makes US$850,000 to US$900,000, the Wall Street Journal said.
EY, one of the big four accounting giants, said its consulting group will go public - via an initial public offering in late 2023 - but is subject to a partner vote.
EY aims to take its consulting business public, hiving it off from the group of accountants. The audit business would remain a network of partnerships after the break-up, while its advisory business would become a public company, the FT reported.
A split would liberate the advisory business, which offers services including consulting and deals advice, from the shackles of the audit division, the paper said.
EY audit clients such as Amazon and Google, currently off limits because of the risk of a conflict of interest, would be compelling targets for lucrative consulting work.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission is reportedly investigating the big four firms over possible conflict of interest violations.