Accounting giant PwC has launched a new scheme that allows new employees the option to work whenever they want, and for as few or many hours as they choose.

In response to the "increasing demand from people to work flexibly and forgo traditional working patterns", the "flexible talent network" will give potential staff the option to work for the firm without being tied into a full-time contract and standard working hours.

"People can choose a working pattern that works for them – whether that’s shorter hours or only working for a few months a year," a spokeswoman for the firm said.

The scheme, which has already received more than 2,000 applicants, represents a shift towards flexible working and an increased focus on promoting a healthy work/life balance, driven by a millennial workforce that has come to expect a different kind of corporate culture to their predecessors. Spaces on the scheme are theoretically unlimited, although it is dependent on whether the company has a role that suits the hours that the applicant desires.

A study commissioned by PwC found that nearly half (46pc) of 2,000 respondents said flexible working and a culture of good work/life balance was the most important factor when choosing a job.

Separate research by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants last year found that flexibility overtook salary as the biggest motivator among qualified accountants for the first time.