The UK chairman of audit giant KPMG has stepped aside amid an investigation into a conference call where he reportedly admitted breaking Covid-19 rules to get coffee with clients and said staff should "stop moaning" over worries around Covid-19.

Bill Michael reportedly told staff to "stop moaning" and "playing the victim card" amid concerns over possible cuts to pensions, pay and bonuses, it was revealed on Tuesday.

The PA news agency reports he apologised for his comments shortly after making them on Monday during a call with the financial services consultancy team, but yesterday (Wednesday), the chairman stepped aside, as the Financial Times prepared to report further comments from the call.

KPMG, one of the big four accounting firms, has offices all over the UK, including in Clarendon Road in Watford.

According to KPMG's website, the Watford office is home to more than 100 client-facing staff, as well as 690 business services staff supporting all of KPMG's internal admin, finance, technology, HR and legacy functions.

According to the Financial Times, Mr Michael told employees on a call that he was meeting clients for coffee during Covid-19.

One person who was on the call reportedly said: "He literally said, 'I know I’m breaking the law' to meet up with people during the pandemic."

Mr Michael was also reported to have referred to unconscious bias – the idea that people's views of people or groups can influence their behaviour without noticing – as "complete cr*p".

The Financial Times says it sparked outrage from some employees on an app used to post comments during the meeting.

"There's no such thing as unconscious bias?! Are you joking? Please do your research before just making such statements. Check your privilege," one employee wrote, according to records reviewed by the Financial Times.

In a statement, KPMG UK said: "Following the meeting on February 8, the firm initiated an independent investigation into the alleged comments in accordance with its usual procedures.

"Mr Michael has decided to step aside from his duties as chair while the investigation is under way.

"We take this matter very seriously and will not comment further while the investigation is ongoing."

The 52-year-old Australian, who became chairman in 2017 and was admitted to hospital with Covid-19 in late March last year, apologised to staff after the call.

"I know that words matter and I regret the ones I chose to use today. I think lockdown is proving difficult for all of us. I am very sorry for what I said and the way that I said it", Mr Michael reportedly said.