How Deloitte, KPMG, EY, PwC — and Six More Global Giants — Compare
Most people can name the Big 4. Far fewer can tell you what comes after. Deloitte, KPMG, EY, and PwC dominate global accounting — generating a combined $220 billion in revenue in 2025 — but the list doesn't stop there. Beyond the Big 4, a second tier of global firms serves millions of clients across 120+ countries, hires tens of thousands of professionals every year, and represents serious career alternatives that most candidates overlook.
The Big 4 account for over 95% of Fortune 500 audits — but the firms ranked 5 to 10 collectively employ over 300,000 professionals and grow faster year on year.
Here is the full top 10, ranked by global revenue, with the numbers and the career angle that actually matters.
Positions 1–4: The Big 4
The Big 4 aren't just big — they're structurally different from every other accounting firm. They audit the largest companies in the world, advise governments, and operate across virtually every industry. Here's where each firm stands:
Deloitte — $70.5 billion in revenue (FY2025), approximately 473,000 employees across 150+ countries. The world's largest accounting firm, leading in consulting and advisory. Deloitte generates nearly half its revenue from the US market.
PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) — approximately $56.9 billion, 364,000 employees in 151 countries. The dominant name in global assurance and one of the largest tax advisory businesses in the world.
EY (Ernst & Young) — approximately $53.2 billion, around 400,000 employees in 150 countries. Known for audit quality and an aggressive expansion into consulting under the EY Consulting brand.
KPMG — $39.8 billion, approximately 273,000 employees in 143 countries. The smallest of the Big 4 by revenue, with one of the strongest reputations in financial services audit and tax advisory.
Positions 5–10: The Mid-Tier Firms That Don't Get Enough Credit
Below the Big 4, a second tier of well-funded international networks quietly serves the bulk of mid-market businesses worldwide — and recruits aggressively.
BDO International (5th) — $11 billion globally (FY2025), 94,900 professionals across 870 offices in 166 countries. BDO is the fastest-growing of the top-tier networks and the firm most actively challenging Big 4 market share in the mid-market.
RSM International (6th) — $7.7 billion, 41,000+ professionals in 120 countries. RSM is the go-to network for mid-market businesses with cross-border needs, and consistently ranked among the best workplaces in its sector.
Grant Thornton (7th) — estimated $7–8 billion globally, with particular strength in the UK, US, Ireland, and Asia-Pacific. Grant Thornton has a strong reputation for employee development and a flatter hierarchy than the Big 4.
Baker Tilly International (8th) — a leading global network across 145+ territories, with deep expertise in advisory and tax for privately held businesses and family enterprises.
Nexia International (9th) — one of the oldest global accounting associations, active in 120+ countries with a focus on cross-border accounting for SME clients.
Crowe Global (10th) — a 145-country network with recognised strength in financial services, healthcare, and not-for-profit audit — and one of the most specialist mid-tier options globally.
What the Full Top 10 Means for Your Career
The ranking matters — but not the way most candidates think.
For students and entry-level candidates: BDO, RSM, and Grant Thornton all run structured graduate programmes with formal training, professional qualification support, and clear promotion paths — at a fraction of the competition you face at the Big 4.
For career changers and lateral hires: Firms ranked 5–10 actively recruit experienced professionals, especially in advisory, technology consulting, and specialist tax. Their hiring windows are more flexible and their processes less standardised.
For long-term career planning: Many professionals start at a Big 4 firm, earn their qualification, and move to BDO or Grant Thornton for faster promotion to manager and director — with broader client responsibility and more direct partner access.
Six Skills That Matter Across Every Firm in the Top 10
Whether you're targeting the Big 4 or the mid-tier, the skills that get you hired are consistent across the board.
Technical accounting knowledge: ACA, ACCA, CPA, or an equivalent professional qualification. Every top-10 firm values credentials above almost anything else at the entry level.
Client communication: The ability to translate complex financial findings into plain language — this separates strong candidates from standout ones at every level.
Data fluency: Excel is the floor. Familiarity with Power BI, Tableau, or Alteryx is increasingly expected, particularly at advisory-heavy firms like Deloitte and EY.
Industry specialisation: Focusing on a sector — financial services, healthcare, tech, real estate — makes you more placeable at mid-tier firms, where teams are smaller and specialist expertise goes further.
IFRS and cross-border awareness: International reporting standards and transfer pricing knowledge matter across every firm in the top 10 with a global client base.
Commercial awareness: Understanding why a client makes the business decisions it does — not just the accounting behind them. All top-10 firms hire people who ask "why" as much as "how."
How to Use This Ranking in Your Job Search
Widen your target list: Most candidates apply only to the Big 4. Adding BDO and RSM doubles your live applications with comparable prestige and significantly less competition at the door.
Research by specialisation: Healthcare audit? Look at Crowe. Cross-border advisory? RSM or Nexia. Technology consulting? Deloitte or EY. Match your interests to each firm's known strengths before you apply.
Apply early and track deadlines: Big 4 recruitment windows open months in advance. Mid-tier firms often recruit on a rolling basis — check their careers pages regularly throughout the year.
Attend firm events: Virtual open days, in-person insight days, and networking evenings are the most direct route to a recruiter conversation.
Prepping for a Big 4 interview?
Where to Find Opportunities at the Top Accounting Firms
Recruitment events are how firms identify strong candidates before formal applications open. Every top-10 firm runs structured events during peak season:
Virtual insight days — First-look programmes for undergraduates, typically September to November and January to March.
Graduate open days — Held at regional offices, covering service lines, culture, and the application process in depth.
Networking dinners and panels — Targeted at final-year students and MBA candidates; competitive to attend, but a strong signal of interest to recruiters.
Diversity and inclusion programmes — Every firm in the top 10 runs dedicated access events, often the most direct route for candidates from underrepresented backgrounds.
Mid-tier open events — BDO, RSM, and Grant Thornton run their own programmes with smaller cohort sizes and more accessible entry requirements than the Big 4.
Know the Full Landscape Before You Apply
The top 10 accounting firms collectively employ over 1.6 million professionals and generate more than $230 billion in global revenue. The Big 4 lead by a wide margin — but they aren't the only option, and for plenty of candidates, they're not the best one.
Know the full landscape. Apply to more than four firms. And attend the events — because a conversation at a virtual open day moves faster than any application form.
Most candidates overlook BDO, RSM, and Grant Thornton — which means less competition, faster timelines, and often the same quality of professional training as the Big 4.
Track open events from Deloitte, KPMG, EY, and PwC — all in one place. Find your next opportunity and get ahead of the recruitment calendar.
