Below we present the list of Top 5 Accounting Firms in the World. For our methodology and a more comprehensive list please see Top 15 Accounting Firms in the World.
5. BDO
2020 Revenue: $10.3 billion
BDO is a professional services firm that provides accounting, consulting, and advisory services to businesses and organizations around the world. The firm was founded in 1963 and has a network of member firms in over 162 countries. BDO offers a range of services including audit and assurance, tax compliance and advisory, consulting, and financial planning. The firm’s clients include small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as large multinational corporations. BDO is known for its focus on innovation and its commitment to providing value to its clients.
4. KPMG
2020 Revenue: $29.2 billion
KPMG was founded in 1987 through the merger of four leading accounting firms: Klynveld Main Goerdeler (KMG), Peat Marwick Mitchell (PMM), William Barclay Peat & Co., and Thompson McLintock & Co.
In the early years of the firm, KPMG focused on providing accounting and tax services to small and medium-sized businesses. Over time, the firm expanded its services and grew its client base to include larger organizations and multinational corporations.
Today, KPMG has a network of member firms in over 150 countries and provides a range of professional services including audit and assurance, tax compliance and advisory, consulting, and financial planning. The firm serves a wide variety of clients, including small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as large multinational corporations.
3. Ernst & Young
2020 Revenue: $36.4 billion
Ernst & Young (EY) is a professional services firm that provides accounting, consulting, and advisory services to businesses and organizations around the world. The firm was founded in 1989 through the merger of Ernst & Whinney and Arthur Young & Co.
Ernst & Whinney was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1903 by Alwin C. Ernst and James B. Whinney, while Arthur Young & Co. was founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1906 by Arthur Young. In the 1980s, the two firms began to expand internationally and eventually merged in 1989 to form Ernst & Young.
Today, EY has a network of member firms in over 150 countries and provides a range of professional services including audit and assurance, tax compliance and advisory, consulting, and financial planning.
2. PwC
2020 Revenue: $43.2 billion
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is a global professional services firm that was founded in 1998 through the merger of two firms: Price Waterhouse and Coopers & Lybrand.
Price Waterhouse was founded in London in 1849 by Samuel Lowell Price, William Hopkins Holyland, and Edwin Waterhouse. The firm initially focused on providing accounting services to businesses and quickly established itself as a leader in the field. Over the years, the firm expanded its services to include tax consulting, assurance services, and business consulting. Coopers & Lybrand, on the other hand, was founded in New York in 1854 by James Lybrand, Adam Young, and John Coopers.
In 1998, the two firms merged to form PricewaterhouseCoopers, which has since become one of the largest professional services firms in the world, with a presence in over 150 countries. PwC offers a wide range of services to its clients, including assurance (including financial audit), consulting, tax, and strategy and consulting. The firm is known for its expertise in a variety of industries, including financial services, healthcare, and technology.
1. Deloitte
2020 Revenue: $46.2 billion
Topping the list of the top accounting firms in the world is Deloitte, a global professional services firm that was founded in London in 1845 by William Welch Deloitte. Initially, the firm focused on providing accounting services to businesses, and it quickly established itself as a leader in the field.
Over the years, Deloitte has expanded its services to include a wide range of professional services, including assurance (including financial audit), consulting, tax, and advisory services. The firm has a strong presence in a variety of industries, including financial services, technology, and healthcare.
In 1989, Deloitte merged with Haskins & Sells, a New York-based accounting firm, to form Deloitte & Touche. The merged firm became known as Deloitte in 2003. Today, Deloitte is one of the “Big Four” accounting firms, along with PwC, EY, and KPMG, and is one of the largest professional services firms in the world, with a presence in over 150 countries.
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