BDO is a top-tier global accounting network, often ranked as the 5th largest in the world, with over 119,600 people, 1,800+ offices, and a 2024 revenue surpassing $15 billion. The firm provides auditing, tax, and advisory services across 166 countries, with a strong focus on the middle market.
As one of the industry's largest associations of accounting and professional service firms, BDO Alliance USA has more than 800 independent Alliance firm locations representing nearly every state and offering a comprehensive range of services.
Yes, BDO is widely considered the fifth-largest accounting network globally, often referred to as the "next biggest" after the dominant Big Four (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG) and is sometimes included in discussions about a "Big Five" or "Big Six" tier, especially in markets like India, but it's technically the #5 global player by size and revenue.
Insight into BDO The World's 5th Largest Accounting & Professional Services Firm. Are you ready to explore a career with one of the world's leading accountancy and business advisory firms?
The "Big 8" accounting firms were the dominant professional service networks before late 20th-century mergers and industry shifts reduced them to the current "Big Four": Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG, with the original Big 8 including Arthur Andersen, Arthur Young, Coopers & Lybrand, Deloitte Haskins & Sells, Ernst & Whinney, Peat Marwick Mitchell, Price Waterhouse, and Touche Ross, notes Wikipedia. The consolidation into the Big 4 happened through major mergers in the late 1980s and Arthur Andersen's collapse after the Enron scandal, leaving these four firms to audit most public companies today.
BDO International stands at the fifth rank for providing the largest accountancy network in the world. It is a worldwide professional services network and one of the best public accountancy firms.
Next to the Big 4. Ranking after the Big 4 are: BDO Global, the 5th largest accounting firm with 97,000 employees in more than 150 countries and 2021 revenue of $11.8 billion. RSM International's revenues jumped to $7.3 billion in 2021. Grant Thornton, with its 62,000 employees in 135 countries, generated $6.6 billion.
India's corporate audit market is experiencing unprecedented consolidation, with the so-called “Big 6” accounting firms-Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC, Grant Thornton, and BDO-increasing their stranglehold on India's largest listed companies.
Is BDO a good company to work for? BDO has an overall rating of 3.6 out of 5, based on over 14,664 reviews left anonymously by employees. This rating has decreased by 2% over the last 12 months. 66% of employees would recommend working at BDO to a friend and 60% have a positive outlook for the business.
BDO is a fine firm but no where close to the Big4 in terms of client base or breadth/depth of opportunity and services. Anyway if you are in audit it will be similar to EY but with less variety of clients.
Competitors and Alternatives to BDO External Audit Services
The Big 4 accounting firms salary ranges from $55,000 for associates to $390,000+ for directors, with partners earning $250,000 to $5 million. Consulting roles pay the most, while audit and tax salaries start lower, showing function is more important than the firm.
A Block Development Officer is qualified for salary by the norms of the Seventh Pay Commission. The BDO salary is Rs 18,500, without including DA, TA, or HRA. It may rise to Rs 45,500 and ultimately reach Rs 1,21,600 if the candidate is appointed as Deputy Development Commissioner.
BDO partners with Validis on accounting technology. Quintessentially and BDO to cut audit ties. SAP to become BDO's biggest international audit client.
In the Accounting And Tax Services market, BDO has a 0.21% market share in comparison to Deloitte Audit's 0.03%. Since it has a better market share coverage, BDO holds the 12th spot in 6sense's Market Share Ranking Index for the Accounting And Tax Services category, while Deloitte Audit holds the 27th spot.
How much does a Bdo make? As of Jan 15, 2026, the average annual pay for a Bdo in the United States is $155,270 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $74.65 an hour. This is the equivalent of $2,985/week or $12,939/month.
Overall, it seemed to be a very high stress career with long working hours, and repetitive which is why the turnover rate was extremely high year over year.
Mid-tier accounting firms combine global expertise with localized, relationship-driven service. They deliver cost-effective and agile accounting solutions tailored to SMEs and fast-growing businesses. Leading firms in 2025 include BDO, Aone Outsourcing, RSM, Grant Thornton, Crowe Global, and Mazars.
BDO USA Snags Top-Five Ranking on Vault Accounting 25 for Seventh Year in a Row. CHICAGO, April 23, 2024 – BDO USA, one of the nation's leading accounting and advisory firms, has once again placed in the top five of the 2025 Vault Accounting 25, a ranking of the 25 best accounting firms to work for by Vault.
The median yearly total compensation reported at BDO USA for the Partner Manager role in United States is $161,500.
5. BDO. Founded in 1964 in Zaventem, Belgium, BDO is arguably the fifth largest accounting firm, with an incredible revenue of 11.8 billion dollars in 2021. BDO offers tax services, consulting, business advisory and public accounting to a whole host of clients in over 150 countries in the world.
Comparing the customer bases of RSM and BDO, we can see that RSM has 114 customer(s), while BDO has 39 customer(s). In the Accounting And Tax Services category, with 114 customer(s) RSM stands at 8th place by ranking, while BDO with 39 customer(s), is at the 12th place.