What are mid-tier accounting firms?

Asked by: Prof. Lilla Corwin  |  Last update: July 22, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (34 votes)

What is a mid-tier accounting firm? Mid-tier firms are those that are not part of the Big 4 but are larger than your small local firms. They generally employ anywhere from 1,000 - 10,000 team members. Some mid-tier firms have name recognition throughout the industry, but many don't.

Who are the mid-tier accounting firms?

But there are big differences between working for a small to medium size practice (SMP), which range from a home office to having a national or regional multi-office presence, and multinational full-service firms, such as the Big 4 (EY, Deloitte, PwC and KPMG), and so-called mid-tier firms like Grant Thornton, BDO, RSM ...

What is a midsize accounting firm?

A small public accounting firm is typically under $10 million in revenue and may have 50 or fewer staff. A mid-sized public accounting firm, or middle market as some call it, may be in the $10 million to $1 billion range of revenue and could have 51-500+ staff.

What is considered a mid-tier company?

A midsize company, larger than a small business but not as large as a big corporation, typically has revenues between $10 million and $1 billion and between 50 and 250 employees.

What is the difference between Big 4 and mid-tier accounting firms?

A Big 4 is good if one wants to settle in Job & gain expertise in one field. Mid sized firm enables how to conduct audit right from beginning to end, the communication required, team work, handling different people & technical problem situations & makes the best out of the person to set up a practice.

What is a mid tier accounting firm?

45 related questions found

Can a CPA make 300k a year?

Can accountants make 300k? Yes, it is possible for accountants to make $300,000 a year or more, especially those working in public accounting or executive finance roles. However, salaries at this high level typically require extensive experience, professional qualifications, and a track record of success.

Is Grant Thornton mid-tier?

The Mid Tier accounting firms, and not just the ones at the top – e.g. BDO and Grant Thornton – do offer services outside traditional accountancy, tax, and advice.

What is a mid-tier accounting firm?

What is a mid-tier accounting firm? Mid-tier firms are those that are not part of the Big 4 but are larger than your small local firms. They generally employ anywhere from 1,000 - 10,000 team members. Some mid-tier firms have name recognition throughout the industry, but many don't.

Is Mazars a mid-tier firm?

Who are the top mid-tier accounting firms in 2025? The top companies are BDO, Aone Outsourcing, RSM, Grant Thornton, Crowe Global, Mazars, and Baker Tilly, renowned for their global coverage and success in the middle market.

Which accounting firm pays the most?

Public accounting firms, especially the Big Four (Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG), offer some of the highest-paying roles in the industry. Here's a breakdown of typical positions and their average salaries: Staff Accountant: $50,000–$67,000. Senior Accountant: $68,000–$82,000.

Can you make $500,000 a year as an accountant?

Can you make $500,000 a year as an accountant? It is possible, but labor market data suggests it is rare for accountants to earn such a lofty annual salary.

What are the 4 types of accountants?

The first step to choosing an accounting career path is to learn more about four main accounting types – corporate, public, government and forensic accounting.

What is the hierarchy of an accounting firm?

The accounting pyramid organizes accounting-related job titles into a hierarchy that ranks them by responsibilities and deliverables, with bookkeepers at the bottom, accountants in the middle, and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at the top.

Which Big 4 is hardest to get into?

Deloitte and PwC are described as more competitive.

What is a Tier 1 accounting firm?

Tier 1 firms are already on an annual AQR inspection and firm-wide review cycle. Tier 2 firms either have several PIE audits (for example, ten or more) and/or other risk factors, and are typically on a three-year cycle for individual audit inspection and firm-wide work.

What is considered a mid-tier firm?

Mid-tier firms – those with 11-249 partners – comprise around 100 ICAEW member firms, nestled between the Big Four and the rest of the market. These firms provide a critical service, supporting and advising a diverse range of SMEs across the country.

Is Deloitte or PwC more prestigious?

  1. #1. PwC. SCORE 8.906. 2025 Ranking. #1. ...
  2. #2. Deloitte. SCORE 8.851. 2025 Ranking. ...
  3. #3. Ernst & Young LLP. SCORE 8.620. 2025 Ranking. ...
  4. #4. KPMG LLP. SCORE 8.269. 2025 Ranking. ...
  5. #5. Grant Thornton. SCORE 7.017. 2025 Ranking. ...
  6. #6. BDO USA, P.C. SCORE 6.739. 2025 Ranking. ...
  7. #7. RSM US LLP. SCORE 6.652. 2025 Ranking. ...
  8. #8. Baker Tilly. SCORE 6.231. 2025 Ranking.

What is the new name for Mazars?

Forvis Mazars. Forvis Mazars is an international audit, accounting and consulting business formed in June 2024 by an agreement between Mazars and Forvis. Combined, the firms operate in the US and over 100 other countries, being among the top 10 global audit firms by revenue at the time of the agreement.

Is RSM or BDO better?

Compare company reviews, salaries and ratings to find out if BDO or RSM is right for you. BDO is most highly rated for Culture and RSM is most highly rated for Compensation and benefits. Learn more, read reviews and see open jobs.

What are the 5 classifications of accounting?

The five main types of accounting include cost accounting, financial accounting, forensic accounting, management accounting and tax accounting.

Is Grant Thornton a mid-tier firm?

Examples of mid-tier accounting firms include Findex, Pitcher Partners, Grant Thornton, BDO, William Buck, SW, KordaMentha, and RSM.

What are mid-tier companies?

Meaning of mid-tier in English

used to describe a company or organization that is neither very big nor very small when compared to other companies, etc. of the same type: Japan's mid-tier brokerages have made significant profits this quarter.

Is Grant Thornton or RSM bigger?

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.

How much do Grant Thornton managers make in Canada?

Average Grant Thornton Manager yearly pay in Canada is approximately $96,904, which is 14% above the national average.

Is Grant Thornton better than Ey?

Employees at Ernst & Young (EY) rate their Overall Culture a 74/100, with Business Development and Admin as the two departments that rate their experience the highest. Employees at Grant Thornton LLP rate their Overall Culture a /100, with HR and Finance as the two departments that rate their experience the highest.