There's no single "best" Big 4 firm, as the ideal choice depends on your career goals, with Deloitte/PwC often seen as most prestigious, EY strong in culture/development, KPMG great for specific practices (like audit/tax), and EY/Deloitte excelling in global mobility/consulting, but culture, team, and location are key, as all offer strong exit opportunities and similar prestige. Your best bet is to network, research office cultures, and align the firm's strengths (e.g., Deloitte's consulting, EY's work-life balance/culture, PwC's audit, KPMG's niche) with your personal preferences for work-life balance, service line, and exit goals.
PwC is definitely the best of the Big Four in terms of pay, training and organizational culture. It is after all the world's leading and largest professional services firm. It has also been ranked as the leading graduate employer for 8 years in a row.
There's no single "best" Big 4 firm, as it depends on individual priorities (prestige, culture, service line), but Deloitte and PwC often lead in revenue, market perception, and prestige, while KPMG and EY offer strong cultures and focus areas, with all four providing excellent career launchpads. Deloitte excels in consulting/tech, PwC leads in traditional audit/advisory, EY offers great learning, and KPMG is known for its people-focused environment.
PwC and Deloitte are the most prestigious
If you ask most people about prestige, they'll probably rank PwC/Deloitte > EY > KPMG. This is reflected in pricing, for example.
Of the Big 4, KPMG is the smallest and also the only one operating outside of London—the firm's headquarters is in Amstelveen, Netherlands.
Landing a highly sought-after position at one of the "Big 4" firms—Deloitte, Ernst & Young (EY), PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG)—is exceptionally challenging due to extremely low acceptance rates (ranging from 0.85% to 4%), but is desirable due to high potential for career ...
BDO – $14 billion (BDO Accounting Firm Information) RSM $10 billion. Grant Thornton – $8 billion. Crowe $ 5.8 billion.
Here are some points to keep in mind: PwC is particularly prestigious and the people working there know it. The firm's reputation and solid audit business create a sense of stability.
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.
KPMG Work Culture
Though the smallest of the Big 4 firms, KPMG is known to have the best work-life balance amongst its employees.
What is the starting salary at Big 4 firms?
Will AI replace accountants? Not entirely—but it will change accounting. Firms that embrace AI and technology will attract forward-thinking clients and top talent. Accountants who pair their expertise with AI tools will stay ahead of the curve.
GPA requirements at Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and other Big 4 firms typically range from 3.3 to 3.6 depending on the team, role type, and office. These firms look for steady academic performance but generally apply more flexibility than strategy focused firms.
Walt Disney company and PWC. We begin with Disney, in 2023 one hundred years old. At $180 billion, it is the largest entertainment corporation in the world and its auditor, Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) is one of the Big 4 global accountant partnerships.