The "Big Four" in accounting refers to the four largest global professional services networks: Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ernst & Young (EY), and KPMG, which dominate the auditing, tax, and consulting markets for major corporations worldwide. They provide comprehensive services like audit, assurance, tax, and advisory, handling the majority of audits for publicly traded U.S. companies and other large businesses.
The Big 4 are the largest accounting and auditing firms in the world: Deloitte LLP (Deloitte), PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ernst & Young (EY) and Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG). They're so big that their joint revenue in 2024 was—you guessed it—$212 billion.
Overview: KPMG is often considered the most conservative and audit-heavy of the Big 4. However, its consulting division—particularly in risk, forensic, and cyber—is respected and growing steadily.
The Big Four are the four largest professional services networks in the world: Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC. They are the four largest global accounting networks as measured by revenue.
Professional certifications: Obtaining certifications like the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is often a prerequisite to work at a Big 4 firm.
The highest salary at KPMG consulting can exceed $400,000 annually at the director level, with total pay influenced by base salary, performance bonuses, and profit sharing. In rare cases, senior leaders or partners may earn higher, depending on business generation and long-term firm contributions.
Tax shelter fraud
In February 2004, the US Justice Department commenced a criminal inquiry. The United States member firm, KPMG LLP, was accused by the United States Department of Justice of fraud in marketing abusive tax shelters. KPMG fired or forced the retirement of over a dozen who were involved.
There are millions of annual applicants to Big 4 firms in the US alone! As private companies, Big 4 firms don't publish their acceptance rates. However, some research exists that puts the chances of getting a Big 4 job between 0.85% and 4% depending on the firm.
The main difference between an accountant and a CPA is their level of education and training. Most jobs available to private accountants only require a bachelor's degree, but to work in public accounting, professionals must earn their CPA license.
According to the consultants we spoke to, the Big 4 hire from a wide range of degrees. That said, some degrees are more common, especially for more specialized types of consulting. Personally, I had a finance degree and I know there are a lot of people with accounting degrees, finance degrees, and economics degrees.
What is the starting salary at Big 4 firms?
A1: Financial Accounting, Cost Accounting, and Management Accounting are the three main types of accounting.
The average Big 4 Consultancy Firm salary in Canada can vary greatly by role. Annual salaries typically range from $100,000 (or $48) for a Manager to $100,000 (or $48) for a Manager. This is based on 45 salaries submitted on Glassdoor by Big 4 Consultancy Firm employees in Canada as of January 2026.
Accountants typically enter the field as junior accountants and gain more credentials as they progress, becoming staff accountants as they gain more experience. Responsibilities: A junior or entry-level accountant and staff accountant can have different responsibilities.
KPMG is the smallest of the four and has not made similar acquisitions and also is not as strong in its consulting reputation.
The Big Four consulting firms are Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (Deloitte), PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ernst & Young (EY), and KPMG International (KPMG). They are grouped together due to their dominance in the professional services industry.
Earn a master's degree.
While candidates can sit for the Uniform CPA exam with a bachelor's degree (120 semester hours), many states require 150 hours of education to obtain CPA licensure. A master's degree in accounting satisfies the 150-hour requirement.
Absolutely not. Many accounting roles don't require CPA certification. In fact, our Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Master of Science in Accounting are designed as non-licensure programs. That means they provide the essential accounting knowledge and skills needed for a variety of accounting careers.