All of the "Big 4" professional services networks—Deloitte, PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers), EY (Ernst & Young), and KPMG—are renowned for their dominant role in auditing and assurance services. Together, they audit the vast majority of U.S. public companies and Fortune 500 firms.
The Audit practice of PwC is the best of the four. Deloitte is 2nd, EY 3rd, KPMG 4th.
Which big 4 accounting firm pays the most? Well it depends on which practice you want to go into. If you want to make the most money in consulting, Deloitte pays the best. However if you want to make the most money in auditing or tax PwC is likely your best bet.
Nvidia is audited by the San Jose branch of PwC.
EY serves as Apple's auditor and has done so since 2009, according to Apple's 10-K filing for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2025. In 2024, Apple paid EY $30 million in fees for the year ending September 28, 2024, up from $25 million the year before.
The effectiveness of the Firm's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears herein.
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.
It's usually effectively <10% client travel (year end inventories) or 50%+ client travel (actual clients in other areas). You also likely won't be going to the cool destinations you have in your head. You'll be going to smaller cities or towns that aren't big enough to have a local branch of your firm.
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.
On June 8, 2020, the Audit, Compliance and Valuation Committee of the Board of Trustees (the Board) approved, and on June 9, 2020, the Board approved, Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Investments, Schwab ...
Alphabet. Alphabet, the parent company of Google, is audited by EY, according to its statement following the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Alphabet paid EY $6.5 million in fees for auditing and other professional services across its 2024 fiscal year, the statement shows.
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.
The situation is worst at Big Four accounting firms. Almost three-quarters (71%) of survey takers who work for them said they feel their mental health suffers because of work pressures. Additionally, 51% of them said they've considered resigning from their job because of wellbeing issues.
While CPAs often work in auditing, it's not a requirement for many internal auditing positions.
Baker Tilly, LLC provides auditing services for the City of Palo Alto and the City's contract with Baker Tilly specifies the designation of a City Auditor. On May 6, 2024, the City Council formally appointed Kate Murdock as City Auditor.
In accordance with the Act, the DoD Office of Inspector General is the principal auditor for the U.S. Department of the Army (Army) General Fund Financial Statements.