The "Big 4" accounting firms, dominant global networks providing auditing, tax, and consulting, are Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ernst & Young (EY), and KPMG, known for their extensive revenue, worldwide reach, and significant hiring of accounting graduates. These firms offer diverse career paths beyond traditional accounting, specializing in management, assurance, and advisory services for major corporations, notes the University of Scranton and Becker CPA.
The "Big 5" accounting firms were Deloitte, Ernst & Young (EY), KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and Arthur Andersen; however, after Arthur Andersen collapsed following the Enron scandal in 2002, the industry consolidated into the current "Big Four": Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG, which remain the largest global accounting networks.
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.
The Big 4 are the four largest global professional services networks that dominate audit and assurance, tax, and advisory work for companies and governments worldwide. They are Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG.
History of the Big 4 accounting firms
In the late 1990s, the Big 6 became the Big 5 when Price Waterhouse merged with Coopers and Lybrand to form PricewaterhouseCoopers (later stylised as PwC). Five became four in 2001 after the insolvency of Arthur Andersen due to the firm's involvement in the Enron scandal.
A. Deloitte & Touche LLP is Microsoft's independent auditor.
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.
Certified Public Accountants examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.
The single most important certification needed for a Big 4 career is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
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.
What is the starting salary at Big 4 firms?
The key difference is that Deloitte is more strategy-oriented through its Strategy and Analytics practice, while KPMG focuses more on implementation, risk management, and operational transformation projects. Both firms are global powerhouses with thousands of consultants across multiple industries.
Audits by Ernst & Young. Apple Inc. practices financial transparency by regularly filing reports to the SEC, including annual Form 10-K and quarterly Form 10-Q, detailing financial performance and risk factors.
The Office of Inspector General contracted with the independent public accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP to audit NASA's fiscal year 2025 financial statements. The audit results found the financial statements presented fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of NASA's operations.
Making $500,000 a year is quite rare, placing you in roughly the top 1% (or slightly below, depending on data) of U.S. earners, with estimates suggesting only about 0.8% to 1% of individuals or households achieve this income, though government data can obscure this; it's a significant financial milestone, yet surprisingly, many high earners still feel financially stretched due to lifestyle inflation and high costs.
How Much Income Do You Need to Be in the Top 20%? The real median household income in the U.S. was around $83,730 in 2024, according to the Census Bureau data published in September 2025. In order to be in the top 20% of income, you'd need to earn double that amount: 175,700 per year.
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.