Big 4 Audit Firms - Status

The Big Four are the four largest international accountancy and professional services firms, which handle the vast majority of audits for publicly traded companies as well as many private companies. The Big Four firms are shown below, with their latest publicly available data:

FirmRevenuesEmployeesFiscal Year

PricewaterhouseCoopers $28.2bn146,7002008

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu $27.4bn165,0002008

Ernst & Young$24.5bn135,0002008

KPMG$22.7bn137,0002008



TypeLimited Liability Partnership
Founded1849, London (in 1998, firm took on current name)
HeadquartersNew York City, United States
Key peopleSam DiPiazza, CEO
IndustryProfessional Services
ProductsAccounting
Audit
Consulting
Financial advisory
Tax
Revenue$28.2 Billion USD (2008)
Employees155,693
Websitewww.pwc.com


TypeSwiss Verein
FoundedLondon, United Kingdom (1845)
HeadquartersNew York, New York, United States
Key peopleJohn Connolly, Chairman
Jim Quigley, CEO
IndustryProfessional services
ServicesAudit
Tax
Consulting
Financial advisory
Revenue▲US$27.4 billion (2008)
Employees165,000 (May 2008)
Websitewww.deloitte.com


TypeMember firms have different legal structures, USA and UK: Limited Liability Partnership
Founded1989; individual components from 1849
HeadquartersLondon, England, UK (EY Global)
Key peopleJim S. Turley, Chairman and CEO
IndustryProfessional services
ServicesAudit
Tax
Financial advisory
Revenue$24,523 million USD (2008)
Employees135,730 (Global)
DivisionsAssurance, Advisory, Tax, Transaction
Websitewww.ey.com


TypeSwiss Cooperative
Founded1987; merger of Peat Marwick International and Klynveld Main Goerdeler
HeadquartersNew York, NY (global)
Key peopleTim Flynn (Chairman and CEO)
John B. Harrison, Chairman KPMG Asia Pacific Region
Ben van der Veer, Chairman KPMG Europe, Middle East and Africa Region
IndustryProfessional services
ServicesAudit
Tax
Advisory

Revenue▲$22.7 billion USD (2008)
Employees136,896+
Websitewww.kpmg.com