Best Accounting Firms in the United States

  • Ernst and Young
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers
  • Deloitte
  • KPMG
  • Grant Thornton

Accounting is a profession that has been around for thousands of years. It started as a group of simple methods for recording inflow of goods and evolved into complex systems of revenue recognition, taxation, budgeting, and more. Hence why most top accounting companies in the United States are continuously expanding.

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1. Ernst and Young

Headquartered in London, Ernst and Young is one of the biggest four accounting companies in the world. It specializes in assurance and taxation services. Additionally, it holds countless offices around the United States where tens of thousands of professionals work. One of the most obvious factors that help it earn the classification of a top accounting firm in the U.S. is a long-lasting track record. Meaning, this firm continues to grow revenues and number of employees every year. It is also a corporate partner to dozens of organizations that support local communities.

2. PricewaterhouseCoopers

Speaking of the top accounting enterprises in the United States would not be possible without mentioning PwC. It was founded in 1849 and has its headquarters in London as well. In 2017, it accumulated a whopping $37.7 billion in revenue. The majority of it came from PwC’s auditing practice that currently oversees some of the largest corporations in the nation. Although the firm became what it is today after a large merger in 1998, it always differentiated itself by outstanding performance and customer service. Additionally, it continues to invest millions of dollars into its employees that come from various backgrounds.

3. Deloitte

Out of all four largest accounting firms in the world, Deloitte is the winner when it comes to yearly revenues and the number of employees. According to Statista’s findings for 2017, Deloitte had nearly $39 billion in revenues, which puts it ahead of PwC. It also has over 263,900 employees around the globe which is by far the largest number for any accounting firm anywhere. Thus, listing it as one of the top accounting companies in the U.S. is a must. Unlike the previous two, Deloitte is headquartered in New York.

4. KPMG

Although KPMG is the “smallest” of the biggest four accounting companies, it remains one of the strongest companies in the world. Its center of operation is in Amstelveen, Netherlands, but its presence in the United States brings it most of its annual revenues. It was founded in 1987 and soon found its way to the U.S. where young interns were recruited while full-time employees found their way over from other industries. To this day, KPMG remains one of the most popular alternatives for young accountants as its work-and-travel programs are outstanding. It also works with many popular companies in the United States via yearly audit and tax services.

5. Grant Thornton

Of course, a company does not have to be one of the largest in the world to earn a spot on the list of top accounting firms in the United States. Grant Thornton, for instance, showcases this perfectly. With approximately $5 billion in annual revenues, it continues to serve countless middle-market businesses with unprecedented accuracy and professionalism. Like some of the big four, it is centered in London and was founded in 1980. Regardless of its U.K. origins, it has 58 offices in the U.S. and more than 550 partners who work there.

As accounting continues to develop, more firms are bound to emerge. Regardless, however, most will not achieve the status of the aforementioned five. After all, being one of the top accounting companies in the United States takes a lot of time and effort.