Productive work and the success of any business directly depends on the professionalism and quality of accounting. Observing the deadlines for filing reports, timely and correct payment of taxes, correct charges, timely posting of primary documentation, drawing up declarations are conditions that have a direct impact on the fruitful work of all departments of a company or enterprise.

Accounting allows the company to avoid misunderstandings with the authorities and representatives of tax services and prevent issuing fines and possible penalties.

Suppose we start to think about accounting companies. In that case, the most famous accountants are The Big Four - the nickname used to refer collectively to the four largest professional services networks in the world: Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. The four structures are often grouped for several reasons; they are each comparable in size relative to the rest of the market, both in terms of revenue and workforce. They are each considered equal in their ability to provide a broad scope of professional services. The Big Four offers audit, assurance, taxation, management consulting, actuarial, corporate finance, and legal services. These four networks conduct a significant majority of public companies’ audits and many audits of private companies.

PricewaterhouseCoopers

PricewaterhouseCoopers is a global professional services network of firms, operating as partnerships under the PwC brand. PwC firms work in 157 countries and 742 locations. 

The firm in its present form was created in 1998 by a merger between two accounting firms, Coopers & Lybrand and Price Waterhouse. Both firms had histories dating back to the 19th century. The trading name was shortened to PwC in September 2010 as part of a rebranding effort.

Based in London, United Kingdom, PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited is a coordinating entity for firms’ global network. It manages the worldwide brand and develops policies and initiatives to create a joint and coordinated approach in risk, quality, and strategy. It does not provide services to clients.

Deloitte

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, commonly referred to as Deloitte, is a multinational professional services network. Deloitte is one of the Big Four accounting organizations and the largest professional services network in the world by revenue and number of professionals, with headquarters in London, United Kingdom.

Deloitte provides audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax, and legal services globally with approximately 312,000 professionals.

 

KPMG

KPMG International Limited (or simply KPMG) is a multinational professional services network and one of the Big Four accounting organizations. The name "KPMG" stands for "Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler.” It was chosen when KMG (Klynveld Main Goerdeler) merged with Peat Marwick in 1987.

Headquartered in Amstelveen, the Netherlands, although incorporated in the United Kingdom, KPMG is a network of firms in 147 countries, with over 219,000 employees and three services: financial audit, tax, and advisory. Its tax and advisory services are further divided into various service groups.

 

EY

Ernst & Young Global Limited, commonly known as Ernst & Young or simply EY, is a multinational professional services network with headquarters in London, United Kingdom. EY is one of the largest professional services networks in the world. It primarily provides assurance (which includes financial audit), tax, consulting, and advisory services. Like many of the larger accounting firms in recent years, EY has expanded into markets adjacent to accounting, including strategy, operations, HR, technology, and financial services consulting.

EY operates as a network of member firms that are structured as separate legal entities in a partnership, which has close to 300,000 employees in over 700 offices in more than 150 countries around the world. The firm's current coalition was formed in 1989 by a merger of two accounting firms, Ernst & Whinney and Arthur Young & Co. It was named Ernst & Young until a rebranding campaign officially changed its name to EY in 2013, although this initialism was already used informally before its sanctioning adoption.
 

BDO

BDO or Binder Dijker Otte is an international network of public accounting, tax, consulting, and business advisory firms that perform professional services under the name of BDO. BDO has member firms in 167 countries, employs around 88,000 partners and staff in over 1,591 offices throughout the world, and is the fifth largest professional services network globally. Each BDO member firm is an independent legal entity in its own country. 

 

Grant Thornton

Grant Thornton is the world's seventh-largest by revenue and sixth-largest by the number of employees professional services network of independent accounting and consulting member firms. They provide assurance, tax, and advisory services to privately held businesses, public interest, and public sector entities. Grant Thornton International Ltd. is incorporated in London, England, and has member firms operating in over 130 countries.

RSM

RSM International, branded RSM, is a multi-national network of accounting firms, forming an extensive accountancy professional services network. The member firms of RSM in over 120 countries are independent accounting and advisory firms, each of which practices in its own right and is unified as part of the network. Firms advise on a wide range of audit and assurance, consulting, tax, risk advisory, IFRS, restructuring, transaction, and business and financial advisory solutions. 

 

Crowe

Crowe Global, commonly referred to as Crowe, is a multinational professional services network. It is the 8th largest global accounting network in the world. The network consists of more than 220 firms with over 42,000 employees in 130 countries. Crowe provides audit, tax, consulting, enterprise risk, and financial advisory services.

 

Nexia 

Nexia International is a global network of independent accounting and consulting firms. The network consists of 258 firms, 747 offices, and 3442 partners in 122 countries.  The network members deliver an extensive portfolio of audit, accountancy, tax, and advisory services.

 

Baker Tilly 

Baker Tilly International is an accountancy and business advisory network represented by 126 member firms in 146 countries. Baker Tilly provides business advisory and accounting services with a strong focus on long term business-client relationships.