What Is the Difference Between the Big 4 and Big 5 Accounting Firms?

Learn the difference between the Big 4 and Big 5 accounting firms, including key players like Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG.

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Big 4 refers to the four largest professional services networks in the world: Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ernst & Young (EY), and KPMG. They offer services in accounting, audit, and consulting. The term once included five firms, thus sometimes causing confusion with 'Big 5'.**

FAQs & Answers

  1. What companies make up the Big 4 accounting firms? The Big 4 accounting firms consist of Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ernst & Young (EY), and KPMG, which are the largest global professional services networks.
  2. Why was there a Big 5 before and what happened to it? The term Big 5 originally included five firms, but after the merger of two firms, the term Big 5 became less common, leading to the current Big 4 terminology.
  3. What services do Big 4 firms provide? Big 4 firms offer accounting, auditing, consulting, tax, and advisory services at a global level.

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