Accounting Firms in US

Publication Date :

15 Sep, 2018

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US Accounting Firms Overview

Top accounting firms in the US are those firms that come in the top list of providing accounting services to individuals, organizations, and other entities in the US and include firms such as Deloitte, KPMG, Ernst, and Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) LLP, Grant Thornton, etc.

There are more than 1 38,000 accounting firms present in the United States. These firms become bigger in size and strength with the help of regular mergers, acquisitions, and international growth. Thus their rankings may vary with passing the time.

Accounting Firms have grown in size on the back of the rise in the equity market over the last five years. In addition, the effect of quantitative easing and lower interest rates for a very long period has resulted in the rise of capital markets and the expansion of businesses in the United States. As a result the accounting firms have benefited due to the expansions in business in the United States.

Over the last five years, the top line for the accounting firms has increased by 50% by providing payroll services, tax preparation, and accounting. The accounting firms in the USA employ close to 900000 employees. In the next few years, private investments and capital markets growth will drive further growth for accounting firms.

US Accounting Firms Overview

Services Offered By Firms

The services offered to the clients are-

Tax
Consulting
Audit and assurance
Mergers and acquisition consulting
Risk and Financial advisory

The industries catered by the accounting firms include Consumer, Energy resources and industrials, financial services, government, and public services, life sciences and healthcare, and technology media and telecommunications.

List of Top US Accounting Firms

Deloitte
PwC
Ernst & Young
KPMG
McGladrey
Grant Thornton
CBIZ/Mayer Hoffman McCann
BDO
Crowe Horwath
CliftonLarsonAllen

Let's discuss each one of them in detail -

#1. Deloitte

It is currently ranked as the number one firm and has an annual revenue of approximately $13,067 million. Deloitte has its headquarters in New York City, NY. It currently has more than 56,000 employees and has more than 80 offices in the United States.

Deloitte has its operations in the four key areas- audit, advisory, consulting, and tax. In addition, it boasts of a clientele of service professionals like data analytics, cybersecurity, finance and accounting, risk, strategy, operations, etc.

#2. PwC

This accounting firm comes in second place with annual revenue of $9,550 million. It has nearly 35,000 employees in the United States and has 73 offices in the United States. In addition, PwC announced its collaboration with Microsoft to develop a portfolio of services aimed at the tax division.

#3. Ernst & Young

This firm comes third in the ranking. It has a revenue of more than $8,200 million as of 2012. It has more than 29,000 employees and has its headquarters in New York City, NY. The company provides advisory, assurance, tax, and transaction advisory services (TAS). The company has clients from diverse consumer products, financial services, real estate, life sciences, media and entertainment, oil and gas, technology, mining, metals, etc.

#4. KPMG

KPMG comes at the fourth position in the rankings. This firm has an annual revenue of over $5,750 million. It employs more than 24,000 people and has 90 offices in the United States. The firm has its headquarters in New York City, NY. KPMG Has acquired Thomson Reuters. The firm provides services in the major areas of audit, tax, and advisory with an industry-specific focus in each domain.

#5. McGladrey

This firm holds the spot of number five in the ranking. This firm has an annual revenue of $1,280 million. This firm currently has 6,500 employees and has 75 offices in the United States. The firm has its headquarters in Chicago, IL.

#6. Grant Thornton

This company comes in the sixth position. It has annual revenues of $1,245 million and has more than 6000 employees. This firm has 54 offices all over the United States. The firm has its headquarters in Chicago, IL. This firm maintained its growth with the help of mergers and acquisitions. It is one of the largest organizations of audit, tax, and advisory firms.

#7. CBIZ/Mayer Hoffman McCann

This firm has its headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio. It has an annual revenue of $645 million. Currently, it has 4000 people working and has 133 offices all over the United States. The company went for a merger with Mayer Hoffman McCann.

#8. BDO

This company has an annual revenue of $618 million and comes at number eight. It has 2,771 employees and 42 offices all over the country. It has its headquarters in Chicago, IL. It provides a diverse range of services like assurance, tax, transaction advisory, investment banking, and corporate real estate.

#9. Crowe Horwath

This company is headquartered in Oak Brook Terrace, IL. It has an annual revenue of $595 million and has more than 2000 employees. It has 28 offices all over the United States.

#10. CliftonLarsonAllen

This firm comes at number ten. It has its headquarters in Milwaukee, WI. It has an annual revenue of $568 million and has 3223 people working in its 90 offices all over the country. This firm focuses on merger synergies and merger integration, which has helped the firm grow and gain higher revenues.