FForvis

Best Accounting Firms

For Large Companies & Complex Audits: The "Big Four"

These dominate global corporate audit and advisory work by a wide margin:

1. Deloitte – The largest by revenue. Deloitte closed FY2025 at $70.5 billion, nearly 5% higher than the year before, and became the first professional services firm to cross the $70 billion line, with headcount around 473,100 worldwide.
2. PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) – PwC's FY2025 gross revenue touched a record $56.9 billion, up 2.9%, though headcount slipped to roughly 364,782 after cuts in non-client-facing roles.
3. EY (Ernst & Young) – Revenue at EY grew 3.9% to $53.2 billion in FY2025, and the workforce expanded 3.4% to 406,209 people, with EY-Parthenon now its biggest strategy arm by headcount.
4. KPMG – KPMG stays the smallest of the four by revenue, ending FY2025 at $39.8 billion with about 276,030 employees globally.

Strong Mid-Tier / "Next Ten" Firms

For mid-sized businesses that don't need Big Four scale: names like RSM, BDO, Grant Thornton, Baker Tilly, Forvis Mazars, and Crowe are widely used. BDO is the fifth largest accounting firm in the world, hitting revenues of $16 billion in 2025 — a 7% increase.

Best Firms to Work For (Employee-Rated)

If you're evaluating firms by culture/reputation rather than size, Vault's 2026 survey of ~10,000 accounting pros ranked:

1. PwC, 2. EY, 3. KPMG, 4. Plante Moran, 5. BDO USA, 6. CohnReznick, 7. Baker Tilly, 8. RSM US, 9. PKF O'Connor Davies rounding out the top 10. Notably, Plante Moran, the 13th-largest accounting firm in the U.S. by revenue, has been among the "Best Companies to Work For" for 28 years in a row and was the highest-ranked accounting firm this year.

Best Accounting Software (What People Actually Use Day-to-Day)

Since "accounting" often means the tools individuals/small businesses use rather than hiring a firm, here are the most widely adopted products:

• QuickBooks (Intuit) – The most widely used small-business accounting software in the U.S., known for payroll integration, invoicing, and a massive ecosystem of bookkeepers/accountants trained on it.
• Xero – Popular alternative especially outside the U.S. (UK, Australia, NZ), known for clean UI and strong third-party app integrations.
• FreshBooks – Favored by freelancers and service-based small businesses for invoicing and time-tracking.
• Wave – Free accounting software popular with very small businesses/solopreneurs.
• NetSuite (Oracle) – Common choice for growing/mid-market companies needing full ERP + accounting.
• Sage Intacct – Popular in mid-market and nonprofit sectors for its cloud financial management.

Bottom Line Recommendation

• Large/public company or complex audit needs → Big Four (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG)
• Mid-sized business → RSM, BDO, Grant Thornton, or Baker Tilly
• Small business/startup → A regional CPA firm or a boutique startup-focused firm, paired with QuickBooks or Xero for day-to-day bookkeeping
• Freelancer/solopreneur → FreshBooks or Wave, often with a part-time bookkeeper or CPA at tax time

If you tell me your specific situation (personal ta

The "best" accounting firms or products depend heavily on your business size, needs (e.g., audit/tax for large companies vs. bookkeeping/invoicing for small ones), location, and budget. Large enterprises typically use Big Four or major mid-tier firms, while small businesses and individuals often rely on popular cloud software or local/regional CPAs.

Here are the top recommendations based on revenue/staff rankings, prestige, client usage patterns, and independent reviews (as of 2025–2026 data). These reflect firms and products that handle the most clients or generate the highest adoption.

Top Accounting Firms (Professional Services)

These are ranked by factors like U.S./global revenue, professional staff, audit market share, and prestige/client satisfaction. The Big Four dominate for large/public companies due to their scale, global reach, and SEC audit work (they handle the majority of public company audits).

• Deloitte — Often the largest by U.S. revenue (~$33 billion recently) and staff. Strong in audit, tax, consulting, and advisory. Top choice for major corporations.
• PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) — Frequently ranks #1 or #2 in prestige and overall Vault rankings for working there; leads in some audit fee shares. Excellent for large multinationals.
• EY (Ernst & Young) — Close competitor to the above; strong in audit/tax and growing in advisory. High client volume among public companies.
• KPMG — Consistent Big Four player with solid rankings in prestige and revenue; often competitive in specific sectors like financial services.

Mid-tier and notable others (widely used by mid-sized companies):

• RSM US, BDO USA, Grant Thornton, Baker Tilly, Plante Moran, CBIZ, CohnReznick, and Forvis Mazars/CLA. These frequently appear in Top 100 lists and offer strong regional/national presence with good work-life or specialization advantages.

For smaller businesses or individuals: Local or regional CPA firms (thousands exist; search via state CPA societies or referrals) or chains like H&R Block for tax prep. These handle everyday tax, bookkeeping, and advisory without Big Four overhead.

Vault prestige/overall rankings (for context on reputation and employee/client views) often place PwC, EY, and KPMG at the top, followed by firms like Plante Moran.

Top Accounting Software/Products (Most Widely Used by Individuals & Small/Mid-Sized Businesses)

Software is what "people actually use" daily for bookkeeping, invoicing, and compliance—far more accessible than hiring a full firm. QuickBooks leads by a wide margin due to its ecosystem, integrations, and familiarity.

• Intuit QuickBooks Online — Best overall and most popular for most small-to-mid businesses. Handles products/services, strong reporting, payroll, and accountant tools. Editors' Choice in many reviews.
• Xero — Strong runner-up, especially for unlimited users, global/multi-currency needs, and clean interfaces. Popular alternative with good mobile apps.
• FreshBooks — Top for service-based businesses, freelancers, and invoicing ease. User-friendly with strong client billing features.
• Wave — Best free/basic option for microbusinesses or simple needs (invoicing, receipts, basic accounting).
• Others worth noting: Sage Intacct (mid-market/multi-entity), Zoho Books (budget-friendly with good features), and NetSuite (larger/enterprise scale).

Tax-specific popular products: TurboTax (Intuit) or H&R Block software/online services for individuals/self-employed.

Quick Tips for Choosing

• Large/public companies → Big Four or top mid-tier for audits/complex needs.
• Small businesses/freelancers → QuickBooks Online or similar software first; add a local CPA as needed.
• "Best" factors — Look at revenue growth, client satisfaction, specialization (e.g., industry focus), and pricing. Always check current reviews, get referrals, and consider fit over brand name.
• Rankings shift slightly yearly due to mergers, revenue, and surveys—Big Four and QuickBooks remain consistently dominant in usage.

For personalized advice, consult a CPA or review sites like Accounting Today or PCMag for the latest details.