Reckon

Short answer — my practical recommendation in Australia

For most Australians and small businesses, the best setup is usually:

Xero + a responsive local CA/CPA accountant who is a registered tax agent.
Xero is the default cloud accounting product in many Australian accounting/bookkeeping practices; a 2025 survey of 755 Australian accountants and bookkeepers found Xero leading the general ledger/ERP category, with MYOB second and Intuit QuickBooks third. (agilemarketintelligence.com.au)

For bigger or more complex businesses, use the firm tier that matches your size:

Best accounting firm brands in Australia

1. Big Four — best for large, complex work

The Big Four in Australia are:

• Deloitte
• EY
• KPMG
• PwC

Use these if you need large-company audit, complex tax structuring, transfer pricing, M&A, risk, ESG, government work, or multinational support. CPA Australia’s INTHEBLACK notes that Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC remain Australia’s largest firms by scale, each recording more than A$2 billion in revenue in the AFR 2025 Top 100 Accounting Firms list. (intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au)

My take: Great for corporates; usually overkill and expensive for a normal small business.

2. Best mid-tier firms — often the sweet spot for SMEs

These are the firms I’d shortlist for a serious Australian business that wants strong advice but not necessarily Big Four pricing:

• BDO Australia — arguably the strongest “next tier” brand; BDO says it ranked among Australia’s top five accounting firms in the AFR 2025 list, with A$606.5m revenue for FY2025 and about 12% year-on-year growth. (bdo.com.au)
• RSM Australia — strong national/regional coverage, good for tax, audit and business advisory.
• Grant Thornton Australia — good for growth businesses, corporate advisory, audit and private business.
• Pitcher Partners — very strong for privately owned, family and middle-market businesses; INTHEBLACK reported Pitcher Partners ranked ninth in Australia in 2025 with A$355.93m revenue. (intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au)
• Findex — widely used by regional businesses, SMEs and agribusiness clients.
• William Buck — strong reputation with private clients, SMEs and professional services businesses.
• PKF, HLB Mann Judd, Moore Australia, Nexia, Bentleys — good options where you want partner access and local specialist knowledge.

My take: If you’re a $1m–$50m turnover business, these mid-tier firms are often better value than Big Four. CPA Australia notes mid-tier firms are winning business because clients want more personalised service, better partner access, industry-specific advice and lower fees. (intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au)

Accounting software/products Australians actually use

Best default: Xero

For most Australian small businesses, Xero is the safest default because many accountants and bookkeepers know it, it has strong bank feeds, payroll, BAS/GST workflows and a large app ecosystem. Agile Market Intelligence’s 2025 research found Xero leading core accounting/general ledger usage among Australian accounting professionals. (agilemarketintelligence.com.au)

Best alternatives

• MYOB — still widely used, especially among older or established businesses, and a strong option for payroll/inventory-heavy setups.
• QuickBooks Online — good value and usable, but generally less dominant in Australia than Xero and MYOB.
• Reckon — still used in parts of the Australian market, though less of a default choice for new cloud setups.
• ATO myTax — best if you’re an employee with a very simple tax return; MoneySmart notes simple returns can be lodged for free online through myTax via myGov/ATO. (moneysmart.gov.au)

A 2025 Institute of Certified Bookkeepers survey showed heavy usage of the big three among respondents: Xero 90%, MYOB 71%, and Intuit QuickBooks Online 39%. (icb.org.au)

For personal tax returns

If your tax is simple, use myTax. If you want help, common consumer brands include:

• H&R Block — strong physical presence; H&R Block says it has over 400 offices around Australia. (hrblock.com.au)
• ITP — a long-running tax agent network; ITP says it has over 230 branches across Australia. (itp.com.au)
• Etax — popular online tax return option; ProductReview listed Etax Accountants as a 2026 award winner in tax preparation services. (productreview.com.au)

My final recommendation

If you’re in Australia:

• Individual with simple salary income: use ATO myTax.
• Individual with deductions, investments, rental property or side income: use a registered tax agent — H&R Block, ITP, Etax, or a local accountant.
• Sole trader / small business: use Xero + a local CA/CPA registered tax agent.
• Growing business: shortlist BDO, RSM, Grant Thornton, Pitcher Partners, Findex or William Buck.
• Large corporate / multinational: go to Deloitte, EY, KPMG or PwC.

Before hiring anyone, check they are a registered tax agent with the Tax Practitioners Board and ideally a member of CPA Australia or CA ANZ; MoneySmart specifically recommends checking both credentials, and notes only registered tax agents can prepare and lodge tax returns. (moneysmart.gov.au)

The "best" accounting firms in Australia depend on your business size, needs (e.g., tax compliance, audit, advisory, or complex international work), location, and budget.

For large corporates, multinationals, or listed companies, the Big Four (Deloitte, EY, PwC, and KPMG) still dominate due to their global networks, audit capabilities, and advisory depth. However, they've faced challenges recently, with revenues dropping amid scandals (like PwC's tax leaks), reduced government consulting spend, and a slower economy—leading many clients to shift toward mid-tier firms for core accounting and tax work.

Mid-tier firms have been the big winners lately, posting strong growth (often double digits) by focusing on personalised service, hiring talent from the Big Four, and leveraging AI/offshoring. They're often more agile and cost-effective for SMEs, which make up most Australian businesses.

Top Accounting Firms (Based on Recent AFR Top 100 Rankings)

According to the Australian Financial Review's 2024 Top 100 Accounting Firms list (the most prominent local ranking by revenue):

• Big Four leaders (still the largest by far, though contracting): Deloitte (top in some recent rankings), EY, PwC, and KPMG. These suit big audits, complex tax, or global needs but can feel less personal or more expensive.
• Strong mid-tier performers (growing fast and popular for many Aussies): BDO (5th overall, ~$540m revenue, up ~14%), Findex, RSM Australia, Grant Thornton, Pitcher Partners, PKF, and William Buck. These often rank highly for client service in mid-market and SME segments.

Other notable mentions from size/employee lists include Moore Australia, SW Accountants & Advisors, Hall Chadwick, and regional players like Vincents or Cutcher & Neale.

Recommendation for most people/SMEs: Go with a reputable mid-tier firm (e.g., BDO, RSM, Pitcher Partners, or a strong local one via your network) rather than defaulting to the Big Four unless you need their scale. Many accountants recommend firms that align with your industry (e.g., resources, agriculture, property) and offer good value. Check the AFR list or ask for referrals—word-of-mouth is huge in Australia. Look for Xero-certified or MYOB-partner firms if you're using popular software.

Top Accounting Software/Products People Actually Use

For day-to-day bookkeeping, invoicing, GST/BAS, payroll (Single Touch Payroll), and ATO compliance, cloud software is what most small-to-medium businesses and their accountants rely on. Xero leads the pack.

• Xero: The market favourite and most recommended by Aussie accountants/bookkeepers. Excellent bank feeds, 1,000+ app integrations, intuitive for growing businesses, strong ATO compliance. Plans start around $37/month (Ignite) upwards. Dominant for service-based and scaling SMEs.
• MYOB: Long-standing local favourite, especially strong for inventory, retail, or complex payroll. Good ATO integration; popular alternative to Xero.
• QuickBooks Online (Intuit): Great value, user-friendly, solid for simpler setups or those wanting strong reporting. Often rates highly for satisfaction.
• Others worth considering: Reckon (budget-friendly Aussie option), Zoho Books (free tier for very small turnover).

For most Aussies starting out or running SMEs: Start with Xero—it's what your accountant is likely already set up for, and it scales well. All major options are ATO-compliant for GST, BAS, and payroll.

Shop around based on your specifics (e.g., employees? Inventory? Need payroll add-ons?), compare pricing, and chat with a few accountants. Many offer free trials or demos. If you're a sole trader or tiny operation, even simpler/free tools like Zoho can work initially.

If you share more details about your business (size, industry, location like Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane, or specific needs like audit vs. basic tax), I can refine these suggestions! Always verify the latest with the firms or your advisor, as things shift yearly.