The Big 4
The “Big 4” is a term used to refer to the four largest accounting and professional services firms in the world: Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG. These firms are known for their expertise in a range of areas, including auditing, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services. They have a global presence and work with a variety of clients, including large multinational corporations, small and medium-sized businesses, and governments. The term “Big 4” is often used to refer to the dominance of these firms in the accounting and professional services industry.
Deloitte
Deloitte is one of the largest professional services firms in the world. It offers a wide range of services in areas such as auditing, consulting, tax, and financial advisory. It was founded in London in 1845 by William Welch Deloitte. The company was founded with the goal of providing independent and expert advice to businesses, and over the years it has grown to become one of the key accounting and professional services firms in the world. Deloitte is known for its global presence and its ability to help clients solve complex business problems. The firm has over 286,000 employees and operates in more than 150 countries.
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
PwC, or PricewaterhouseCoopers, is a professional services firm that was founded in London in 1849 by Samuel Lowell Price, William Cooper, and George Edward Batten. The company was originally called Price, Waterhouse & Co. and was established to provide independent assurance (now known as auditing) services to businesses. In 1998, Price Waterhouse and Coopers & Lybrand merged to form PricewaterhouseCoopers, or PwC for short. Today, PwC is one of the largest professional services firms in the world and has operations in 157 countries with 276,000 employees. The company offers a wide range of services including auditing, consulting, and tax and financial advisory services.
Ernst & Young (EY)
Ernst & Young, or EY as it is commonly known, is a professional services firm that was founded in London in 1989 through the merger of Ernst & Whinney and Arthur Young & Co. Both of these firms had long and storied histories, with Ernst & Whinney tracing its roots back to 1849 and Arthur Young & Co. to 1906. The merger of the two firms created a global professional services powerhouse and today EY is one of the largest professional services firms in the world, with operations in 150 countries with over 300,000 employees. The company offers a wide range of services including assurance (formerly known as auditing), consulting, and tax and financial advisory services.
KPMG
KPMG is a professional services firm that was founded in the Netherlands in 1987 through the merger of two smaller firms, Klynveld Main Goerdeler and Peat Marwick. The name KPMG was formed by combining the initials of the three founding member firms. KPMG has grown significantly since its founding and today it is one of the largest professional services firms in the world, with operations in 147 countries with more than 207,000 employees. The company offers a wide range of services including auditing, tax, and financial advisory services.
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