The Big Four are the four largest professional services firms providing audit, tax, advisory, and consulting services globally: Deloitte, PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers), EY (Ernst & Young), KPMG. Combined revenue: $200B+ annually. Audit virtually all large public companies — Big Four firms audit ~95% of S&P 500. Originated as 'Big Eight' (1970s), consolidated to Big Six, then Big Five, then Big Four after Arthur Andersen's collapse in 2002 Enron scandal. Career paths: Big Four audit experience accelerates corporate accounting, financial planning, and CFO trajectories. Compensation in Big Four advisory and consulting often exceeds investment banking after several years.
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Accounts Payable
Accounts Payable (A/P) is money a company owes to suppliers for goods or services received but not yet…
Accounts Receivable
Accounts Receivable (A/R) is money owed to a company by customers for goods or services delivered on credit.…
Accrual Accounting
Accrual accounting recognizes revenues when earned (regardless of cash receipt) and expenses when incurred (regardless of cash payment)…
Accrued Expense
An accrued expense is a cost recognized in the income statement before cash is paid — recorded as…
Amortization
Amortization is the systematic allocation of intangible asset cost over its useful life — analogous to depreciation but…
Audit
An audit is an independent examination of a company's financial records, internal controls, and statements — typically conducted…
Big Four
August 22, 2026 · Aditya Gupta
Accounting
Related terms
Accounts Payable
Accounts Payable (A/P) is money a company owes to suppliers for goods or services received but not yet…
Accounts Receivable
Accounts Receivable (A/R) is money owed to a company by customers for goods or services delivered on credit.…
Accrual Accounting
Accrual accounting recognizes revenues when earned (regardless of cash receipt) and expenses when incurred (regardless of cash payment)…
Accrued Expense
An accrued expense is a cost recognized in the income statement before cash is paid — recorded as…
Amortization
Amortization is the systematic allocation of intangible asset cost over its useful life — analogous to depreciation but…
Audit
An audit is an independent examination of a company's financial records, internal controls, and statements — typically conducted…
