Get A Job With The Big 4

The Big 4 are the four largest international accountancy and professional services firms, which between them handle the greatest majority of audits for public companies as well as many private companies, creating a virtual oligopoly over the auditing industry.

The Big Four firms are shown below, with their latest publicly available data:

Firm	2008	2009	2010
PricewaterhouseCoopers	$28.2bn	$26.2bn	$26.6bn
Deloitte	$27.4bn	$26.1bn	$26.6bn
Ernst & Young	$23.0bn	$21.4bn	$21.2bn
KPMG	$22.7bn	$20.1bn	$20.7bn

Big 4 Performance

2009 was a difficult year overall for the Big Four accounting firms: Deloitte, Ernst & Young (E&Y), KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers(PwC), as their financial performance was affected by tough external conditions, slow global economic growth, cost-conscious clients and sluggish merger and acquisition activity. After an extraordinary period of continuous revenue growth from the early 2000s to 2008, mostly at a double-digit percentage rate, combined revenue for the four firms in fiscal 2009 did fall by 7% from fiscal 2008 in US dollar terms.

2010 was a much better year for all the Big Four accounting firms following a rough 2009, as their financial performance was buoyed by overall global economic improvement, high-growth emerging economies and improving client confidence. The combined revenue for the four firms in fiscal 2010 increased 1.4% from $94 billion in fiscal 2009 in US dollar terms to $95 billion. 2010 turned out be a year of moderate recovery, but even these small positive percentage changes in growth were generally welcomed by the firms as early evidence of a sustained recovery.

These large accounting firms posted some big numbers in 2010, their combined revenues was an eye-popping $95 billion.

Source: "The 2010 Big Four Firms Performance Analysis by www.Big4.com"

For all of the latest up to date facts, figures, news, analysis and job opportunities with the Big4 go to www.big4.com updated 16 December 2011

If you have recently qualified as an ACA, you are probably looking for the chance to take control of your career and develop your skills. BusinessWeek just released its 2009 rankings of its much-anticipated “2009 Best Places To Launch A Career” list and for a second year, these four firms completely dominate the list, taking the top four spots in the rankings. This year, only 69 companies made the list compared to 119 in 2008 due to more stringent criteria, making the 2009 list “both more exclusive and more competitive.” Thus, this year, there was more relative competition to make the list and this year’s rankings are at least 40% tougher than the previous year. Click here to gain a competitive advantage.

The Big 4 accountancy firms are currently recruiting and may provide the perfect role for you. Vacancies exist in London, the Home Counties, and Overseas in the following:

• Audit & Assurance
• Taxation
• Corporate Recovery
• Corporate Finance
• Forensic Accounting & Fraud Investigations
• Temping/Contract Opportunities

Who could apply for a position with the Big 4 firms?

Recently qualified ACAs from small, medium and large accountancy firms. Where specific UK qualifications are required they will take into account overseas equivalents.

Working For The Big 4

Working for a leading practice firm can offer high level responsibility on some of the world's largest companies, diverse experience and a fast track to success (whether in or out of the profession). Accountants can offer help in planning corporate strategy and addressing key issues such as preparing business plans for funding purposes, recruitment, negotiations with the Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise, advice on mergers and acquisitions, succession planning and assessing the likely implications for business profitability of opening new operations in new markets.

If you are serious about your career and want to land a job with one of them, you need an edge. You need to understand when and how you are being judged and the exact things that you can do and say to fly through the hiring process and avoid the pitfalls!

The Big Four public accounting firms (PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, Ernst & Young, Deloitte Touche Tohmasu) are the best in the industry and a launching pad for an amazing career.

If you've read anything about me on this site you will know that I joined KPMG in my early career and spent a number of years building up a career consulting practice within the KPMG Management Consulting part of the firm.

Working with a firm like KPMG (KPMG Peat Marwick in those days) is an incredible experience and one I would recommend to anyone who wants to develop their career.

Landing a job with one of the Big 4 is the ultimate final exam.... Click Here To Pass First Time

As I used to work for KPMG as a Management Consultant, which means I know how they work, why not let me write your CV for you?

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• Acounting Resumes

• Accounting Technicians Training

• Finance Director Cover Letter

• Finance Resume

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