Public Accounting Firms

The Big Four public accounting firms dominate the sector in terms of both size and prestige. These are the accounting firms that are used by the largest corporations and nonprofits. The Big Four also are leading players in the consulting field, especially in the realms of systems and operations.

Public accounting firms are vital cogs in the financial system as well as highly-regarded training grounds for professionals throughout the financial services industry, as well as in other industries.

Deloitte (full name Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu) is one of the Big 4 international public accounting and consulting firms. It is the world's largest professional services firm by revenue, and has aggressive plans for new hiring in 2011-2012.

Ernst & Young is one of the Big 4 international public accounting and consulting firms.

H&R Block is the world's leading tax preparation company, located mainly in the U.S., but also in Canada, the U.K. and Australia. A significant number of H&R Block's U.S. offices are franchises.

Jackson Hewitt is the second-largest tax preparation firm in the U.S., based on the number of returns prepared. Jackson Hewitt operates mainly through franchised locations.

KPMG is one of the Big 4 international public accounting and consulting firms.

Ladder Up is a Chicago-area nonprofit that assists low-income people with tax preparation and personal financial education. It utilizes volunteers from various disciplines, including finance, accounting and law.

Liberty Tax is a leading national tax preparation firm, offering its services exclusively through franchised offices.

PricewaterhouseCoopers is one of the Big 4 international public accounting and consulting firms.

Public accounting firms are often called in to perform forensic accounting in support of litigation or criminal investigations. Here is a introduction to the field, with a case study from the Guess vs. Jordache jeans war.