The accounting firms
Professional accounting firms can be categorised into the following three broad groups:
- Multinational professional service firms. The biggest names in accounting, whose clients include the majority of the world’s largest corporations and whose workforce consists of thousands of employees worldwide. Known as ‘the Big 4’, this group comprises the following firms: Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
- Second-tier professional service firms. Although not as large as the Big 4, these firms still command a significant national and international presence, and a client list that includes many high-profile organisations. Firms in this category include well-known names such as BDO, Binder, Grant Thornton, Mazzars and Neville Russell.
- Regional accountancy practices ranging from sole traders to large partnerships with branches spread over a particular geographic area. These firms provide accounting services to the thousands of smaller business that play such a crucial role in the UK economy.
Which firm is right for me?
As a rule, the larger firms tend to offer more generous financial rewards, better study support packages (including crash-course workshops, personal tutoring and paid study leave) and a wider range of post-qualification career opportunities.
Smaller firms, on the other hand, are normally associated with more relaxed work environments. Precisely which type of firm you train with will be determined by a variety of factors including degree result, personality, career aspirations, preferred geographic location and lifestyle considerations.
