How to Get a Job at a Top Accounting Firm

Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers, EY, and KPMG, referred to as “the Big Four,” are the top accounting firms in the world. Their accountants work with some of the most successful companies in the country, performing 80% of the audits of U.S. public companies, according to Becker. Fortune reports that they also perform the audits of nearly all the Fortune 500 companies.

Given the high profile of these accounting firms, gaining a position at one of them can be intensely competitive. Professionals interested in pursuing a job at a top accounting firm should first learn about the differences between them to know which matches their strengths and career interests, and what education and skills are necessary to qualify for roles there. 

Prospective candidates for a job at any of the top accounting firms should consider the benefits of earning an advanced degree to help them achieve their career goals.

What Are the Top Accounting Firms in the U.S.?

Eight major accounting firms used to operate in the United States and abroad, but after a series of mergers and the dissolution of Arthur Andersen due to the 2001 Enron scandal, four primary accounting firms currently provide services to most public U.S. businesses. 

Here is an overview of the primary focus of each of the Big Four accounting firms.

Deloitte

Deloitte specializes in operational strategy, technology, and leveraging human capital. The company places a high value on ethical conduct and integrity. It hires applicants with both undergraduate and graduate degrees.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)

PwC operates in more than 155 countries, focusing on sustainable innovation, risk assessment, regulation compliance, and cost alignment. It regularly provides consulting on strategy, management, and technology. It offers part-time internships to students, allowing those pursuing an education to earn real-life experience at a prestigious institution.

EY

EY (formerly Ernst & Young) focuses on business transformation, offering consulting services related to information technology (IT) risk, assurance, and performance improvement. EY regularly hires individuals with minimal job experience, such as those with a master’s degree who have less than three years of job experience. EY emphasizes social impact, collaboration, and ensuring career growth.

KPMG

KPMG (Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler) provides consulting on business performance, protection, digital adoption, and environmental and social governance. However, their primary focus is on analytical and technical work, offering accountants interested in the details of Fortune 500 operations an opportunity to concentrate on interior operations. 

What Does Working for a Top Accounting Firm Entail?

As the largest accounting firms in the United States, the Big Four provide financial services such as auditing, tax, valuation, assurance, market research, and legal advisory services to most public companies. The individual roles of employees within each company can vary depending on which services they are involved with. 

The clientele of these firms spans nearly every industry, including technology, healthcare, retail, government, nonprofits, and finance. While they collectively work with nearly every Fortune 500 company, each top accounting firm also provides services to small and medium-sized businesses. 

The Big Four are considered leaders in interpreting tax law and establishing auditing standards. Because of the stature of many of their clients and each firm’s long history, working for one of the Big Four is notable on an accountant’s resume, and can allow professionals to network and build connections that can benefit them for the rest of their career.

Steps for Getting a Job With a Top Accounting Firm

Given their status as the country’s major accounting firms, the Big Four are very selective and receive a large number of applications. While there is no defined pathway to a role at one of the top accounting firms, taking a few steps can help applicants stand out from their peers, such as earning an advanced degree, gaining a certification, and developing key skills.

1. Pursue an Education

While the Big Four don’t publicize their specific education requirements, most roles require at least a bachelor’s degree. However, holding an advanced degree, such as a Master of Science in Accounting, can help set a candidate apart in a large pool of applicants. Completing a master’s in accounting program can help individuals develop the knowledge and skills needed to analyze complicated accounting issues, write and speak about accounting effectively, and interpret and write accounting research.

2. Obtain Certification

Certifications help professionals showcase a measurable level of expertise in a subject. For example, many accountants earn the certified public accountant (CPA) credential, which is a state license to perform public accounting. While becoming a CPA isn’t necessarily required to work at any of the Big Four accounting firms, candidates may need to earn their license to compete with other applicants.

3. Develop Key Skills

Various skills can help candidates stand out to employers in the accounting field. These include both hard skills required to perform accounting tasks and soft skills needed to collaborate with clients and build relationships. 

Accountants can benefit from having high-level skills in areas that include:

• Accounting practices
• Regulatory standards
• Business practices
• Computer technology and programs, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) software
• Data analysis
• Attention to detail
• Leadership
• Communication
• Ethics

Advance in Your Career in Accounting

Whether you want to work at one of the Big Four or another top accounting firm, you need to stand out from other applicants to get hired. Gaining a solid educational foundation can be the difference between being chosen for a position and being passed over. Bryant University’s Master of Science in Accounting degree program can help you gain that foundation.

With a curriculum that covers accounting analytics, data management, and advanced assurance and oversight, Bryant’s program helps prepare students for roles at the Big Four. Additionally, by combining this degree with an undergraduate degree in accounting, the program satisfies the 150-hour requirement for CPA licensure and helps ensure students are ready for the CPA exam.

Find out how Bryant University’s exceptional faculty and small classes can help prepare you for a career with one of the country’s top accounting firms.