Organizations throughout the world use management consulting firms for a number of different business-related reasons. Consultants can help a company gain external and objective advice and access to specialized expertise while also providing organizational chain management assistance, development of coaching skills, process analysis, technology implementation, strategy development, or operational improvement services. They’re the free agents of the business world, helping companies in any way they can by bringing their unique skills to a business in need. Management consulting firms make billions every year by helping corporations work more effectively and efficiently. Scroll down to see the top five consulting firms in the world arranged by last year’s net revenue.
5. KPMG – $23.4 billion
The smallest of the “Big Four” auditors, KPMG is one of the largest professional services companies in the world. Founded in 1987 and globally headquartered in Amstelveen, the Netherlands, KPMG specializes in three lines of services: audit, tax and advisory, the latter two of which are divided into various service groups. The company’s motto is “cutting through complexity.”
4. Ernst & Young – $25.8 billion
Ernst & Young is a multinational professional services firm founded in 1989 through the merger of Arthur Young & Co. and Ernst & Whinney. Headquartered in London, England, Ernst & Young is the third largest of the “Big Four” audit firms, providing assurance (including financial audit), tax, consulting, and advisory services to companies in over 150 countries.
3. Accenture plc – $28.6 billion
Founded in 1989, Accenture plc has grown to become one of the largest consulting firms in the world. A multinational management consulting, technology services, and outsourcing company, Accenture plc serves clients in over 200 cities in 56 countries. The company’s current clients include more than three-quarters of the organizations on the Fortune Global 500 list.
2. PricewaterhouseCoopers – $32.1 billion
The second largest of the “Big Four” auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is a network of multinational professional services firms with operations in over 150 countries throughout the globe. With practices in assurance, tax, and advisory, PwC was named the sixth-largest private company in the world by Forbes in 2013. PwC is headquartered in London, England.
1. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited – $32.4 billion
Headquartered in New York City, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited–more commonly referred to as Deloitte–is the the biggest of the “Big Four” professional services firms. The largest professional services network in the world by both revenue and the number of professionals, Deloitte provides audit, tax, consulting, enterprise risk, and financial advisory services in over 150 countries.
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