The largest Irish consulting firms with an accounting heritage

Ireland’s ten largest consulting firms with an accounting heritage generated more than €2 billion in fees last year, with the Big Four giants making up 86% of all fees.

With revenues of over €550 million, on an all-Ireland basis. PwC is Ireland’s largest professional services group that has its roots in the world of accounting. However, today, PwC generates around two thirds of its business outside of its traditional audit division, in services areas including tax advice, mergers & acquisitions, restructuring, management consulting and digital transformation.

The number two in Ireland’s accountancy and consultancy market is KPMG, followed by Deloitte and EY. Combined, the so-called Big Four earn nearly €1.8 billion in fee income, generated by a workforce of nearly 15,000 accountants, advisors, consultants and digital specialists. All four of the quartet are privately-held, owned by a group of partners that distribute the firm’s ownership and profits.

Aside from the Big Four, the top segment of the Irish accounting and consulting landscape features household names from the global industry. Grant Thornton is number four, ahead of BDO, while Mazars is punching above its weight in comparison to its international size.

A list of the 10 largest Irish consulting firms with an accounting heritage:

1. PwC
Revenue: €564 million
Number of employees: 5,288
Ireland boss: Feargal O'Rourke

2. KPMG
Revenue: €458 million
Number of employees: 3,210
Ireland boss: Seamus Hand

3. Deloitte
Revenue: €380 million
Number of employees: 3,170
Ireland boss: Harry Goddard

4. EY
Revenue: €373 million
Number of employees: 2,928
Ireland boss: Frank O’Keeffe

5. Grant Thornton
Revenue: €126 million turnover
Number of employees: 1,200
Ireland boss: Michael McAteer

6. BDO
Revenue: €69 million turnover
Number of employees: 520
Ireland boss: Michael Costello

7. Mazars
Revenue: €31 million turnover
Number of employees: 500
Ireland boss: Mark Kennedy

8. RSM
Revenue: €22 million
Number of employees: 185
Ireland boss: John Glennon

9. Crowe
Revenue: €19 million
Number of employees: 150
Ireland boss: Naoise Cosgrove

10. Baker Tilly
Revenue: €14 million
Number of employees: 120
Ireland boss: Neil Hughes

About the analysis

All data has been compiled based on the financial accounts of the accounting and consulting firms for their latest reporting year (pre-Covid-19). In the case no data is released by the firms, Consultancy.uk estimated fee income based on its UK & Ireland database of headcount and earnings per professional.