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Today, we’re excited to release the 2027 Vault Accounting 25, a ranking of the best accounting firms to work for. The ranking is based on our survey of more than 8,000 accounting professionals who were asked to rate their firms in several workplace categories, including compensation, culture, hours, training, work-life balance, and more. They were also asked to rate firms other than their own in terms of prestige.
Based on those ratings, here are the top 10 firms in the 2027 Vault Accounting 25:
1. PwC
2. EY
3. KPMG
4. Plante Moran
5. BDO USA
6. Baker Tilly
7. CohnReznick
8. PKF O’Connor Davies
9. RSM
10. Eide Bailly
No. 1 PwC offers “the best career development opportunities out of any accounting firm”
Big 4 firm PwC again ranks No. 1 in the Accounting 25 this year. It also again takes the No. 1 spot in our Prestige Rankings and in all three Practice Area Rankings (Audit & Assurance, Tax Accounting, and Forensic Accounting). In addition, it ranks among the top 10 firms in Formal Training as well as Informal Training.
According to PwC staff members, the firm offers “a really good mentorship program that you’re in from the start,” “the abilty to truly own your career,” “trainings that are constantly being developed and easily accessible for all employees,” and a “supportive, team culture with great, high-quality people.”
One PwC insider sums up their experience like this: “PwC has provided me with so many great opportunities, including the ability to move to multiple offices throughout my career and through various rotations in other lines of services. I think the career development opportunities at PwC are the best out of any accounting firm.”
No. 2 EY has a “great culture and exceptionally smart, friendly, knowledgeable people”
Fellow Big 4 firm EY holds steady at No. 2 in the Accounting 25, No. 3 in Prestige, and No. 3 spot in all three Practice Area Rankings. EY also ranks among the top 15 in Formal Training and Promotion Policies. EY insiders tell us that the best parts about working for the firm are the “great culture and exceptionally smart, friendly, nice, knowledgeable people”; “emphasis on professional development and career growth opportunities;” “having the name EY on your resume”; and “getting experience with public and private clients.”
No. 3 KPMG offers “stimulating and satisfying cutting-edge work”
KPMG holds onto its No. 3 ranking in the Accounting 25, while also holding onto its No. 4 ranking in Prestige. In addition, it ranks No. 6 in Client Interaction and No. 5 in Formal Training. According to KPMG insiders, among the aspects they most appreciate about working for the firm are “the quality of coworkers and clients,” “stimulating and satisfying cutting-edge work,” “high level of responsibility,” “opportunities for lateral moves and rotations,” and “alternative work arrangements."
No. 4 Plante Moran offers “incredible coaching, leadership, and guidance”
Metro Detroit-based Plante Moran keeps its No. 4 ranking in the Accounting 25, while also earning No. 1 rankings in these categories: Business Outlook, Client Interaction, Compensation, Culture, Hiring Process, Informal Training, Promotion Policies, Relationships with Supervisors, and Satisfaction. Additionally, the firm takes the No. 2 spot in all four Inclusion Rankings.
Speaking to the growth opportunities at the firm, one Plante Moran accountant says, “So many colleagues and people in the firm have invested significant time in my development and have mentored me personally and showed me how to take charge of my professional development and success. The level of care, coaching, leadership and guidance is incredible.”
And another insider has this to say with respect to the firm’s culture: “Work-life balance is strongly encouraged and mentors step in to help staff find balance and spread work around to help avoid potential burnout. Firm culture and philosophy stresses the importance of the ‘whole person comes to work,’ and we regularly help colleagues out when burdens shift.”
No. 5 BDO offers “many learning opportunities and early responsibility”
This year, Chicago-headquartered BDO holds steady at No. 5 in the Accounting 25, while slipping one place to No. 7 in Prestige. BDO also ranks No. 7 in all three Practice Area Rankings. According to BDO insiders, the best aspects of working for the firm include “the supportive colleagues and good culture,” “flexibility and ability to work remotely,” and “many learning opportunities and early responsibility.”
Accounting insiders tell us about the effects of AI, private equity stakes, and more
In addition to unveiling our new rankings, we’re pleased to release our new in-depth accounting firm profiles, which include direct quotes from accounting professionals about their satisfaction with their roles, their firms’ responses to various macroeconomic events affecting the public accounting industry, and more. Here are a couple of the industry-wide trends that accounting professionals told us about this year.
Accountants are increasingly anxious about the impact of AI on the industry
Many professionals tell us they “worry that the proliferation of AI in accounting will lead to declining headcount” and are “extremely pessimistic about the future of entry-level workers.” Others “are weary about how much of an investment [their] firm has made into AI,” and say “AI is being unnecessarily forced on us by senior-level professionals that don't understand it or use it.” In addition, “there’s a lot of uncertainty about the impact of AI” and “how business models will need to flex to meet the changing needs.”
Accountants have mostly negative views about private equity investments
Recently, various private equity firms have been taking significant ownership stakes in accounting firms, and this has resulted in mixed reviews by accountants. While some accounting professionals understand that equity infusions can drive growth, scale, and opportunity, most tell us that these ownership stakes come with a cost—mainly incurred by junior employees who are seeing their compensation, benefits, work-life balance, workplace culture, and job security affected ... for the worse.
Here’s one insider speaking about the PE stake at their firm: “In my opinion, private equity has ruined public accounting, and my firm is no exception. The firm continues to acquire smaller firms without an adequate game plan for integration. The acquired employees and clients are thrown into the mix and then ignored, as firm leadership starts to plan their next acquisition. Last year, almost no one got an annual bonus because the firm kept acquiring companies that ended up being financial drains. The PE group is way too focused on rapid growth without considering the long-term effects.”
And here’s another insider at another firm speaking on the same subject: “The changes made to the firm after the private equity investment were shocking. Many people were fired soon after and the public communication each time was something to the effect of ’we know it’s hard to see your friends lose their jobs.’ Employee morale definitely decreased thereafter. I felt for months in a row that I was about to be laid off any day. Others felt the same.”
Meanwhile, employees at firms who haven’t taken PE stakes are quite pleased. One accountant tells us, “Our business outlook appears to be strong. Employees appreciate that the firm hasn’t moved to private equity ownership and is taking strong actions to secure work for the future and expand in new ways." And here’s another accountant at a different firm: “I appreciate that the firm is always looking for ways to improve and grow. We have great leadership. I also appreciate that the firm doesn’t plan to sell out to private equity—and plans to keep its culture.”
You can view all of our new profiles and the entire 2027 Vault Accounting Rankings here.
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