While the Big 4 accounting firms still dominate the top end of the market, there's more to the Irish accounting landscape than this. Let's explore who's involved, what they do, and who'd be the right choice for graduates.
Key Takeaways
- The big 4 accounting firms in Ireland are Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG.
- Finance Dublin reported that the Top 10 accountancy firms accounted for just over 93.9% of total fee income in its 2024 survey.⁴
- EY ranked first in the 2024 survey and became the first firm to pass €600 million in Republic of Ireland fee income.⁴
- Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG are strong options for graduates who want structured training, major clients, and international networks.
- Grant Thornton, BDO, Forvis Mazars, RSM, Baker Tilly, and RBK can be good alternatives for SMEs, regional clients, and graduates who want broader early responsibility.
- The best firm depends on the work you want to do, especially audit, tax, advisory, consulting, corporate finance, or business support.
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Quick Guide to the Top 10 Accounting Firms in Ireland
In Ireland, we can classify accounting firms into the Big 4 and mid-tier firms. That isn't to say these are the only ones worth considering before you study accounting at university. However, they're a good starting point for those interested in a career in accounting.
What Counts as a Top Accounting Firm?
A top accounting firm is not only judged by size. For students, graduates, and businesses, the best choice can depend on audit quality, tax expertise, advisory services, client type, office location, and the kind of training or business support needed.⁴
| Firm | Category | Main services | Irish market note | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EY Ireland | Big 4 | Assurance, tax, consulting, strategy and transactions | Ranked first by Republic of Ireland fee income in Finance Dublin’s 2024 survey | Graduates, large companies, audit, tax and advisory careers |
| KPMG Ireland | Big 4 | Audit, tax, advisory and consulting | Ranked second in Finance Dublin’s 2024 survey after leading the previous year | Corporate clients, audit, tax and advisory training |
| PwC Ireland | Big 4 | Audit, assurance, tax, deals and advisory | Ranked third in Finance Dublin’s 2024 survey | Graduates, audit, tax, deals and large-client experience |
| Deloitte Ireland | Big 4 | Audit, tax, consulting, financial advisory and risk advisory | One of the Big 4 firms with fee income above €500 million in the 2024 survey | Consulting, advisory, audit and international career routes |
| Grant Thornton Ireland | Large challenger firm | Audit, tax, advisory and consulting | Finance Dublin reports another strong year for Grant Thornton | Mid-market clients, advisory, tax and graduate training |
| BDO Ireland | Mid-tier international network | Audit, tax, advisory and business services | Finance Dublin identifies BDO as Grant Thornton’s closest challenger in the mid-tier market | SMEs, owner-managed businesses, audit and tax support |
| Forvis Mazars Ireland | Mid-tier international network | Audit, tax, advisory and consulting | Finance Dublin notes that Forvis Mazars narrowed the gap on sixth position in the Irish market | Regulated clients, audit, advisory and international network support |
| RSM Ireland | Mid-tier international network | Audit, tax and consulting | Finance Dublin notes recent consolidation involving RSM Ireland and its UK affiliate | Mid-market businesses, audit, tax and advisory work |
| Baker Tilly Ireland | Mid-tier firm | Accounting, assurance, tax and specialist business advice | Finance Dublin notes that Roberts Nathan is now Baker Tilly Ireland | Business owners, SMEs, tax, audit and advisory support |
| Xeinadin Ireland | Consolidator and accountancy group | Accounts, audit and assurance, tax, payroll, corporate finance and advisory | Finance Dublin says Xeinadin entered the Top 10 after rebranding nine Irish firms | SMEs, local businesses, regional clients and business advisory |
Leading Firms, Services and Irish Presence
- EY Ireland: Ranked first in Finance Dublin’s 2024 Accountancy Survey and the first firm in the survey to pass €600 million in Republic of Ireland fee income.⁴
- KPMG Ireland: Ranked second in the same survey and remains one of Ireland’s biggest audit, tax, advisory and consulting firms.⁴
- PwC Ireland: Ranked third by Republic of Ireland fee income, ahead of Deloitte in the 2024 survey.⁴
- Deloitte Ireland: One of the Big 4 accounting firms, with fee income above €500 million in the 2024 survey.⁴
- Grant Thornton Ireland: A major challenger firm that Finance Dublin described as having another strong year.⁴
- BDO, Forvis Mazars, RSM, Baker Tilly and RBK: Useful alternatives for clients or graduates comparing mid-tier, independent and international network firms.
Finance Dublin reported that Ireland’s Top 10 accountancy firms accounted for just over
93.9%
of total fee income in its 2024 Accountancy Survey.⁴
Why the Big 4 Accounting Firms Dominate the Irish Market
Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG are central to the Irish accountancy sector. Each firm works across tax, advisory, consulting, technology, risk, and business transformation. They all operate at scale, with large client bases and international networks. You'll likely hear about them in your accountancy degree.
There are
4
big accounting firms in Ireland. They are Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG.
What the Big 4 Do
- Audit and assurance: Reviewing financial statements, audit quality, risk, controls and reporting processes.
- Tax: Supporting companies and individuals with compliance, planning, corporate tax, VAT and wider tax advisory work.
- Advisory: Helping clients with transactions, restructuring, corporate finance, risk, regulation and business change.
- Consulting: Advising on strategy, technology, data, cyber, operations and people-focused transformation.
- Specialist services: Some big 4 accounting firms also offer legal, forensic, sustainability, regulatory and business process services.
Why Graduates Target Big 4 Training Programmes
- Structured training: Big 4 firms usually offer formal graduate routes with clear study and career milestones.
- Large client exposure: Trainees can work with major Irish and international companies early in their careers.
- Recognised experience: A Big 4 name can carry weight on a CV, especially in audit, tax, advisory and consulting.
- Broad career options: Graduates can start in accountancy and later move into finance, advisory, consulting, industry or management roles.
- International networks: The Big 4 can offer stronger global mobility than many smaller firms.
Big 4 Doesn’t Mean Best for Everyone
The big 4 accounting firms offer major clients, international networks, and structured career paths, but mid-tier accounting firms can give graduates and clients more direct access to senior teams, broader early responsibility, and a closer relationship with local Irish businesses.⁴
The Big 4 Accounting Firms in Ireland
The Big 4 accounting firms are the ones graduates should start looking at first. All of them have a strong Irish presence. With a global network behind each one, they're all good options, but it's worth knowing each one's area of focus, whether it's audit, assurance, tax, bookkeeping, risk, etc.
Deloitte Ireland
Deloitte Ireland
Category:
Big 4 accounting firm
Main services:
Audit, assurance, tax, strategy and transactions, risk, regulatory and forensic, legal, business process solutions, cyber, human capital, and technology services.
Irish presence:
Deloitte Ireland LLP is the Ireland affiliate of Deloitte NSE LLP, with its registered office in Belfast.
Market position:
One of the Big 4 accounting firms; Finance Dublin reported that all Big 4 firms recorded fee income above €500 million in its 2024 Accountancy Survey.
PwC Ireland
PwC Ireland
Category:
Big 4 accounting firm
Main services:
Audit, tax, advisory, assurance, and related professional services.
Irish presence:
Irish headquarters in Dublin, with regional offices in Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, Waterford, and Wexford.
Market position:
Finance Dublin ranked PwC ahead of Deloitte and third among the Big 4 by Republic of Ireland fee income in its 2024 survey.
EY Ireland
EY Ireland
Category:
Big 4 accounting firm
Main services:
Assurance, tax and law, consulting, and strategy and transactions.
Irish presence:
Offices in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, and Waterford.
Market position:
Finance Dublin ranked EY as Ireland’s largest accountancy firm by Republic of Ireland fee income in 2024, and reported that EY became the first firm in the survey to exceed €600 million.
EY became the first firm in the Finance Dublin Accountancy Survey to exceed
€600 million
in Republic of Ireland fee income.⁴
KPMG Ireland
KPMG Ireland
Category:
Big 4 accounting firm
Main services:
Audit and assurance, tax, deal advisory, and consulting.
Irish presence:
Operates from six offices across Ireland.
Market position:
Finance Dublin ranked KPMG second by Republic of Ireland fee income in its 2024 Accountancy Survey.
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Other Leading Accounting Firms in Ireland
Outside the Big 4, there are also mid-tier and independent firms worth considering. They operate in audit, tax, advisory, and business support. These are often the firms that are useful to SMEs, regional clients, owner-managed businesses, and graduates seeking a different training environment.
Grant Thornton Ireland
Grant Thornton Ireland
Category:
Large challenger firm / international network firm
Main services:
Assurance, tax, advisory, corporate finance, and business consulting services.
Irish presence:
Offices in Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Bermuda, Gibraltar, and the Isle of Man.
Market position:
Finance Dublin described Grant Thornton as last year’s growth leader and said it enjoyed another strong year in the 2024 survey.
BDO Ireland
BDO Ireland
Category:
Mid-tier international network firm
Main services:
Audit, tax, advisory, business services, and related accountancy support.
Irish presence:
BDO Ireland lists offices in Dublin and Limerick, with BDO Northern Ireland in Belfast.
Market position:
Finance Dublin described BDO as Grant Thornton’s closest rival in the mid-tier market in its 2024 survey.
Forvis Mazars Ireland
Forvis Mazars Ireland
Category:
Mid-tier international network firm
Main services:
Audit, assurance, tax, consulting, financial advisory, corporate finance, and financial outsourcing.
Irish presence:
Offices in Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Limerick.
Market position:
Finance Dublin reported that Forvis Mazars closed the gap on sixth position in the Irish market after the Forvis and Mazars merger.
RSM Ireland
RSM Ireland
Category:
Mid-tier international network firm
Main services:
Tax, audit and assurance, personal recovery, corporate finance, and business advisory.
Irish presence:
Three office locations across Ireland, including Dublin and Birr.
Market position:
Finance Dublin noted that RSM Ireland has been acquired by its UK-based affiliate as part of recent consolidation in the mid-market.
Baker Tilly Ireland
Baker Tilly Ireland
Category:
Mid-tier firm / Baker Tilly network firm
Main services:
Accounting, assurance, tax, and specialist business advice.
Irish presence:
Irish offices in Cork and Dublin.
Market position:
Finance Dublin noted that Roberts Nathan is now Baker Tilly Ireland following its acquisition by Baker Tilly’s UK affiliate MHA.
RBK
RBK
Category:
Independent Irish accountancy and business advisory firm
Main services:
Audit, accounting, taxation, and business advisory services.
Irish presence:
RBK is an Irish firm with offices including Dublin, Athlone, Roscommon, and Castlebar.
Market position:
RBK describes itself as the largest independently branded accounting firm in Ireland.
How to Choose the Right Accounting Firm
Choosing a firm depends on the kind of work, clients, training, and career path you want. Compare service lines, office locations, graduate support, and the kind of day-to-day experience before making your decision. The outright “best” mightn't be the best fit for you.
Match the Firm to the Work You Want
If you want to work in audit, look closely at the transparency reports and the regulated client work. If you want consulting, tax, corporate finance, or advisory services, compare each firm's service lines before applying or contacting them, because the day-to-day work can vary widely between teams.²
Audit, Tax, Advisory or Consulting
- Choose audit if you want technical financial reporting experience and a clear accountancy training route.
- Choose tax if you like detail, legislation, problem-solving and advising clients on compliance.
- Choose advisory if you are interested in deals, restructuring, corporate finance, risk or business support.
- Choose consulting if you want to work on strategy, technology, operations, data or organisational change.
- Compare teams, not just firms, because the day-to-day work can vary significantly inside the same accounting firm.
Dublin Office or Regional Office
- Dublin offices often give access to larger corporate clients, financial services work and head-office roles.
- Regional offices can offer closer client contact and a wider mix of local business work.
- Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and other regional offices may suit graduates who want strong training without moving to Dublin.
- Office choice can affect workload because client type, sector mix and team size may vary by location.
- For long-term careers, location matters as much as firm size, especially if you want to build local business relationships.
Graduate Training, Culture and Career Progression
- Training support: Check how the firm supports professional exams, study leave and mentoring.
- Client exposure: Ask whether graduates work directly with clients or mainly support senior teams.
- Team size: Bigger teams may mean more structure, while smaller teams may mean broader responsibility.
- Career progression: Look for clear promotion stages, feedback systems and opportunities to move between departments.
- Workload expectations: Compare busy-season pressure, travel, hybrid working and the type of clients each team serves.
Big 4 vs Mid-Tier Accounting Firms
You'll find strong training and career opportunities both with the Big 4 and outside of them. The right fit depends on whether you want global scale, major corporate clients, smaller teams, broader exposure, or closer client contact. Again, do your research before committing.
Big 4 Accounting Firms
- Includes Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG.
- Best known for large corporate clients and international networks.
- Strong choice for structured graduate training.
- Often suits students interested in audit, tax, consulting, financial advisory, or risk advisory.
- Offers major client exposure and strong CV recognition.
- Can provide clearer international career routes through global networks.
Mid-Tier Accounting Firms
- Includes firms such as Grant Thornton, BDO, Forvis Mazars, RSM, Baker Tilly, and RBK.
- Often works closely with SMEs, Irish businesses, regional clients, and owner-managed companies.
- Strong option for audit, tax, advisory, corporate finance, and business support.
- Can offer earlier responsibility for graduates.
- Often gives trainees closer client contact.
- May provide broader day-to-day experience across different areas of accounting.
Big 4 Firms
- Deloitte, PwC, EY and KPMG are the four best-known names in global accountancy.
- They dominate the Irish market at the top end, with all four recording more than €500 million in fee income in Finance Dublin’s 2024 survey.⁴
- They are strong for graduates who want structured training, major clients and recognised professional experience.
- They offer broad services across audit, tax, advisory, consulting, risk, technology and transactions.
- They may suit ambitious applicants who want international networks, large teams and varied long-term career routes.
Mid-Tier Firms
- Grant Thornton, BDO, Forvis Mazars, RSM, Baker Tilly and RBK offer clients and graduates alternatives to the Big 4.
- They often work closely with SMEs, owner-managed companies, regional clients and growth businesses.
- They can offer broader early experience, as trainees may work across a wider range of clients and tasks.
- They are strong options for audit, tax, advisory, corporate finance and business support.
- They may suit graduates who want high-quality training with smaller teams and closer senior contact.
References
- BDO Ireland. “Transparency Report 2025.” BDO Ireland, 30 June 2025, https://www.bdo.ie/en-gb/insights/bdo/transparency-reports/transparency-report-2025. Accessed 24 May 2026.
- Deloitte Ireland. “Transparency Report 2025.” Deloitte Ireland, https://www.deloitte.com/ie/en/legal/deloitte-transparency-report.html. Accessed 24 May 2026.
- EY Ireland. “Transparency Report 2025.” EY Ireland, 31 Oct. 2025, https://www.ey.com/en_ie/ey-transparency-report. Accessed 24 May 2026.
- Finance Dublin. “The Finance Dublin Accountancy Survey 2024.” FinanceJobs.ie, https://www.financejobs.ie/display_article.php?i=21955&n=10. Accessed 24 May 2026.
- Forvis Mazars. “Forvis Mazars in Ireland Transparency Report 2024/2025.” Forvis Mazars, 23 Dec. 2025, https://www.forvismazars.com/ie/en/insights/irish-insights/transparency-reports/transparency-report-24-25. Accessed 24 May 2026.
- Grant Thornton Ireland. “Transparency Report 2025.” Grant Thornton Ireland, https://www.grantthornton.ie/about/transparency-report/. Accessed 24 May 2026.
- KPMG Ireland. “Transparency Report 2025.” KPMG Ireland, https://kpmg.com/ie/en/about/transparency-report.html. Accessed 24 May 2026.
- PwC Ireland. “Transparency Report 2025.” PwC Ireland, 30 Apr. 2026, https://www.pwc.ie/publications/2026/2025-pwc-audit-quality-transparency-report.pdf. Accessed 24 May 2026.
- RSM Ireland. “Audit.” RSM Ireland, https://www.rsm.global/ireland/service/audit. Accessed 24 May 2026.
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