Are the Big 4 struggling?

Yes, the Big 4 (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG) are facing significant struggles, including layoffs, slower growth in key areas like consulting, difficulties with AI adoption due to bureaucracy, intense competition from smaller firms, talent retention issues, burnout among staff, and regulatory pressure, indicating they are navigating major shifts despite their size.

Is PwC going downhill?

PwC shrank its global workforce in the past year and abandoned a five-year hiring target as it grappled with slower revenue growth, internal scandals and the rise of artificial intelligence.

Are Big 4 accounting firms laying off employees?

Employees at Big Four firms on both sides of the Atlantic got some bad news last week. In the US, PwC cut 150 business support staff, the Wall Street Journal reported, following news that its annual report showed it trimmed 5,600 positions in FY 2025.

Which Big 4 is hardest to get into?

While it varies, Deloitte and PwC are often cited as the toughest Big 4 to get into, especially for consulting roles, due to massive application numbers and strong reputations, though all Big 4 are highly competitive, with KPMG sometimes seen as slightly easier for audit/tax but difficult for Strategy&, and EY also extremely selective in key areas like its UK student programs. Overall, acceptance rates are very low (often under 3%), but it heavily depends on the specific service line (Audit, Tax, Consulting), location, and your qualifications, with some sources pointing to Deloitte's consulting arm and PwC Strategy& as peak difficulty. 

Will accountants exist in 10 years?

Yes, accountants will still exist in 10 years, but the role will be drastically different, shifting from routine data entry and compliance to more strategic, advisory, and tech-focused work as AI and automation handle transactional tasks, requiring professionals to develop broader skill sets in data analysis, business insight, and technology management. While basic roles may decline, the overall demand for skilled accountants is projected to remain strong or even grow, emphasizing adaptation over replacement, with a greater focus on judgment, interpretation, and strategic decision-making.
 

ACCOUNTANT EXPLAINS: 7 Reasons You Shouldn't Work at Big 4

Can you make $500,000 a year as an accountant?

Yes, an accountant can make $500k a year, but it's rare and typically requires reaching top-tier positions like partner at a large firm, C-suite executive (like CFO) at a major corporation, or owning a highly successful firm, often involving significant experience, high-leverage skills, business development, and substantial sacrifice, far beyond typical staff accountant roles. 

Why are so many accountants quitting?

Monotony and lack of fulfillment

Craving more meaningful projects, creative problem solving and engaging work experience, many accountants leave the field to explore other career options where they can have a deeper sense of purpose and impact.

Can you make 300k as a CPA?

Yes, a CPA can absolutely make $300k, especially in senior leadership roles like Partner, CFO, or Director in large firms or corporations, or by owning a successful practice, though it typically requires significant experience (10+ years), specialization, business development, and working in high-cost areas like major cities, with partners at large firms often earning well over $300k. 

Do 71% of Big 4 auditors worry about mental health?

The situation is worst at Big Four accounting firms. Almost three-quarters (71%) of survey takers who work for them said they feel their mental health suffers because of work pressures.

Who pays more, McKinsey or Deloitte?

Yes, McKinsey generally pays significantly more than Deloitte, especially at senior levels, with MBB firms (McKinsey, Bain, BCG) typically offering higher total compensation (salary + bonus) than Big Four firms (like Deloitte) for similar roles, though base salaries can be similar at entry-level, with Deloitte sometimes offering better sign-on bonuses or bonuses for undergrads. The pay gap widens substantially at higher levels (Manager, Engagement Manager), where McKinsey consultants can earn considerably more due to larger performance bonuses and faster partner progression, though some sources note that Deloitte consultants might work less for comparable pay. 

Is accounting a growing or dying field?

The AICPA 2021 “Trends Report” states: “Accounting graduates trended downward in the 2019–2020 academic year, with decreases of 2.8% and 8.4% at the bachelor's and master's levels, respectively.” These are national statistics; anecdotally, it is known that many universities, especially private ones, have experienced ...

Which Big 4 has the best reputation?

PwC and Deloitte are the most prestigious

If you ask most people about prestige, they'll probably rank PwC/Deloitte > EY > KPMG. This is reflected in pricing, for example.

What is the biggest PwC scandal?

PwC has faced several major scandals, but the PwC Australia tax leak scandal (2023) is arguably the biggest, involving misuse of confidential government tax information by its international tax chief, Peter-John Collins, to help clients avoid taxes, leading to widespread fallout, investigations, and leadership changes. Other significant issues include being fined for exam cheating in the Netherlands, facing a $5.5 billion lawsuit over the Colonial Bank collapse, and scrutiny for its role in the Chinese Evergrande property developer fraud. 

Is PwC or McKinsey better?

Reviewers mention that McKinsey's "Quality of Work" is rated at 9.4, significantly higher than PwC's 8.9, suggesting that McKinsey consistently delivers superior results in their projects.

Is a CPA harder than a bar?

There's no definitive answer, as it's subjective, but many who've taken both find the CPA Exam harder due to its four distinct sections, breadth of technical accounting knowledge, and the need to pass all within 18 months (a marathon), while the Bar Exam is often seen as a more intense, physically demanding sprint over two days testing broad legal concepts. The CPA's difficulty often comes from its multifaceted nature and the challenge of mastering different accounting/tax areas, whereas the Bar's challenge lies in the sheer volume of legal information and mental stamina required over consecutive days. 

How rare is it to make $500,000 a year?

Making $500,000 a year is quite rare, placing you in a very high income bracket, often the top 1% or 2% of earners in the U.S., with roughly only 1 in 127 jobs paying that much, though over a million Americans achieve this, and it's more common in certain high-paying industries or roles like senior executives, specialized doctors, or successful entrepreneurs. 

Is 300k a year middle class?

Earning $300,000 a year is generally considered upper-middle class or even wealthy in most parts of the U.S., placing you well above the typical middle-class income (often defined as 2x the median income, around $100k-$150k), but in very high-cost-of-living areas (like Silicon Valley or NYC), it can feel more like the upper end of the middle class due to high taxes, housing, and education costs. The perception of "middle class" shifts significantly by location, with some high-cost cities having middle-class thresholds well over $200k, making $300k feel less extravagant.
 

What profession makes $400,000 a year?

Professions making $400,000 a year generally fall into medicine (specialty surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists), high-level corporate roles (CEOs, C-Suite), finance (investment banking, top finance execs), law (partners), technology (senior engineers, tech sales), and top-tier sales (medical equipment, enterprise software). These roles demand significant education, experience, specialized skills, or high performance, often with compensation including bonuses and stock. 

Which Big 4 is the hardest to get in?

How difficult is it to get a Big 4 job?

• PwC: A Times article published in 2023 cited that PwC received 304,000 applicants for 7,500 positions2—about 2.5% acceptance rate.
• Deloitte: Deloitte has nearly 2 million applicants in the US per year, with about 17,000 new hires, for an acceptance rate hovering around 0.85%.

Which Big 4 pays the most in the UK?

There's no doubt that Big 4 partners earn impressive sums, with the latest figures showing £1.01 million for Deloitte, £862,000 for PwC, and £761,000 for EY partners in the UK. These salaries reflect the firms' success and the significant responsibilities carried by partners.

What job pays $400,000 a year without a degree?

The most prominent "$400,000 job without a college degree" discussed in recent news is a Walmart Supercenter Store Manager, where compensation can reach that level through a combination of increased base pay (around $128k average), significant bonuses (up to 200% of base), and annual stock grants (up to $20k) for top performers, making the role lucrative for those rising from hourly work. Other paths to high income without a degree include skilled trades, tech sales, and specialized roles like power plant operators, often achieved through skills-based training, certificates, or apprenticeships rather than a traditional four-year degree.
 

What is the #1 happiest job in the world?

There's no single #1 happiest job, as it varies by individual, but consistently high-ranking roles often involve helping others (firefighters, physical therapists, surgeons), working outdoors (logging, farming), or creative/technical fields (software developers, engineers, arts) with good balance, autonomy, and pay, with Construction sometimes topping industry lists for overall happiness and satisfaction. 

Is CPA still worth it in 2025?

Yes, the CPA remains highly valuable in 2025, offering enhanced job security, higher earning potential, increased credibility, and broader opportunities in a tight market with growing demand, acting as a career catalyst against automation by validating specialized skills for leadership roles in audit, tax, finance, and consulting, despite challenges with entry-level pay and work-life balance.