ANALYSIS OF THE GLOBAL AUDIT SERVICES MARKET: EMPIRICAL EXPERIENCE OF LEADING INTERNATIONAL AUDIT COMPANIES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60022/sis.3.(02).1Keywords:
analysis, business analysis, audit, international audit, audit in foreign countries, audit services, consulting, audit consulting, Big Four, audit companies, audit services marketAbstract
The development of the global stock market, the legislative protection of investors, stock exchange requirements and the provision of consulting and taxation services all place demands on the market for auditing services provided by auditing companies around the world. This requires an analysis of the market for auditing services provided by the world’s leading companies in this field.
This article aims to analyse the global market for auditing services provided by leading companies.
Analytical reviews and information from international institutions and professional accounting and auditing organisations regarding the market for auditing services and the activities of auditing companies around the world provide the empirical basis for ensuring the validity of theoretical propositions, the reliability of conclusions and recommendations.
The research methodology consists of general scientific and special methods for studying interconnected and developing processes and phenomena, namely the dialectical method, synthesis, induction and deduction, generalisation, the method of associations and analogies, comparative analysis, forecasting and tabular and graphical methods.
The analysis showed that the Big Four — PwC, EY, KPMG and Deloitte — account for around 90% of revenue in the global audit market, thanks to their global networks, the scale of their operations and the wide range of services they offer. Deloitte leads in terms of revenue and number of employees, confirming its strategic focus on consulting and digital solutions.
Revenue growth for the Big Four from 2009 to 2024 was gradual, accelerating from 2021 to 2024 due to digitalisation, increased demand for new types of consulting and greater global focus on business transparency. The forecast for 2025–2027 suggests that this positive trend will persist, with an expected average annual growth rate of around 7%.
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