Industry Statistics and Trends
Accounting & Auditing in Europe key trends
The EU Audit Reform mandates auditor rotation to boost audit quality.
This 2016 reform has partly fragmented the market, promoting competition and increasing opportunities for mid-tier and smaller companies by disrupting the Big Four’s dominance.
Digitalisation presents opportunities for efficiency but also raises competition.
Companies invest in technology to automate processes and free up time for value-added services, but software tools also empower smaller businesses to self-manage their accounting and tax needs.
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Accounting & Auditing in Europe
Industry Revenue
Total value and annual change from 2012-2030. Includes 5-year outlook.
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Accounting & Auditing in Europe market size (2020-2025)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €235.0bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Germany and the UK dominate Europe’s well-established accounting and auditing market, but face scandals
- Europe’s accounting and auditing industry is very robust, even though the performance and structure of companies differ across Europe due to business factors and the regulatory environments of individual countries.
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Accounting & Auditing in Europe outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Heightened regulatory requirements will boost the need for specialists
- The EU’s Pillar 2 rules represent a complex tax reform, which will drive demand for tax consultants, as the introduction of a minimum 15% corporate tax for multinationals forces businesses to seek skilled professionals to navigate tax changes. Meanwhile, demand for ESG-related services will soar in the coming years, fuelling growth for firms with the required expertise.
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Revenue
€235.0bn
Employees
3m
Wages
€XX.Xbn
European Leaders & Laggards
* CAGR values are for the years 2020-2025.
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Biggest companies in the Accounting & Auditing in Europe
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (€m)
2025 | Profit (€m)
2025 | Profit Margin (%)
2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
PricewaterhouseCoopers International Ltd | 54,884.7 | 13,930.0 | 25.4 | |
Ernst & Young Global Ltd | 50,318.5 | 12,384.8 | 24.6 | |
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd | 66,416.9 | 9,061.2 | 13.6 |
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Accounting & Auditing in Europe
Products & Services Segmentation
Industry revenue broken down by key product and services lines.
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Top Questions Answered in this Report
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What is the market size of the Accounting & Auditing industry in Europe in 2025?
The market size of the Accounting & Auditing industry in Europe is €235.0bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Accounting & Auditing industry in Europe in 2025?
There are 875k businesses in the Accounting & Auditing industry in Europe, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.1 % between 2020 and 2025.
Has the Accounting & Auditing industry in Europe grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Accounting & Auditing industry in Europe has been growing at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Accounting & Auditing industry in Europe over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Accounting & Auditing industry in Europe is expected to grow.
What does the Accounting & Auditing industry in Europe include?
Audit services and Financial and management accounting are part of the Accounting & Auditing industry in Europe.
Which countries have the most businesses in the Accounting & Auditing industry in Europe?
The European country with the most businesses in the Accounting & Auditing industry is Italy.
How competitive is the Accounting & Auditing industry in Europe?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Accounting & Auditing industry in Europe.
Related Industries
This industry is covered in 37 countries
- Accounting & Auditing in Austria
- Accounting & Auditing in France
- Accounting & Auditing in the Netherlands
- Accounting & Auditing in Belgium
- Accounting & Auditing in Cyprus
- Accounting & Auditing in Lithuania
- Accounting & Auditing in Finland
- Accounting & Auditing in Bulgaria
- Accounting & Auditing in the UK
- Bookkeeping in the UK
- Tax Consultants in the UK
- Accounting, Bookkeeping & Auditing in Germany
- Accountancies and Tax Consultants in Ireland
- Accountancies and Tax Consultants in Ireland
- Accounting & Auditing in Luxembourg
- Accounting & Auditing in Russia
- Accounting & Auditing in Italy
- Accounting & Auditing in Poland
- Accounting & Auditing in Slovakia
- Accounting & Auditing in Slovenia
- Accounting & Auditing in Sweden
- Accounting & Auditing in Latvia
- Accounting & Auditing in Croatia
- Accounting & Auditing in Spain
- Accounting & Auditing in Portugal
- Accounting & Auditing in Hungary
- Accounting & Auditing in Czechia
- Accounting & Auditing in Turkey
- Accounting & Auditing in Serbia
- Accounting & Auditing in Switzerland
- Accounting & Auditing in Denmark
- Accounting & Auditing in Ireland
- Accounting & Auditing in Malta
- Accounting & Auditing in Greece
- Accounting & Auditing in Romania
- Accounting & Auditing in the UK
- Accounting & Auditing in Norway
- Accounting & Auditing in Germany
- Accounting & Auditing in Estonia
- Accounting & Auditing in Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Accounting & Auditing in Iceland
- Accounting & Auditing in Europe
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
The industry comprises a wide range of services, including accounting, auditing, bookkeeping and tax consultancy. Companies prepare and examine financial accounts, record commercial transactions for other organisations, prepare personal and business income tax returns, offer tax advisory services and represent businesses before tax authorities.
Related Terms
BIG FOURAUDITINGMANAGEMENT ACCOUNTINGTAX RETURNOUTSOURCINGWhat's included in this industry?
Audit servicesFinancial and management accountingTax servicesBookkeepingPersonal tax servicesCompanies
PricewaterhouseCoopers International LtdErnst & Young Global LtdDeloitte Touche Tohmatsu LtdIndustry Code
692 - Accounting, bookkeeping and auditing activities; tax consultancy in Europe
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Performance
Key Takeaways
Germany and the UK dominate Europe’s well-established accounting and auditing market, but face scandals
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Revenue Highlights
Trends
- Revenue
- 2025 Revenue Growth
- Revenue Volatility
Employment Highlights
Trends
- Employees
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Employee
Business Highlights
Trends
- Businesses
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Business
Profit Highlights
Trends
- Total Profit
- Profit Margin
- Profit per Business
Current Performance
Charts
- Revenue in the Accounting & Auditing in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Employees in the Accounting & Auditing in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Business in the Accounting & Auditing in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Profit in the Accounting & Auditing in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
Analysis
What's driving current industry performance in the Accounting & Auditing in Europe industry?
Outlook
Analysis
What's driving the Accounting & Auditing in Europe industry outlook?
Volatility
Analysis
What influences volatility in the Accounting & Auditing in Europe industry?
Charts
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth Matrix
Life Cycle
Analysis
What determines the industry life cycle stage in the Accounting & Auditing in Europe industry?
Charts
- Industry Life Cycle Matrix
Products and Markets
Highlights
Trends
- Largest Market
- Product Innovation
Key Takeaways
External audits generate significant revenue. Listed companies are required to publish their financials and have them audited externally, providing solid revenue for accountants and auditors.
Products and Services
Charts
- Products and Services Segmentation
Analysis
How are the Accounting & Auditing in Europe industry's products and services performing?
Analysis
What are innovations in the Accounting & Auditing in Europe industry's products and services?
Major Markets
Charts
- Major Market Segmentation
Analysis
What influences demand in the Accounting & Auditing in Europe industry?
International Trade
Highlights
- Largest Importer
- Smallest Importer
- Total Imports into Europe
- Largest Exporter
- Smallest Exporter
- Total Exports into Europe
Heat maps
- Industry Concentration of Imports by Country
- Industry Concentration of Exports by Country
Data Tables
Value and annual change (%) included
- Number of Imports and Exports by European Country (2025)
Geographic Breakdown
Business Locations
Heat maps
- Share of Total Industry Revenue by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Enterprises by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Employment by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Wages by Region (2025)
Industry Geographic Breakdown
Data Tables
Values and annual change provided for 37 European countries:
- Revenue (2025)
- IVA (2025)
- Enterprises (2025)
- Employment (2025)
- Exports (2025)
- Imports (2025)
Competitive Forces
Highlights
Trends
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
Key Takeaways
Increased regulation aims to raise competition. The 2016 EU Audit Reform forces mandatory auditor rotation, but the Big Four can still attract large clients with the use of their resources and reputations to cement their market positions.
Supply Chain
Charts
Buyer and supply industries
Companies
Market Share
Charts
- Industry Market Share by Company (2020-2025)
Companies
Data Tables
Top 10 companies by market share:
- Market share (2025)
- Revenue (2025)
- Profit (2025)
- Profit Margin (2025)
Data Tables
- Countries of operation for PricewaterhouseCoopers International Ltd
- Countries of operation for Ernst & Young Global Ltd
- Countries of operation for Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd
- Countries of operation for KPMG International Ltd
- Countries of operation for BDO Global Coordination BV
- Countries of operation for Grant Thornton International Ltd
- Countries of operation for Forvis Mazars Group SC
- Countries of operation for RSM International Ltd
- Countries of operation for Baker Tilly International Ltd
- Countries of operation for Moore Global Network Ltd
External Environment
Highlights
Trends
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key Takeaways
The EU Audit Reform aims to improve competition. Coming into force in 2016, the regulation requires companies to rotate auditors and restricts auditors from providing certain non-audit services to their clients.
External Drivers
Analysis
What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Accounting & Auditing in Europe industry?
Financial Benchmarks
Highlights
Trends
- Profit Margin
- Average Wage
- Largest Cost
Key Takeaways
Firms keep their profit strong despite facing challenging conditions. High wages, technology investment and regulatory standards have driven up costs, pushing companies to elevate their fees to maintain their profitability.
Cost Structure
Charts
- Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
-
Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
- Marketing
- Depreciation
- Profit
- Purchases
- Wages
- Rent
- Utilities
- Other
Analysis
What trends impact cost in the Accounting & Auditing in Europe industry?
Key Ratios
Data tables
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
Country Benchmarks
European Leaders & Laggards
Data Tables
Top and bottom five countries listed for each:
- Revenue Growth (2025)
- Business Growth (2025)
- Job Growth (2025)
European Country Performance
Data Tables
Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:
- IVA/Revenue (2025)
- Imports/Demand (2025)
- Exports/Revenue (2025)
- Revenue per Employee (2025)
- Wages/Revenue (2025)
- Employees per Establishment (2025)
- Average Wage (2025)
Structural Comparison
Data Tables
Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
- Volatility
- Capital Intensity
- Innovation
- Life Cycle
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Methodology
Where does IBISWorld source its data?
IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
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