The Big Four have smashed their way back into the list of the top ten consulting firms this year, massively outgrowing the leaders in the marketplace.

Three of the four firms who recently re-entered the market have all seen the work come flooding back. PricewaterhouseCoopers fee income grew by 34% to £289m, KPMG’s grew by 13% to £242m and Ernst & Young climbed by 16% to £198m.
In contrast, Accenture, IBM and Xansa grew headline revenues by 2%, 6% and 8% respectively.

This year’s Accountancy Age survey of the market puts the Big Four all back in the top ten consulting firms by revenue.

The figures will be the best riposte to established players in the marketplace, who earlier this year provocatively suggested the Big Four didn’t have as much range and depth as they did.

‘I’m pleased the Big Four had a good year. It confirms all types of client will look for our high-value advisory services,’ said Deloitte managing director of consulting David Owen.

The firms are still short of the revenues of the main players. Accenture made £851m last year, the survey says. The market as a whole grew income by 12% to just under £6bn.

After non-competes ran out between the Big Four and the consultancies to whom the firms had sold their consulting arms, the accountants have pursued aggressive hiring strategy, reclaiming many former employees in the battle for talent with the IT giants.