The top 30 global accounting networks and associations earned almost $150bn (£93.9bn) in revenues over the last year, according to a new survey by Accountancy Age.

The accounting groups posted an impressive average of 18% growth on the previous year, reaching $146bn of income.

PricewaterhouseCoopers topped the chart with $28bn in revenues, but was closely followed by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

Deloitte revenues grew by 18.6% to $27.4bn, compared with PwC’s growth of 14%.

While the groups have performed well, all eyes will be on KPMG’s results, due in December or January, which will represent the impact of the credit crunch, banking crises and economic tough times on its results.

Accounting groups BDO, RSM and Grant Thornton trail in the wake of fourth-placed KPMG International. BDO comes in at fifth place, with $4.7bn income, compared with KPMG’s $19.8bn. Grant Thornton is yet to release its 2008 income figure.

PwC, Ernst & Young and KPMG have all undergone structural changes in recent times. Ernst & Young is bringing together its firms in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and India, albeit without profit-sharing. PwC has created three ‘clusters’, while a number of KPMG firms have formally merged across Europe.

Survey author Phil Smith said that the new name in the top ten, Praxity, formed from Mazars and Moores Rowland International, was a sign of things to come.

‘Other organisations will undoubtedly be looking at this move as a way forward, so there is a good chance we will see more groups coming together,’ said Smith.

Further reading:

View the survey results as a pdf