Ranking of Africa's Top Ten Nations Hosting the Biggest Accounting Firms in 2025

In the dynamic continent of Africa, the accounting and finance sector is experiencing a significant surge. According to ACCA Global, the sector boasts an impressive 123,000 professionals who are members of professional accounting organizations (PAOs).

This growth is reflected in the forecasted expansion of the formal economy, with the African Development Bank projecting a growth of over 4% in 2025. This expansion is expected to create a fertile ground for the continued growth of the accounting sector.

Many accounting firms in Africa are part of global networks, including PwC, EY, Deloitte, and KPMG. These global connections allow for the leveraging of international expertise while developing deep local insights. For instance, RSM, with its regional presence in East Africa, supports cross-border clients and contributes to regional integration projects and development sector audits.

The top 10 leading audit and accounting firms in Africa are predominantly the Big Four—Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG—with others such as BDO, Grant Thornton, Mazars, Baker Tilly, RSM, and Nexia International. These firms mainly serve sectors like banking and finance, telecommunications, energy, mining, and manufacturing across key African markets like South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco.

The Big Four firms have a strong presence in South Africa, serving JSE-listed firms, mining, banking, and government clients. Deloitte, EY, PwC, and KPMG all operate high-revenue operations in the country. RSM and Grant Thornton also serve SMEs and cross-border clients in Egypt.

Mazars, BDO, PKF, Grant Thornton, and others form a strong mid-tier offering in South Africa. The African accounting and auditing market is growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1%.

Tanzania benefits from central service delivery hubs within the KPMG East Africa cluster, with Big Four firms providing audit and advisory to large corporates, telecoms, and government programs. While global data lacks granularity, EY and PwC Egypt operate robust practices serving multinational corporations, public sector entities, and finance institutions.

The demand for reliable auditing, tax advisory, risk assurance, and business consulting services is growing at a record pace in Africa. In Nigeria, the Big Four firms—KPMG, EY, PwC, and Deloitte—reportedly captured over 99% of audit fees from top listed firms. In 2024, Big Four audit fees in Nigeria totaled N28.2 billion (approximately $14.4 million), with KPMG leading at N9.57 billion and EY at N8.03 billion.

Beyond auditing, the Big Four firms in Nigeria now dominate advisory, tax consulting, valuation, and cybersecurity services. The South African accounting sector is highly regulated through IRBA, with audit quality and ethics under scrutiny, leading to market consolidation and structural reform.

Rwanda, although small, is a strategic hub within the KPMG East Africa cluster, offering governance and financial advisory to public and private sector clients. The network's rapid growth in East Africa has pushed demand for digital-focused compliance and risk advisory services. KPMG operates as a regional hub covering several African countries, including DRC, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and South Sudan.

The African accounting and auditing market is projected to be worth $238.06 billion by the end of 2025. Accounting firms in Africa are strategic partners in promoting financial transparency, corporate governance, and global competitiveness. They play a crucial role in shaping the economic landscape of the continent.

Ranking of Africa's Top Ten Nations Hosting the Biggest Accounting Firms in 2025