Largest employers: part 1

The number of CAs employed by CA firms has remained fairly static during the past two years, increasing by only 0.5% to 22,675 from 22,578. The ranking of the top 25 firms by number of CAs employed has also remained mostly un-changed. The top 12 hold the same positions as last year and the number of CAs at most of the 25 firms was roughly the same as the previous year.

The number of CAs working in the Big Four was down by 32 from two years ago.

Top-ranked Deloitte & Touche added five CAs to its staff, the only Big Four firm to increase its number. Ernst & Young placed a distant fourth, despite its acquisition of Ellis Foster. Fifth-place Grant Thornton increased its CA headcount by 29.

Outside the Big Six, there are only four firms with more than 100 CAs: Meyers Norris Penny has by far the most of the mid-tier firms with 418, up by 77 through a series of acquisitions and expansions; Collins Barrow continues to rank eighth but is now far behind Meyers Norris Penny after dropping by 88 CAs; RSM Richter, which jumped by 30 to 228; and Mallette with 150 CAs.

Most of the other top 25 CA firms had about the same number of CAs as they did two years ago.

Manning Elliott, which ranked 18, was the only other firm in the top 25 to change by 10 or more CAs. It grew by 12, partly from the acquisition of Bedford Curry.

RANKING OF FIRMS BY NUMBER OF CAs ON STAFF

John Tabone is CICA's manager of innovation