It was big news around these parts when we found out Deloitte Consulting was kicked off the Big 4 throne by EY-Parthenon in Vault’s most recent ranking of the 50 best consulting firms to work for. Deloitte had held down fourth place (No. 1 among the Big 4) for five consecutive years, so it was time for another Big 4 consulting practice to ascend to the top.

Plus, building inadequate unemployment benefits systems for states and being sued because of it probably didn’t help Deloitte’s cause. But all that negative publicity didn’t make D-town less prestigious.

In Vault’s 2021 ranking of the 50 most prestigious consulting firms, Deloitte was fourth—a spot Big D has held down since 2015—which once again leads the Big 4. Vault bases its prestige ranking on the results of a survey, which asks consultants to rate firms with which they are familiar on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most prestigious. Survey participants weren’t allowed to rate their own (or former) employer.

Deloitte’s score of 7.275 out of 10 was its highest ever, so not even being accused of stealing an immunization expert’s idea for tracking COVID-19 mass vaccinations in the U.S. can apparently stain the firm’s reputation at this point.

Here are the top 11 most prestigious consulting firms, which includes representation from all of the Big 4:

1. McKinsey & Co.
2. Boston Consulting Group
3. Bain & Company
4. Deloitte Consulting LLP
5. PwC Advisory/Strategy&
6. Ernst & Young LLP Consulting Practice
7. Accenture
8. Booz Allen Hamilton
9. Oliver Wyman
10. EY-Parthenon
11. KPMG LLP (Advisory)

The only other consulting practice at one of the top public accounting firms in the U.S. that made Vault’s prestige ranking was Grant Thornton at No. 18.

Vault also ranks consulting firms by practice area. Let’s see how well your favorite Big 4 consultancies did:

Aerospace and defense

10. Deloitte Consulting
16. KPMG Advisory

Data analytics

4. Deloitte Consulting
8. EY Consulting
9. PwC Advisory/Strategy&
15. KPMG Advisory

Economic

5. Deloitte Consulting
8. EY Consulting
10. PwC Advisory/Strategy&
12. KPMG Advisory

Energy

4. Deloitte Consulting
6. EY Consulting
7. PwC Advisory/Strategy&
10. KPMG Advisory

Environmental sustainability

4. Deloitte Consulting
6. EY Consulting
7. PwC Advisory/Strategy&
8. KPMG Advisory

Financial

1. Deloitte Consulting
3. EY Consulting
4. PwC Advisory/Strategy&
7. KPMG Advisory
10. Grant Thornton

Health care

3. Deloitte Consulting
12. PwC Advisory/Strategy&
13. EY Consulting
20. KPMG Advisory

Human resources

1. Deloitte Consulting
10. EY Consulting
11. PwC Advisory/Strategy&
14. KPMG Advisory

IT operations

2. Deloitte Consulting
7. PwC Advisory/Strategy&
15. KPMG Advisory

IT strategy

2. Deloitte Consulting
6. PwC Advisory/Strategy&
16. KPMG Advisory

Management

4. Deloitte Consulting
6. EY Consulting
7. PwC Advisory/Strategy&
9. KPMG Advisory

Operations

2. Deloitte Consulting
6. EY Consulting
7. PwC Advisory/Strategy&
9. KPMG Advisory

Pricing, sales and marketing

4. Deloitte Consulting
5. PwC Advisory/Strategy&
8. EY Consulting
11. KPMG Advisory

Public sector

1. Deloitte Consulting
6. PwC Advisory/Strategy&
8. EY Consulting
10. KPMG Advisory
17. EY-Parthenon

Retail

4. Deloitte Consulting
5. EY Consulting
7. PwC Advisory/Strategy&
9. KPMG Advisory
14. EY-Parthenon

Strategy

4. Deloitte Consulting
6. PwC Advisory/Strategy&
7. EY Consulting

Technology, media, and telecommunications

4. Deloitte Consulting
7. EY Consulting
8. PwC Advisory/Strategy&
14. KPMG Advisory

Related article:

Vault Consulting 50: Deloitte’s Reign Over the Big 4 Has Ended (2021)

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