Numbers employed in corporate finance estimated at 20,000

According to research by the ICAEW's Corporate Finance Faculty, the corporate finance industry currently employs 20,000 people and involves 1,252 firms. The research also revealed that accounting firms and the ‘Big Four’ professional service groups now have a substantial presence in corporate finance. Nearly 3,400 executive staff are involved in the sector and no fewer than 323 accountancy firms claim to be regularly involved in transactions to some degree. Behind this, however, there is a great deal of consolidation. The seven largest accountancy groups - the ‘Big Four’ plus Baker Tilly, BDO Stoy Hayward and Grant Thornton, account for more than 80% of fee-earning staff and only 12 accountancy/business advisory firms have more than 20 staff involved in corporate finance. In contrast to other areas, such as investment banking, most private equity and venture capital firms have remained stable and relatively small in size, with over 300 active in the UK. This can be attributed to the fact that it is often in their interests to keep their management teams small, enabling them to remain nimble, close to investee businesses and benefit from the typical remuneration structure for the sector

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• UK / Ireland