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Fortune Includes 7 CPA Firms in 2024 ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ List

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The same seven public accounting firms that made Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for 2023 also made this year’s ranking, which was released earlier this month. The only thing that changed was their positioning.

The data used for the annual ranking, which is collected by the website Great Place to Work, is based on survey responses from more than 1.3 million employees across the country. They were asked to provide feedback about their company’s culture by responding to 60 statements on a five-point scale and answering two open-ended questions. Great Place to Work then measured the difference in survey responses across “demographic groups and roles within each organization to assess both the quality and consistency of the employee experience.” Statements are weighted according to their relevance in describing the most important aspects of an equitable workplace. 

The following seven accounting firms made Fortune’s top 100 for 2024. We’ve included where each firm was ranked, its ranking from last year, how many years the firm has made Fortune’s list, and Fortune’s reasoning for each firm being a top company to work for in 2024.

12. Plante Moran

2023 ranking: 16
Years on list: 26
Why the firm made the list: The audit, tax, consulting, and wealth management firm based in Southfield, MI, has relied on its DEI council for more than two decades to position Plante Moran as a leader in promoting diversity in the financial services and accounting sector. 

That commitment extends outside the office, too; Plante Moran has made efforts to engage with high school and college students across the country, including hosting students from seven high schools on the campus of Michigan State University to hear from accounting faculty and Plante Moran staff. When the firm learned that one of the schools wouldn’t be able to attend because of budget constraints, Plante Moran paid the transportation costs, enabling 43 additional students to participate and learn more about career opportunities in public accounting.

13. Deloitte

2023 ranking: 17
Years on list: 25
Why the firm made the list: Accounting titan Deloitte has made well-being a top priority, starting with the C-suite: The American arm of the multinational firm named a chief well-being officer way back in 2015. Core to the Deloitte experience, the concept of well-being is brought to life through offerings such as collective disconnects, in which the entire organization takes consecutive days off so everyone can focus on their personal lives without interruptions from work. Deloitte’s hybrid workplace model provides a range of options that vary based on the tasks performed and the clients served, balanced with the diverse preferences of employees. Hybrid “champions” serve as an ongoing resource as team members figure out what works best for them collectively.

Recruiting and supporting diverse talent is also a priority: The Neurodiversity@Deloitte program recruits neurodivergent candidates for a three-month internship with the potential to go full-time upon completion. And Deloitte was the ninth employer to achieve Black Equity at Work Certification from Management Leadership for Tomorrow, a national leadership nonprofit.

22. PwC

2023 ranking: 30
Years on list: 20
Why the firm made the list: The accounting and consulting firm knows that achieving a healthy balance between work and life is crucial to employee success. That’s why twice a year, the entire Big Four firm shuts down for a full week, during which time all staff can rest and recharge. All employees are also eligible to apply for a 20%-pay leave of absence, when they can take up to 26 weeks off work while receiving 20% of their regular base salary. 

As PwC U.S. incorporates generative AI into its operations, it has positioned itself as a leader in responsible AI—for which it’s earned recognition from Gartner, IDC, and Forrester. 

PwC cofounded the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion initiative, in which more than 2,500 CEOs representing over 21 million employees and more than 85 industries have pledged to create more inclusive workplaces.

32. Crowe

2023 ranking: 60
Years on list: 6
Why the firm made the list: Crowe is making efforts to diversify its talent pool by partnering with state CPA societies and local and collegiate chapters of professional associations to attract new hires from a wide variety of backgrounds. 

Crowe supports employees through initiatives such as Women Leading@Crowe and its Connect program, which offers instruction in wellness, work-life integration, and business etiquette to all female staff. The firm provides targeted support to senior managers through its Grow programming, helping them develop leadership skills to take their careers to the next level. Since it launched in 2013, over 95% of Grow graduates have advanced to a partner or director role.

In August of last year, the firm hosted its first-ever Crowe Cares Day, during which employees performed volunteer work in local communities for a collective 20,500-plus hours, supporting more than 110 organizations across 40 locations.

44. RSM US

2023 ranking: 42
Years on list: 4
Why the firm made the list: The assurance, tax, and consulting services firm continues to expand support-program offerings to its more than 17,000 employees. Building upon its already flexible workplace culture, RSM surveyed staff and decided to set no limits on remote, hybrid, or in-person workdays.

Launched in May 2023, the Women in RSM series, in conjunction with the firm’s 10-year-old culture, diversity, and inclusion celebration, spotlights women within the organization to make them feel seen and supported. Sponsored by its ¡Hola!, InspirAsian, and multicultural employee network groups, RSM’s conversational language program’s second cohort launched in July 2023 with the goal of increasing linguistic proficiency among staff who work with international clients. 

RSM is a signatory of the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion initiative and selected six participants last year to work alongside other firms in the creation of public policies and corporate strategies that promote racial equity. Four fellows are participating this year.

RSM’s annual stewardship campaign, the Power of Love, selects local youth-focused charities to volunteer for and support. The 2023 campaign raised more than $4.7 million, bringing the grand total raised to more than $41 million, which has so far been distributed to 760 charities.

64. EY

2023 ranking: 50
Years on list: 26
Why the firm made the list: Big Four accounting giant EY fell 14 places on the list while weathering multiple rounds of layoffs, including dozens of partners in December. Still, EY’s U.S. employee benefits remain top-notch, offering 25 no-cost counseling and mental health coach sessions per year (including household family members), flexible vacation, and full weeks off during company shutdown time in July and December, in addition to three four-day weekends for Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving. Some teams are testing out four-day workweeks.

EY expanded its Pathways to Transition program to provide reimbursements up to $50,000 for expenses relating to gender-affirming medical care not covered by a medical plan. The World Economic Forum named EY’s Neuro-Diverse Centers of Excellence a global Lighthouse model for inclusion and value. 

EY has the goal of achieving 50% representation for women and racially and ethnically diverse employees at its partner level by 2025. As of August 2023, 28% of its partners and principals are women, and 22% are racially and ethnically diverse.

72. KPMG

2023 ranking: 36
Years on list: 20
Why the firm made the list: KPMG was not immune to the layoffs that bit the consulting industry widely in 2023 amid an unfavorable climate for deals and advisory services. This year, the company is focusing on AI training for employees; last year, it committed $125 million over the next five years to advance equity in education, health care, and economic opportunities for underserved communities. Last summer, the company launched an internship program for 200 high schoolers to spend three weeks learning from KPMG coaches, mentors, and content developers.

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Hardware Rally Diverges From Software Stocks

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Hardware Rally Diverges From Software Stocks

As midyear earnings reports flood Wall Street during the week of July 21, 2026, a sharp performance divergence has emerged within the technology sector. Equity indices reflect robust institutional buying in semiconductor manufacturers, data center infrastructure providers, and specialized power equipment suppliers. Conversely, enterprise Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) equities are facing notable valuation pressure as institutional investors demand clear, high-margin top-line revenue growth to justify elevated price-to-earnings multiples.

The sustained momentum in hardware equities is anchored in massive, multi-billion-dollar capital expenditure budgets allocated by mega-cap technology corporations. Demand for next-generation computing architectures, high-density server hardware, and specialized cooling infrastructure remains unyielding as enterprises globally build out localized computing clusters. Semiconductor foundries and equipment manufacturers continue to report record order backlogs, granting these companies exceptional pricing power and revenue visibility despite broader macroeconomic uncertainty.

In contrast, the enterprise software segment is navigating a rigorous fundamental reassessment. While software vendors have aggressively integrated automated digital features across their applications, enterprise customers are closely scrutinizing software licensing expenditures. Corporate IT departments are demanding verifiable productivity metrics before expanding user licenses, leading to extended sales cycles for software providers. Firms that fail to demonstrate direct, measurable return on investment are experiencing sharp post-earnings corrections.

For equity portfolio managers, navigating the midyear technology landscape requires strict balance sheet analysis and disciplined stock selection. Investors should focus on hardware leaders with defensible technological moats and enterprise software firms featuring deep workflow integration and proven monetization models. Maintaining a balanced, highly selective exposure protects capital while capturing structural technological growth.

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Hardware vs. Software Divergence: Navigating Midyear 2026 Tech Sector Earnings

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Hardware vs. Software Divergence: Navigating Midyear 2026 Tech Sector Earnings

As the midyear 2026 earnings season accelerates through the week of July 20, the technology sector is displaying a notable operational split between hardware infrastructure providers and enterprise software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms. Market indices reflect strong institutional demand for companies supplying core computing hardware, advanced power management systems, and specialized optical networking components. Conversely, software providers are facing intense margin scrutiny as Wall Street demands concrete, high-margin revenue growth to justify elevated software valuations.

The sustained outperformance of hardware equities is anchored in ongoing, multi-billion-dollar global capital investments into data center infrastructure, grid capacity expansion, and high-performance chip architecture. Semiconductor foundries and specialized component suppliers have consistently reported robust order backlogs, driven by enterprise commitments to build out secure, localized computing clusters. Investors have rewarded these companies due to their tangible, order-backed revenue visibility and strong pricing power in a constrained supply environment.

On the other hand, the software sector is navigating a transition phase. While enterprise software vendors have heavily invested in integrating automated AI capabilities across their product suites, corporate clients are scrutinizing software licencing costs and requiring clear return-on-investment metrics before expanding enterprise seat licenses. Consequently, software vendors that rely on generic feature upgrades without demonstrable productivity improvements are seeing extended sales cycles and valuation compression during quarterly earnings calls.

For equity investors, navigating the tech market for the remainder of 2026 requires rigorous fundamental analysis focused on capital efficiency and cash flow generation. Strategic focus should be directed toward hardware leaders with unassailable technological moats and enterprise software companies possessing deep workflow integration and proven monetization models. Maintaining a balanced, selective exposure ensures participation in technological growth while hedging against localized valuation corrections.

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Utilities Re-Valuation: How Industrial Power Demand Driven by AI Upgrades Sector Equities

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How Industrial Power Demand Driven by AI Upgrades Sector Equities

Traditionally viewed as defensive, low-growth dividend plays, utility equities are undergoing a remarkable structural re-valuation across major stock exchanges in July 2026. Driven by an unprecedented surge in industrial power requirements—stemming from high-density data centers, advanced domestic manufacturing plants, and widespread electrification initiatives—utility providers are presenting revenue growth profiles historically reserved for growth sectors. This transition has repositioned power and energy infrastructure equities into prime targets for institutional capital.

The driver of this market shift is the long-term contractual nature of commercial energy demand. Tech giants and industrial manufacturers are entering into multi-decade power purchase agreements (PPAs) with utility operators to secure guaranteed baseload power. To meet this demand, utility companies are undertaking massive capital expenditure programs to modernize electrical transmission networks, integrate next-generation nuclear and renewable power facilities, and enhance regional grid resilience. Regulated utility models allow these companies to earn predictable returns on these substantial capital investments.

Furthermore, equity analysts highlight that the sector offers an attractive blend of growth potential and downside protection in a sustained high-interest-rate environment. While elevated capital costs increase borrowing expenses for grid infrastructure upgrades, the sheer volume of new industrial power demand provides strong top-line revenue expansion that offsets debt-servicing expenses. Investors seeking reliable yield combined with structural capital appreciation are increasingly allocating capital to regulated electric utilities and independent power producers.

Moving through the second half of 2026, portfolio managers recommend evaluating utility equities based on regional regulatory environments and capital execution track records. Companies operating in regions with streamlined permitting processes, supportive state regulatory commissions, and direct proximity to expanding industrial corridors are best positioned to deliver superior long-term shareholder value.

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