Grant Thornton vs Deloitte

While comparing Grant Thornton vs Deloitte, both with excellent environment and work culture, we found 6 differences that really matter.

When it comes to advisory and consulting services, Deloitte and Grant Thornton are the top companies in their respective expertise. If you want to compare and know the differences between them, this read is for you!

While researching Deloitte and Grant Thornton, I observed that the two multinational firms are poles apart. Deloitte is one of the Big 4 firms, and many professionals vouch for its excellent environment and work culture. Grant Thornton, on the other hand, sometimes comes under a lot of heat for its toxic environment.

Both of these firms also differ a lot in:

Company size and global presence
Revenue figures
Focus on industry
Job acceptance rates
Client base

In this post, I’ll discuss (for better understanding):

What are the differences between Grant Thornton and Deloitte?
The various aspects of the two companies that will help you decide which one you should go for (Opinionated)

1. Size and Global Reach

Grant Thornton and Deloitte are both advisory firms and have a global presence. But their revenues and market shares tell another story!

My research reveals that Grant Thornton is the 7th largest company by revenue and the 6th largest by number of employees (68,000 employees, to be exact). It operates mainly through its offices in 147 countries, and that’s a remarkable feat! (Source)

Now, let’s talk about Deloitte! It has a more prominent global presence than Grant Thornton. With offices in over 150 countries in 6 continents, it has a huge workforce of 457,000 employees worldwide. (Source)

2. Revenue

Let’s talk about revenue figures because that is a major difference between the two companies.

Grant Thornton has earned approximately $7.2 billion in the last year. (Source)

But Deloitte has left it behind and has earned $64.9 billion (super impressive). (Source)

I believe that this huge difference in the revenue can be because Grant Thornton is a mid-sized firm and focuses on the US and Europe clientele more. Maybe (Well, surely) it lacks the resources to compete with Deloitte in this regard. (Source)

3. Industry Focus

Grant Thornton covers a portfolio of industries, such as:

Asset management
Automotive
Banking
Energy and renewables
Healthcare
Insurance
Telecommunication
Travel

(Source)

Deloitte, on the other hand, has a wider industry focus than Grant Thornton and deals in:

Automotive
Retail, wholesale, and distribution
Transportation
Hospitality
Industrial products
Mining and metal
Power, utilities, and renewable energy
Banking
Capital markets
Infrastructure
Healthcare and life sciences
Technology
Telecommunication
Media and entertainment
Real estate

(Source)

4. Work Environment and Culture

Talking about work environment and culture, most of Grant Thornton’s recent and former employees think it is, plain and simple, toxic!

Why do they think that? They explained these reasons:

Non-merit ranking and promotions of employees (Mostly based on friendships)
Unappreciative managers and partners
Low pay in auditing departments (When compared with the workload)

The table below shows Grant Thornton’s ratings of various aspects of the work culture and environment out of 57 reviews:

Workplace Culture Aspects	Rating (Out of 5)
Work-Life Balance	3.1
Career Development	3.1
Management	2.7
Work Environment	3.1

(Source)

But let me tell you! Deloitte’s work culture and overall professional ambiance is nothing like Grant Thornton’s.

The company believes in a positive work environment by focusing on learning opportunities that lead to professional growth. As an employee, the firm lets you go through various training sessions and growth initiatives like:

Leadership development programs
Deloitte University for mentorship of employees

(Source)

A former employee of Grant Thornton who is currently working at Deloitte praised the company on Glassdoor: “I had the privilege of transitioning from Grant Thornton to Deloitte. And, oh boy, it’s been nothing short of a crazy journey. The move has widened my professional horizons, and I’m able to work in an unparalleled culture that has me genuinely thrilled. Deloitte understands the needs of its employees. The leadership at Deloitte sets the tone for the entire organization. I’ve found a leadership team that not only guides but also inspires. Their commitment to transparency, accessibility, and fostering a culture of mentorship has been pivotal in my swift integration into the Deloitte family. The work culture here is not just a tagline; it’s a living, breathing entity that makes me feel like I’m in seventh heaven. I can’t stress this fact enough! I’m so happy.” (Source)

5. Job Acceptance Rates

As a professional looking to kick-start your career, the process of actually landing a job in Grant Thornton or Deloitte is itself a challenge!

At Grant Thornton, the acceptance rates are a bit on the high end. The firm always welcomes new trainees each year. (Source)

But Deloitte, well, it is extremely hard to get a job here. Its acceptance rate is only 3.7%, which can be a major disappointment for young talent. (Source)

Let the stats speak for themselves! Deloitte receives about 500,000 applications in a year. Out of these, only 17,000 are hired, and the rest have to go and find a job somewhere else to gain expertise. (Source)

6. Client Base

As I mentioned above, Grant Thornton is a medium-sized firm, and its clients are also not that big (But not too small, either).

Mostly, the company targets:

Mid-Sized Businesses
Non-profit Organizations
Government Entities

But it’s clear that just because the businesses aren’t massive, Grant Thornton still gives them special attention. The relationship that the firm builds goes beyond clientele. It’s similar to a partnership where everyone works together to succeed. (Source)

Let’s shift focus to Deloitte. It is no doubt a giant in consulting services, and that’s why it works for the big guns in the industry. You know, the ones you often see in the headlines and on the stock market. Some of these big names are:

Metlife.
Morgan Stanley.
Berkshire Hathaway.
The Blackstone Group.
Federal National Mortgage Association.
Microsoft.
GM.
Procter & Gamble and many more.

(Source)