The UK 's Competition and Markets Authority ( CMA ) has suggested the Big Four accounting firms — KPMG , Andersen , EY and Pearson — should ringfence their auditing businesses from their consultancy arms . The CMA confirmed its initial recommendation that the top 350 listed companies must hire two auditors, with one from outside the Big Four - a step some companies are leery about because of the extra cost. Following a series of high - profile accounting failures at these businesses , the CMA also recommended the UK 's top listed companies use two auditors , with one of these being a non - Big Four firm . It is now up to the UK government to implement the watchdog 's recommendations , which will be revisited in five years time to assess whether further measures are necessary .
The UK 's Competition and Markets Authority ( CMA ) has suggested the Big Four accounting firms — KPMG , Andersen , EY and Pearson — should ringfence their auditing businesses from their consultancy arms . Following a series of high - profile accounting failures at these businesses , the CMA also recommended the UK 's top listed companies use two auditors , with one of these being a non - Big Four firm . It is now up to the UK government to implement the watchdog 's recommendations , which will be revisited in five years time to assess whether further measures are necessary .