IFAC Releases New Data on Global Private Equity Activity in Accounting

IFAC Releases Q1 2026 Information on Global Private Equity Transactions

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) has recently released updated information related to the impact of private equity (PE) investment in accounting firms, indicating that transactions continue to accelerate.

IFAC has relied upon publicly available information to develop its comprehensive, global examination of the number and type of accounting firms impacted by direct investment from a PE asset manager or indirectly through the subsequent acquisition or “roll-up_ into a PE-backed firm. The graphs below summarize global transaction volumes and trends.

The graph above depicts the direct PE investment by region. Of particular interest is the difference in PE investment strategy in the United States as compared to other regions, whereby the direct investment in the U.S. focuses on larger accounting firms offering audit/assurance services to public interest entities (PIE) or exchange-traded clients (including publicly traded entities, banks, insurance companies and entities specific by local laws). The PE investment in other regions primarily target firms with no audit/assurance practice or those providing audit/assurance services to non-PIE clients.

IFAC has provided data and other resources to increase awareness and help the profession, regulators and other stakeholders better understand this important change to the accounting profession. This information may be accessed after creating an account with IFAC at https://www.ifac.org/private-equity-investment-accountancy.

Source: International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). Data and charts reproduced from IFAC materials based on publicly available information.