By John Woo, Managing Partner, Ackenting Group | PA, CA (Singapore), FCCA | Last updated: October 2026
Singapore has hundreds of firms that can sign a statutory audit opinion, so “which one is best” has no single answer. A listed group with subsidiaries in four countries and a twelve-person company filing its first audited accounts are not shopping for the same firm.
This guide groups the ten audit firms Singapore companies most often compare into three tiers: the Big 4, mid-tier firms with international networks, and SME-focused specialists. For each, we set out who it suits and where it falls short. We have not ranked them 1 to 10, because that tells you very little. The aim is to help you shortlist the two or three firms worth asking for a proposal.
Key Takeaways
- The Big 4 (PwC, KPMG, Deloitte and EY) handle most listed-company and multinational audit work in Singapore.
- Mid-tier firms with international networks matter most when you have overseas subsidiaries that need coordinated group reporting.
- SME-focused firms usually fit private, owner-managed companies better, where partner attention and turnaround matter more than global reach.
- Most Singapore SMEs pay between S$1,000 and S$12,000 a year for a statutory audit. Size and complexity drive the fee, not the firm’s brand.
- Every firm below is an ACRA-registered public accounting entity. That registration, not the size of the firm, is what makes an audit opinion valid.
How We Built This List
We grouped firms by the kind of audit work they are built for, not by revenue or headcount. Four things shaped the list:
- ACRA registration. Only public accountants practising in ACRA-approved accounting entities can issue an audit opinion on financial statements in Singapore.
- Depth of the audit practice itself, separate from tax, advisory or corporate secretarial work.
- The clients each firm typically serves: listed groups, regional mid-caps or owner-managed SMEs.
- International network membership, which matters if your overseas subsidiaries need group reporting coordinated across countries.
If you want the full evaluation framework rather than a shortlist, see the seven criteria that matter when choosing an audit firm. Firm names are current as of October 2026. Several Singapore practices have rebranded in recent years, and older lists still use their previous names.
The Shortlist at a Glance
| Firm | Tier | International network | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| PwC Singapore | Big 4 | PwC Global | Listed companies, IPO candidates, complex cross-border groups |
| KPMG Singapore | Big 4 | KPMG International | Regulated industries, financial institutions, government-linked entities |
| Deloitte Singapore | Big 4 | Deloitte Global | Large companies wanting audit alongside consulting |
| EY Singapore | Big 4 | EY Global | ESG and sustainability reporting, technology groups |
| RSM Singapore | Mid-tier | RSM International | Companies expanding across ASEAN, groups outgrowing a small firm |
| BDO Singapore | Mid-tier | BDO International | Mid-caps and larger SMEs wanting network reach without Big 4 fees |
| Foo Kon Tan | Mid-tier | HLB International | Family businesses and mid-caps wanting partner-led service |
| Baker Tilly | Mid-tier | Baker Tilly International | Companies in transition: M&A, restructuring, valuations |
| Ackenting Group | SME-focused | IR Global | SMEs and Singapore subsidiaries needing a fixed-fee audit on a firm deadline |
| Precursor Assurance | SME-focused | None | SMEs wanting a dedicated audit firm separate from their accountant |
Tier 1: The Big 4
Between them, PwC, KPMG, Deloitte and EY audit most of Singapore’s listed companies and large multinationals. They are the right choice when your audit has to satisfy a regulator, a stock exchange or an overseas parent. When it doesn’t, they are an expensive choice.
PwC Singapore
Network: PwC Global
PwC has the largest professional services presence in Singapore, with particular depth in deals and M&A advisory alongside its audit practice. It handles some of the largest audit mandates in the region.
Best for: listed companies, IPO candidates and groups with complex international structures.
Trade-off: minimum engagement sizes put it out of reach for most private SMEs.
KPMG Singapore
Network: KPMG International
KPMG is strongest in regulated sectors such as banking, insurance and government-linked work, and its risk and compliance practice is well regarded.
Best for: financial institutions and other regulated entities.
Trade-off: the same fee floor as the rest of the Big 4.
Deloitte Singapore
Network: Deloitte Global
Deloitte has the deepest consulting arm of the four in Singapore. That helps when the audit sits alongside technology or transformation projects.
Best for: large companies wanting audit and consulting under one roof.
Trade-off: its edge is in advisory rather than pure statutory audit.
EY Singapore
Network: EY Global
EY is known for technology consulting and for sustainability and ESG reporting work.
Best for: companies with ESG reporting obligations and technology-sector groups.
Trade-off: most SMEs will never need the capabilities it is built around.
Key takeaway: A Big 4 audit opinion carries no more legal weight than one from any other ACRA-registered firm. Pay for a Big 4 firm when a regulator, exchange, lender or overseas parent asks for one, not by default.
Tier 2: Mid-Tier Firms with International Networks
This is where many growing Singapore companies land. These firms have real audit depth and belong to global networks, so a subsidiary in Malaysia or Indonesia can be audited by a member firm instead of an unrelated local auditor, at fees below the Big 4. If you are weighing this tier against the Big 4, we compare them directly in mid-tier audit firm in Singapore vs Big 4.
RSM Singapore
Network: RSM International
RSM is the largest firm outside the Big 4 in Singapore, with audit, tax, advisory and outsourcing under one roof and strong ASEAN coverage through its network.
Best for: companies moving into regional operations, and groups that have outgrown a small local firm.
Trade-off: at its size, smaller accounts may see more of the junior team than the partner.
BDO Singapore
Network: BDO International
BDO runs a broad audit, advisory and restructuring practice and gives clients access to one of the larger global networks outside the Big 4.
Best for: mid-caps and larger SMEs wanting network reach at a more accessible fee.
Trade-off: for a simple single-entity company, you may be paying for network reach you won’t use.
Foo Kon Tan
Network: HLB International
One of Singapore’s long-established homegrown practices, Foo Kon Tan is known for partner-led client relationships rather than handing work down to junior staff.
Best for: family businesses and mid-caps that want senior attention throughout the engagement.
Trade-off: a smaller global footprint than RSM or BDO.
Baker Tilly
Network: Baker Tilly International
Baker Tilly (formerly Baker Tilly TFW) pairs its audit practice with a notable restructuring, recovery and corporate advisory team.
Best for: companies in transition, whether through M&A, restructuring or a need for valuation support.
Trade-off: its strength is assurance and advisory, not routine compliance work.
Key takeaway: Choose a mid-tier firm when you have overseas subsidiaries or expect to grow into a group structure. For a single Singapore company with straightforward operations, the network is often more than you need.
SME-Focused Specialists
For a private Singapore company with straightforward operations, the things that actually matter are fee certainty, turnaround and whether a partner ever looks at your file. Firms in this tier are built around those needs rather than global coverage.
Ackenting Group (AG)
Network: IR Global
Ackenting Group is an ACRA-registered public accounting corporation focused on SME and owner-managed company audits. Audits are quoted on a fixed fee agreed upfront and delivered under a 30-day completion protocol. New client intake is capped at 100 a year so turnaround holds through filing season.
AG has completed more than 2,000 audit engagements, is a member of IR Global (1,000+ member firms in 155+ jurisdictions) and holds the OCBC Prestige Partner award. Besides statutory audits, the firm handles the full range of audit services in Singapore, including sales (GTO), grant, BCA, MCST, charity and group consolidation audits.
Best for: SMEs and Singapore subsidiaries of foreign parents that need a statutory audit done to a firm deadline at a fee agreed in advance.
Trade-off: not built for IPO audits or groups spanning many jurisdictions. Those sit better with the Big 4 or a networked mid-tier firm.
Precursor Assurance
Precursor Assurance is a Singapore assurance practice that concentrates on statutory audits for SMEs.
Best for: companies that want a dedicated audit firm separate from whoever does their bookkeeping.
Trade-off: you will need a separate provider for accounting, tax and secretarial work.
Key takeaway: For most private SMEs, the deciding factors are a fixed fee, a committed turnaround and real partner involvement. Ask for all three in writing.
Other Established Firms Worth Shortlisting
The ten above are the firms most Singapore companies end up comparing, but they are not the whole market. Depending on your sector and size, these are also worth a look: Crowe Singapore, PKF-CAP, Forvis Mazars (formerly Mazars), Moore Stephens, CLA Global TS (formerly Nexia TS), Kreston David Yeung, Lo Hock Ling & Co and UHY Lee Seng Chan. For the complete list, use the public accountant and public accounting entity search on ACRA’s site.
Which Tier Fits Your Company?
| Your company | Likely tier | Typical annual statutory audit fee |
|---|---|---|
| Dormant company | SME-focused | S$1,000 – S$2,000 |
| Small company, simple operations | SME-focused | S$2,500 – S$5,000 |
| SME with revenue of S$5m – S$10m | SME-focused or mid-tier | S$5,000 – S$12,000 |
| Group with overseas subsidiaries | Mid-tier with international network | Depends on scope |
| Listed company or IPO preparation | Big 4 | S$12,000 and up, often well above S$20,000 |
Ranges are market estimates from our 2026 statutory audit fee guide, not quotes. AG’s statutory audit fees start from S$5,000 on a fixed-fee basis.
Five Questions to Ask Any Firm You Shortlist
- Is the fee fixed, and what falls outside it? Scope creep is the most common cause of audit fee disputes.
- Who does the fieldwork, and who signs off? A partner’s name on the proposal doesn’t always mean a partner on the job.
- What turnaround will you commit to in writing? Four to eight weeks after complete documents is common. Some firms commit to less.
- Have you audited companies in my sector? Sector familiarity shortens fieldwork and cuts down the questions you have to answer.
- What do you need from us, and by when? A firm that gives you a document checklist upfront has done this efficiently before.
If your current auditor is the reason you’re reading this, switching is routine. We cover the process and timing in appointing and changing your auditor in Singapore. For a fuller walkthrough of hiring an auditor, see our buyer’s guide to audit firms in Singapore.
Where AG Fits
We have put ourselves in the SME-focused tier rather than at the top of a combined ranking, because that is an accurate description of our work. We are not the right firm for an IPO or a ten-country group audit, and we will tell you so on the scoping call.
What we are built for is getting a statutory audit done properly, on a fixed fee, within 30 days, for the private Singapore companies that make up most of the market. If that sounds like your situation, get a fixed-fee audit quote and we’ll scope it before you commit to anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Big 4 audit firms in Singapore?
PwC, KPMG, Deloitte and EY. Together they audit most of Singapore’s listed companies and large multinationals. All four are ACRA-registered public accounting entities, as is every firm legally able to sign a statutory audit opinion in Singapore.
Do I need a Big 4 firm to audit my company?
For most private Singapore companies, no. A Big 4 audit opinion carries no extra legal weight, because any ACRA-registered public accounting entity can issue a valid statutory audit opinion. The exceptions are when an investor, lender or regulator specifically asks for a Big 4 auditor, or when you are preparing for an IPO. Otherwise, fee, turnaround and partner attention usually decide it.
How much do audit firms in Singapore charge?
Fees follow company size and complexity far more than firm brand. Most Singapore SMEs pay between S$1,000 and S$12,000 a year for a statutory audit. Complex or listed groups start around S$12,000 and often go well above S$20,000. AG’s statutory audit fees start from S$5,000 on a fixed fee. Our 2026 statutory audit fee guide breaks down what drives the number.
How many audit firms are there in Singapore?
More than any shortlist covers. ACRA keeps the public register of public accountants and public accounting entities, which is the authoritative and current list. It changes as firms register, merge and rebrand. Lists like this one cover the firms companies most often shortlist rather than trying to be complete.
Can I change my audit firm partway through?
Yes. Companies change auditors over fees, service quality or independence, and the Companies Act sets out the process for the outgoing auditor’s resignation or removal and the new firm’s appointment. Our guide to appointing and changing your auditor in Singapore covers the steps and timing.
About the Author
John Woo is Managing Partner of Ackenting Group, an ACRA-registered public accounting corporation. He is a Public Accountant, Chartered Accountant (Singapore), ASEAN CPA, FCCA and Accredited Tax Practitioner, and has led more than 2,000 audit engagements in Singapore across SMEs, Singapore subsidiaries of foreign groups and listed-company subsidiaries.
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