Angelo Accardi: Forvis Mazars Targets Swiss Growth Beyond the Big Four

Accardi, a veteran who joined the firm’s Zurich office in 2008, views the current market shift as a prime opportunity to challenge the dominance of the Big Four. He argues that clients are increasingly seeking alternatives that offer high-level expertise without the rigid structures of the industry’s largest players. Currently, roughly half of the firm’s revenue is derived from audit, with the remainder split between fiduciary services, tax, and consulting.

While consolidation is reshaping the Swiss landscape—often fueled by private equity—Accardi remains committed to organic growth. He views acquisitions as culturally risky and prefers to build internal capacity. This strategy is tested by a volatile economic climate marked by geopolitical uncertainty, the persistent strength of the Swiss franc, and a rapid succession of new regulatory requirements. Even as artificial intelligence transforms the industry, Accardi maintains that the core product remains trust. For the firm, the challenge lies in auditing AI-driven systems, which necessitates a deeper focus on data governance, traceability, and human oversight. Despite the technological shift, he insists that the firm will continue to prioritize training young talent to navigate these complex, machine-aided environments.