Accenture

Accenture plc
	File:Accenture logo.svg Accenture logo
Company type	Public limited company
Industry	Professional services, Information technology, Management consulting
Founded	1989
Headquarters	Dublin, Ireland
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Julie Sweet (CEO)
Products	Strategy and Consulting, Technology, Operations, Accenture Song, Industry X
Number of employees	774,000 (2024)
Website	www.accenture.com

Accenture plc is a global professional services firm based in Dublin, Ireland, with a focus on information technology (IT) solutions and management consulting. Established in 1989, it ranks among the Fortune Global 500 companies, reporting revenues of $64.9 billion in 2024.

Origins and Initial Development

Accenture’s roots trace back to the early 1950s as the business and technology consulting arm within the accounting firm Arthur Andersen. This group conducted a feasibility analysis for General Electric to deploy a computer at their Appliance Park facility located in Louisville, Kentucky. This project led to GE installing a UNIVAC I computer and printer, recognized as the first commercial computer application in the United States.

Separation from Arthur Andersen

In 1989, Andersen Consulting and Arthur Andersen became distinct entities under Andersen Worldwide Société Coopérative (AWSC). Throughout the 1990s, friction escalated because Andersen Consulting was obligated to transfer up to 15% of its profits annually to Arthur Andersen, which simultaneously operated its own consulting division named Arthur Andersen Business Consulting. The conflict culminated in 1998 when Andersen Consulting withheld the profit-sharing payment and initiated legal action for breach of contract against AWSC and Arthur Andersen. Arbitration in 2000 severed all connections between Andersen Consulting and AWSC/Arthur Andersen, with Andersen Consulting compensating Arthur Andersen $1.2 billion.

On January 1, 2001, Andersen Consulting adopted the name Accenture, inspired by the phrase "Accent on the future." The new name was proposed by Kim Petersen from the Oslo office and was selected for its global neutrality.

Incorporation and Stock Market Debut

Accenture was officially incorporated in Bermuda in 2001. Its initial public offering (IPO) took place on July 19, 2001, with shares priced at $14.50 each and listed on the New York Stock Exchange. After breaking away from Andersen, Accenture avoided involvement in the 2002 SEC investigation into Arthur Andersen concerning accounting fraud and obstruction of justice.

Transition to Irish Incorporation

On May 26, 2009, Accenture’s board unanimously resolved to change the company’s legal domicile from Bermuda to Ireland.

Services and Operations

Accenture delivers services through five main divisions:

Strategy and Consulting
Technology
Operations
Accenture Song (previously Interactive)
Industry X

Its clientele spans multiple sectors such as communications, media and technology, financial services, health and public service, consumer goods, and natural resources.

Executive Leadership

William D. Green assumed the role of CEO in September 2004 before being succeeded by Pierre Nanterme in January 2011. Due to health concerns, Nanterme stepped down in January 2019, with CFO David Rowland appointed as interim CEO. Julie Sweet took over as CEO in September 2019.

Workforce

By 2024, Accenture’s global workforce numbered around 774,000 employees.

Financial Overview

Key financial data are as follows:

Year	Revenue (billion US$)	Net Profit (billion US$)	Total Assets (billion US$)	Workforce
2013	30.394	3.282	16.867	275,000
2014	31.875	2.941	17.930	305,000
2015	32.914	3.054	18.203	358,000
2016	34.798	4.112	20.609	384,000
2017	36.765	3.445	22.690	425,000
2018	41.603	4.060	24.449	459,000
2019	43.215	4.779	29.789	505,000
2020	44.327	5.107	37.078	506,000
2021	50.533	5.906	43.175	624,000
2022	61.594	6.989	47.263	721,000
2023	64.111	7.003	51.245	733,000
2024	64.896	7.419	55.932	774,000

Since going public in 2001, Accenture has generated approximately 370% total returns (inclusive of dividends) between 2015 and 2024, surpassing the performance of the S&P 500 index and competitors such as Goldman Sachs.

Tax Haven Incorporation

In October 2002, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported Accenture as one among four publicly traded federal contractors registered in a tax haven jurisdiction. Unlike the others that transitioned offshore after initially being U.S.-incorporated entities, Accenture had never been incorporated in the United States but operated through affiliated partnerships coordinated by a Swiss-based entity. Critics—including former CNN correspondent Lou Dobbs—interpreted Accenture’s Bermuda registration as a strategy to reduce U.S. tax liabilities; however, the GAO did not categorize Accenture as originally a U.S.-based firm.

NHS IT System Contract in the UK

Accenture was responsible for implementing an IT modernization initiative for the UK's National Health Service starting in 2003 but exited the project in 2006 amid disagreements related to schedule delays and budget overruns. The British government eventually terminated the program five years later due to persistent challenges.

Tax Minimization Practices

In 2012, reports surfaced revealing that Accenture’s effective tax rate in Ireland was merely 3.5%, markedly lower than the approximate 24% tax rate it would have incurred if headquartered in the United Kingdom.

U.S. Immigration Services Contract

In June 2018, Accenture secured a $297 million agreement to facilitate recruitment of 7,500 officers for U.S. Customs and Border Protection; nevertheless, the company billed nearly $40,000 per recruit—exceeding an average officer’s yearly salary. By December of that year, despite receiving $13.6 million in payments, only two officers had been hired toward the five-year target of 7,500 recruits. A Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General report cited significant delays and underachievement, resulting in contract cancellation in 2019.

Labor Conditions

At the start of 2019, contractors employed by Accenture in Austin, Texas—engaged in content moderation for Facebook—reported substandard working environments characterized by limited break times and stringent confidentiality agreements. These moderators were routinely exposed to disturbing material including violent acts, hate speech, and abuse content, raising concerns about potential psychological trauma such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Accenture responded by emphasizing its commitment to providing career advancement opportunities and wage enhancements aimed at improving moderators’ work experience.

In February 2025, a former Accenture employee assigned to Meta’s WhatsApp team disclosed the mental health impact of reviewing child sexual abuse imagery, mentioning substance use as a coping strategy. The individual alleged failures to adequately protect children and recounted a colleague’s arrest related to possession of child exploitation content. Accenture reiterated its dedication to ensuring platform safety through its content moderation and compliance services portfolio.

Tax matters

In February 2019, Accenture agreed to a $200 million payment to Swiss authorities to resolve disputes concerning transfer pricing practices.

Security incident

Accenture disclosed in August 2021 that it experienced a ransomware attack, leading to the compromise of six terabytes of data.

Workforce management

In March 2023, the company revealed intentions to reduce its workforce by 19,000 positions—about 2.6% of its total 738,000 employees—over a period of 18 months, attributing this decision to lowered revenue projections.

By February 2025, Accenture updated its diversity and inclusion framework by eliminating global employee representation targets, suspending career development initiatives focused on demographic groups, and withdrawing from external diversity benchmarking studies. The firm also reassessed its external collaborations, reportedly in response to President Trump's Executive Order 14151 to preserve contracts with U.S. federal agencies.

External links