audit fees edge up 5% at biggest companies
public companies now pay an average of $3.9 million per year.
big four firms seem to be finding difficulties in boosting billables to their biggest audit clients, as the clients themselves hammer hard on costs and take on more work internally, according to a new study. on the other hand, the average tenure of a cpa firm is now about 20 years per client.
companies are reporting only modest increases in audit fees and total hours worked from the year before.