Do Big 4 Accounting Firms Pay for Relocation? Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG Packages

Every Big 4 firm offers relocation assistance for new hires and internal transfers who are moving 50 or more miles to their assigned office. This is not a secret benefit you have to dig for. It is standard policy.

The catch is that "relocation assistance" means very different things depending on your level, your practice, and which firm you are joining. A staff associate at PwC gets a very different package than a senior manager at Deloitte.

All four firms have tightened their packages since 2023. Remote work reduced the number of relocations, and the firms adjusted budgets accordingly. But if you are relocating for a start date or an office transfer, the money is still there.

At the manager level and above, most Big 4 firms switch from a lump sum to managed relocation. Here is what that looks like in practice.

The firm assigns a third-party relocation company (like Cartus, BGRS, or Weichert Workforce Mobility) to handle your move. You get a dedicated coordinator who contacts you, collects your inventory, and gets 2 to 3 bids from approved carriers. You pick one.

The relocation company handles packing, shipping, storage (if needed), and temporary housing. You do not see a bill. The firm pays the vendors directly. The total value of these packages is often $15,000 to $30,000 or more, but you never see that number.

The downside: you have less control over timing and carrier selection. The approved carriers are reliable but not always the fastest. And if something goes wrong during the move, the complaint chain runs through the relocation company, not directly to the carrier.

The policy is straightforward but there are gray areas.

New hire relocating for start date: Yes, always, if you are moving 50+ miles to your assigned office. This is the most common scenario and the easiest to get approved.

Lateral office transfer: Yes, if the firm initiates the transfer or you request it and get approved. Voluntary transfers to a different office usually qualify but the package may be smaller than a new hire package.

Return from client site: Sometimes. If you have been staffed at a client 200 miles away for 18 months and the engagement ends, some firms will help you relocate back. Others consider that your problem. Ask your resource manager.

Intern converting to full-time in a different city: Sometimes. This is negotiable. If you interned in the Chicago office but your full-time offer is for New York, ask about relocation during the offer conversation. Most firms will provide at least a partial package.

Partner or director relocation: Fully managed, including home sale assistance, spouse career support, and school search. These packages can exceed $50,000.

The standard lump sum is the starting offer, not the ceiling. Here is what you can ask for.

Ask during the offer stage, not after you accept. Once you sign, you lose leverage. The recruiter expects this question.

Reference the 50-mile policy. If you are relocating 49 miles, ask anyway. The policy exists as a guideline, not a hard rule. Recruiters can make exceptions.

Ask for temporary housing if it is not included. Even 2 to 4 weeks of a corporate apartment or hotel stipend ($1,500 to $3,000) makes a big difference when you are apartment hunting in a new city.

Ask for lease break coverage. If you are breaking a lease to relocate, some firms will cover the early termination fee (typically one month's rent). This is not standard but it is not unusual either.

Ask if the lump sum is grossed up. A $5,000 lump sum that is grossed up for taxes is worth about $7,500 in total company spend, and you actually receive $5,000 after taxes. A $5,000 lump sum that is not grossed up becomes roughly $3,250 after taxes. This is a significant difference.

Before you relocate for a Big 4 job, ask yourself one question: will you actually be in the office?

If you are starting in audit, you will be on client sites 60 to 80% of the time during busy season (January through April). You might spend more nights in a hotel near a client than in your apartment. Some first-year staff associates relocate to their assigned office and then barely see it for four months.

This does not mean you should skip the relocation. You still need a home base, and client assignments change. But it does mean you should factor in the reality of your schedule when deciding how much to spend on your apartment.

Consulting practice staff face the same dynamic. If you are on the road Monday through Thursday every week, your apartment is a place you sleep on weekends. Some first-years share apartments or get smaller places knowing they will barely be there.