Accountancy Age 50 +50 League Table : Reliable?

Accountancy Age 50 +50 League Table : Reliable?

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it amazes me that we all take the Accountancy Age 50 + 50 annual league table as fact, when this must be one of the few statistical pieces of information that is out there nowadays where I've found it impossible to find out where they have got their figures from. Surely this should be some where on the league table itself?

Accountancy Age even have their own page entitled: "You can prove anything with statistics" http://www.accountancyage.com/aa/blog-post/2346177/taking-stock-you-can-...

I don't understand why, at least in the footnotes, they don''t explain how they have got their figures.

Are they just asking firms and relying on that? 

I notice there are for example franchises, where each franchise are independent sole traders/LTD company's, potentially of not much more turnover than a few hundred thousand pounds, that are then able to appear as a part of large accountancy firm by appearing in the league table under a franchise banner.

Does anyone know where they get their figures from and how they verify them?

Thanks

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Portia profile image
By Portia Nina Levin
04th Apr 2016 11:58

What are you suggesting? You seem to be implying that they just make it up!

Not at all. The firms helpfully provide them with all the information so that they can work it all out, and I am sure that all of the data gets verified.

Obviously there can be errors of omission, because providing them with data in the first place is not obligatory.

There is actually a firm larger than PwC operating in the UK who always decline to participate. Nobody knows who they are though.

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By johngroganjga
04th Apr 2016 12:16

Some of the information is in the public domain as well - and audited at that.

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Portia profile image
By Portia Nina Levin
04th Apr 2016 12:19

There is information in the public domain John, and I am sure that the firms use the same information in making their submissions to AA. I am as dubious as the OP that AA actually go and check what they have been given against that information though.

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