Below is a strategic, SEO-optimized overview of the Top 20 Financial Advisory Consulting Firms, specialists in corporate finance, transaction advisory, restructuring, valuation, and performance improvement. Each profile includes seven sections, company name, founders, founding year, headquarters, product categories, and 5–10 bullet-pointed key features, drafted with the depth and nuance of an experienced market-research head.
1. Deloitte Financial Advisory
Founders: William Welch Deloitte (firm origins)
Founded Year: 1845 (advisory practice since 1990s)
Headquarters: New York, NY, USA
Product Categories: M\&A advisory, valuations, restructuring, forensic & dispute, debt & capital advisory
Description:
Deloitte Financial Advisory Services (FAS) leverages the global Deloitte network and multidisciplinary teams to guide clients through complex transactions and financial challenges. From cross-border M\&A due diligence to high-stakes restructuring and forensic investigations, Deloitte FAS combines deep sector knowledge with advanced analytics, including Deloitte’s proprietary Valuation Navigator™. Its end-to-end services, from capital-raising strategy to dispute resolution, help corporations, private-equity sponsors, and legal counsel make informed decisions and execute with confidence.
Key Features:
- Cross-border M\&A due diligence & integration support
- Fair-value and purchase-price valuations (Valuation Navigator™)
- Operational and debt-restructuring advisory
- Forensic accounting and dispute-resolution services
- Debt and capital structuring
- Advanced data-analytics and modelling capabilities
- Global delivery with local market expertise
2. EY Transaction Advisory Services
Founders: Arthur Young & Alwin Ernst (EY origins)
Founded Year: 1989 (EY formation)
Headquarters: London, UK & New York, NY, USA
Product Categories: Transaction strategy, diligence, valuation, restructuring, carve-out & integration
Description:
EY’s Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) helps clients seize value from transactions, whether private-equity acquisitions, corporate divestitures, or complex restructurings. EY TAS offers sector-focused diligence, next-generation valuations, and carve-out/integration programs, backed by EY’s global scale. Its “Integrated Risk Management” approach weaves regulatory, tax, and operational considerations into every deal. The team’s experience spans consumer, technology, energy, and financial services, delivering seamless execution from strategy through post-deal value realization.
Key Features:
- Commercial, financial, and tax diligence
- Complex carve-out and post-merger integration
- Fair-value and impairment assessments
- Debt-restructuring and liability management
- Commercial modelling and synergy quantification
- Sector-specific transaction teams
- Integrated risk and regulatory advisory
3. PwC Deals (Financial Advisory)
Founders: Samuel Price, William Cooper, Edwin Waterhouse (origins)
Founded Year: 1998 (PwC merger)
Headquarters: London, UK & New York, NY, USA
Product Categories: Deals strategy, M\&A, valuations, restructuring, forensics
Description:
PwC’s Deals practice, anchored by PwC’s global network and Strategy&, supports clients through every phase of a transaction life cycle. Services include deal strategy and origination, financial and commercial due diligence, valuation, and post-deal integration or carve-out. The team’s restructuring arm advises on debt refinancing and turnaround plans. PwC Deals differentiates itself through robust “Deals Digital” analytics platforms and sector-focused alliances, delivering insights that drive smarter, faster deal decisions.
Key Features:
- End-to-end transaction support (strategy to integration)
- Commercial and financial due diligence with advanced analytics
- Carve-out & separation and synergistic integration
- Valuation and purchase-price allocation services
- Debt restructuring & liability management
- Deals Digital data-analytics platforms
- Sector-aligned global teams
4. KPMG Deal Advisory
Founders: William Barclay Peat, James Marwick (origins)
Founded Year: 1987 (KPMG formation)
Headquarters: Amstelveen, Netherlands & New York, NY, USA
Product Categories: Corporate finance, valuations, restructuring, carve-out/integration, due diligence
Description:
KPMG Deal Advisory combines deep transaction experience with KPMG’s audit, tax, and advisory capabilities. The practice advises on M\&A strategy, target identification, and comprehensive due diligence, financial, commercial, tax, and IT. KPMG’s Valuation Centre of Excellence provides transparent, defensible valuations, while its restructuring team crafts turnaround plans. Integrated carve-out and integration services, backed by KPMG’s vast industry data, help clients maximize deal value and mitigate execution risk.
Key Features:
- M\&A strategy and target-screening frameworks
- Financial, commercial, tax & IT due diligence
- Valuation and purchase-price allocation (PCAOB-compliant)
- Restructuring and turnaround execution
- Carve-out and post-merger integration support
- Proprietary industry-benchmark data
- Global reach with local market teams
5. FTI Consulting, Corporate Finance & Restructuring
Founders: Joseph Reynolds (FTI origins)
Founded Year: 1982
Headquarters: Washington, DC, USA
Product Categories: Restructuring, transaction advisory, valuations, litigation support, performance improvement
Description:
FTI Consulting’s Corporate Finance & Restructuring segment specializes in advising distressed and healthy companies on capital-structure optimization, operational turnarounds, and strategic transactions. Its integrated teams of former bankers, accountants, and operators deliver rapid cash-flow improvements, debt restructuring, and M\&A advisory. FTI’s proprietary forensic-accounting tools enhance transparency in complex situations, while its global footprint and sector specialists support cross-border scenarios in energy, retail, and financial services.
Key Features:
- Comprehensive restructuring and turnaround services
- Debt- and liability-management strategies
- Buy-side & sell-side M\&A advisory
- Valuation and purchase-price allocation
- Forensic investigations and litigation support
- Operational-performance improvement initiatives
- Cross-border crisis-management expertise
6. Alvarez & Marsal, Corporate Performance & Restructuring
Founders: Tony M. Alvarez II, Bryan G. Marsal
Founded Year: 1983
Headquarters: New York, NY, USA
Product Categories: Turnaround & restructuring, performance improvement, interim management, transaction support
Description:
Alvarez & Marsal (A\&M) pioneered the hands-on restructuring model: its professionals take interim operating roles to steer companies through distress. A\&M also provides performance-improvement programs, cost reduction, working-capital optimization, and operational excellence, for healthy firms. Its Transaction Advisory Services offer due diligence and carve-out expertise. Known for rapid impact, A\&M’s deep sector teams deliver cash-flow stabilization and strategic realignment in industries from healthcare to retail.
Key Features:
- Interim C-suite and operational leadership
- Operational turnarounds and cost-reduction programs
- Debt restructuring and creditor negotiations
- M\&A carve-out and integration services
- Working-capital optimization
- Forensic accounting and dispute resolution
- Industry-focused restructuring experts
7. AlixPartners
Founders: Jay Alix
Founded Year: 1981
Headquarters: New York, NY, USA
Product Categories: Turnaround & restructuring, performance improvement, digital transformation, M\&A advisory
Description:
AlixPartners is known for navigating the most challenging corporate-turnaround situations. Its “zero-tolerance” approach to underperformance blends financial, operational, and digital expertise. The firm also advises on strategic transactions, M\&A due diligence, PMI, and drives performance improvement programs using data and analytics. AlixPartners’ agile teams embed with clients to deliver rapid results in automotive, retail, and private-equity portfolios, ensuring sustainable operational excellence.
Key Features:
- Deep-dive operational turnarounds
- Financial and operational restructuring
- M\&A diligence and integration management
- Data-driven performance improvement
- Digital enablement and analytics
- Interim leadership and PMO support
- Sector expertise in automotive, retail, PE
8. Duff & Phelps (a Kroll business)
Founders: William Duff, George Phelps (origins 1932)
Founded Year: 1932; merged with Kroll 2021
Headquarters: New York, NY, USA
Product Categories: Valuation, corporate finance, restructuring, compliance & investigations, disputes
Description:
Duff & Phelps, now part of Kroll, offers independent valuation and corporate-finance services, renowned for rigorous, defensible valuations across M\&A, financial reporting, and tax. Its restructuring arm guides distressed companies and creditors through workouts and Chapter 11. The firm’s compliance & investigations team handles fraud, AML, and regulatory matters. With global reach and recognized methodologies, Duff & Phelps delivers clarity in complex financial situations.
Key Features:
- Purchase-price allocation and fair-value valuations
- Corporate finance advisory (M\&A, debt advisory)
- Restructuring and turnaround support
- AML, compliance, and forensic investigations
- Expert witness and litigation support
- Global valuation standards expertise
9. Protiviti, M\&A and Restructuring Advisory
Founders: Former Arthur Andersen consultants (2002)
Founded Year: 2002
Headquarters: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Product Categories: Transaction support, valuations, restructuring, internal audit, compliance
Description:
Protiviti, a Robert Half subsidiary, provides end-to-end transaction support, due diligence, valuations, and carve-out readiness, for corporates and PE firms. Its restructuring practice offers financial modelling, stress testing, and turnaround planning. Protiviti’s broader risk and internal-audit capabilities help clients embed resilience pre- and post-transaction. With over 7,000 consultants worldwide, Protiviti delivers agile, tech-enabled advisory services tailored to mid-market and large enterprises.
Key Features:
- Financial and commercial due diligence
- Purchase-price allocation and impairment testing
- Carve-out readiness and integration planning
- Restructuring modelling and stress tests
- Internal audit co-sourcing and SOX readiness
- Compliance program design and AML reviews
10. RSM Advisory, Corporate Finance & Transaction Services
Founders: A.C. Little & Co. (origins), rebranded RSM in 2015
Founded Year: 1924 (US origins)
Headquarters: Chicago, IL, USA
Product Categories: M\&A advisory, valuations, restructuring, forensic accounting, transaction-services
Description:
RSM, the leading middle-market firm, delivers tailored deal advisory and restructuring services. Its Corporate Finance group assists clients with sell-side and buy-side M\&A, raising debt and equity, and private-market valuations. The Restructuring team crafts out-of-court workouts and turnaround plans. RSM’s forensic professionals support litigation, fraud investigations, and regulatory compliance. With partner-led engagement teams and deep sector focus, RSM Advisory offers nimble, high-touch service to growth companies and PE sponsors.
Key Features:
- Middle-market M\&A advisory (sell-side, buy-side)
- Debt & equity-raising and capital-structure advisory
- Fair-value and tax basis valuations
- Financial and operational restructuring plans
- Forensic accounting and litigation support
- Deep sector expertise in healthcare, tech, industrials
11. Grant Thornton Advisory, Corporate Finance
Founders: Alexander Grant, Morice Thornton (origins)
Founded Year: 1924 (Grant Thornton US)
Headquarters: Chicago, IL, USA & London, UK
Product Categories: M\&A advisory, valuations, restructuring, transaction services, due diligence
Description:
Grant Thornton’s Corporate Finance practice focuses on the middle market, guiding founder- and family-owned businesses through strategic transactions. Services include sell-side and buy-side M\&A, valuation fairness opinions, financial due diligence, and carve-out structuring. The firm’s Restructuring group advises on liquidity events and turnaround plans. With senior-partner ownership of deals and strong local relationships, Grant Thornton delivers pragmatic, actionable financial-advisory solutions with personal accountability.
Key Features:
- Sell-side and buy-side M\&A execution
- Fairness opinions and purchase-price allocation
- Financial due diligence and risk assessment
- Carve-out and integration planning
- Turnaround and workout advisory
- High partner engagement and local market insight
12. Berkeley Research Group (BRG)
Founders: Former consulting executives (2010)
Founded Year: 2010
Headquarters: Emeryville, CA, USA & Washington, DC, USA
Product Categories: Forensics & investigations, valuations, restructuring, transaction advisory, expert testimony
Description:
BRG combines economic, financial, and industry expertise to tackle high-stakes disputes, valuations, and transactions. Its Forensics & Investigations team leads complex fraud and misconduct probes, while Corporate Finance professionals advise on M\&A due diligence and enterprise valuations. BRG’s Restructuring practice crafts liquidity and turnaround strategies. Frequent expert-witness roles in international arbitration and litigation underscore BRG’s reputation for rigor and impartiality in financial-advisory engagements.
Key Features:
- Complex forensic investigations & fraud analytics
- Buy-side & sell-side transaction diligence
- Enterprise and intangible-asset valuations
- Restructuring and liquidity-planning services
- Expert witness testimony in disputes
- Industry-specific economic modelling
13. Guidehouse (formerly Navigant)
Founders: Jay Sripathi (Navigant origins 1983)
Founded Year: 1983 (Navigant); rebranded Guidehouse 2018
Headquarters: Washington, DC, USA
Product Categories: Financial advisory, risk, compliance, mergers & acquisitions, restructuring
Description:
Guidehouse’s Financial Advisory practice offers integrated M\&A, restructuring, and risk-management services, leveraging a legacy of industry specialization in healthcare, energy, and financial services. Its Due Diligence team provides financial, commercial, and regulatory diligence. The Restructuring group delivers turnaround and insolvency planning. Backed by Guidehouse’s broad public-sector and cybersecurity capabilities, the firm crafts solutions that address both transaction imperatives and ongoing compliance demands.
Key Features:
- Financial, commercial & regulatory due diligence
- Turnaround and solvency-assessment advisory
- Risk and compliance program implementation
- Integration of public-sector regulatory expertise
- Sector depth in healthcare and energy
- Technology-enabled analytics
14. McKinsey Corporate Finance Practice
Founders: James O. McKinsey, Marvin Bower
Founded Year: 1926 (CF practice formalized decades later)
Headquarters: New York, NY, USA
Product Categories: M\&A strategy, valuation, PMI, restructuring, private equity advisory
Description:
Within McKinsey’s global network, the Corporate Finance Practice advises on deal strategy, valuation, and post-merger integration alongside turnaround and spin-off programs. By integrating McKinsey’s strategic frameworks with data-driven diligence and change-management capabilities, the practice guides C-suite decision-making, from identifying targets and negotiating terms to capturing synergies and restructuring capital. A deep private-equity arm supports fund-level strategy and portfolio optimization.
Key Features:
- Deal strategy and portfolio optimization
- Valuation and commercial due diligence
- Post-merger integration and synergy capture
- Capital-structure and restructuring advisory
- Private-equity fund and portfolio services
- Integrated change-management support
15. BCG Corporate Development & Strategy Practice
Founders: Bruce D. Henderson
Founded Year: 1963 (practice emerged as BCG grew)
Headquarters: Boston, MA, USA
Product Categories: Growth portfolio strategy, M\&A, digital ventures, divestitures, corporate venturing
Description:
BCG’s Corporate Development practice works with boards and CEOs to shape portfolio strategies, balancing core-business scale with new-business incubation. The team guides M\&A, carve-out planning, and divestitures, employing BCG’s deep analytics (Gamma) and incubation capabilities (Digital Ventures). By embedding option-value thinking and dynamic portfolio simulation, BCG helps companies adapt to market shifts, capture emerging opportunities, and optimize asset portfolios.
Key Features:
- Portfolio-shaping frameworks and scenario planning
- M\&A and divestiture strategy & execution
- Corporate-venturing and incubator design
- Growth-Share and Experience-Curve analysis
- Digital-business incubation via BCG Digital Ventures
- Integration with BCG Gamma analytics
16. Bain & Company M\&A and Restructuring
Founders: Bill Bain, Patrick F. Graham
Founded Year: 1973 (M\&A practice formalized later)
Headquarters: Boston, MA, USA
Product Categories: M\&A strategy, diligence, PMI, restructuring, carve-outs
Description:
Bain’s M\&A and Restructuring teams bring the firm’s results-focused ethos to corporate finance. Their Due Diligence practice applies proprietary benchmarks and fast-tracking tools to accelerate deal assessment. Post-merger, Bain’s PMI teams deploy Agile integration playbooks to capture synergies quickly. Bain’s Restructuring arm leads turnarounds with operational value creation and cash-flow management. The firm’s private-equity expertise extends to portfolio due diligence and value-creation planning.
Key Features:
- Rapid-cycle commercial and operational due diligence
- Agile post-merger integration playbooks
- Turnaround and restructuring implementation
- Carve-out and separation management
- Private-equity portfolio diligence
- Proprietary synergy-capture and cost-benchmark tools
17. Houlihan Lokey, Corporate Finance
Founders: Richard Houlihan, O. Kit Lokey
Founded Year: 1972
Headquarters: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Product Categories: M\&A advisory, restructuring, valuation & fairness opinions, capital markets
Description:
Houlihan Lokey is a leading global investment bank specializing in middle-market M\&A, restructuring, and valuation services. Renowned for its Restructuring & Reorganization practice, Houlihan Lokey guides companies through in-court and out-of-court workouts. Its Corporate Finance teams advise on sell-side and buy-side M\&A transactions across technology, healthcare, and industrials. Independent fairness opinions and expert valuation reports bolster deal integrity.
Key Features:
- Sell-side & buy-side M\&A execution in middle market
- Industry-leading restructuring & reorganization practice
- Fairness opinions and purchase-price allocations
- Debt advisory and recapitalization services
- Global coverage with 20+ offices
- Proprietary valuation models and benchmarks
18. Lazard, Financial Advisory & Restructuring
Founders: Alexandre Lazard (origins 1848), reorganized in Paris/NY
Founded Year: 1848
Headquarters: New York, NY, USA & Paris, France
Product Categories: M\&A advisory, restructuring, capital raising, board advisory
Description:
Lazard, one of the world’s oldest advisory firms, offers independent advice on M\&A, restructuring, and financing to global corporations and governments. Its restructuring group is regularly appointed to lead creditor committees in major bankruptcies. Lazard’s M\&A team advises on marquee transactions, from cross-border megadeals to carve-outs, leveraging deep sector relationships and proprietary market intelligence to negotiate optimal outcomes.
Key Features:
- High-profile M\&A advisory on global megadeals
- Leading restructuring mandates in Chapter 11 cases
- Capital-raising in debt and equity markets
- Board-level strategic advisory
- Deep sector expertise and global coverage
- Independent, conflict-free counsel
19. Rothschild & Co, Global Advisory
Founders: Mayer Amschel Rothschild (origins 1760s)
Founded Year: 1812 (London branch)
Headquarters: Paris, France & London, UK
Product Categories: M\&A advisory, debt advisory, restructuring, private wealth & asset management
Description:
Rothschild & Co is a premier independent advisor on M\&A, debt financing, and restructuring, trusted by family-controlled businesses, corporates, and governments. Its global advisory teams combine local market insights with a “one-firm” ethos, providing tailored strategic counsel. Rothschild’s restructuring experts manage complex cross-border insolvencies, while its debt advisory arm structures bespoke financing solutions. The firm’s continuity-minded approach ensures alignment with long-term stakeholder interests.
Key Features:
- Independent M\&A advisory on mid- and large-cap deals
- Debt-advisory solutions: high-yield, syndicated loans
- Cross-border restructuring and insolvency mandates
- Family-office and private-wealth advisory
- Global “one-firm” integrated network
- Discreet, conflict-free counsel
20. Evercore, Financial Advisory
Founders: Roger Altman, founder of Blackstone’s advisory in 1980s
Founded Year: 1995
Headquarters: New York, NY, USA
Product Categories: M\&A advisory, restructuring, capital markets advisory
Description:
Evercore is a leading independent investment-banking boutique, renowned for top-tier M\&A advice to Fortune-500 clients. Its senior-led teams provide hands-on transaction support, from strategic advisory through negotiation to closing. Evercore’s restructuring group advises on distressed M\&A and recapitalizations. The firm’s capital-markets advisory offers fairness opinions and capital-structure optimization. With a partnership model and low-leverage balance sheet, Evercore delivers conflict-free, objective counsel.
Key Features:
- Senior-partner–led M\&A advisory on high-profile deals
- Restructuring and distressed-asset advisory
- Capital-markets fairness opinions and advisory
- Partnership structure ensuring alignment
- Global reach with focused boutique teams
- Low-leverage balance-sheet independence
Conclusion:
These 20 financial-advisory consulting leaders, spanning Big Four advisory arms, specialized turnaround boutiques, and independent investment-banking boutiques, offer the expertise, methodologies, and global reach needed to navigate today’s complex transactions, restructurings, and valuation challenges. When selecting a partner, evaluate their sector depth, transaction experience, and ability to integrate advisory insights into seamless execution for maximum strategic impact.
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