A new study suggests the Big Four's supposedly meritocratic promotion systems may rely far less on performance than on internal politics — and, crucially, on whether your manager is willing to put their own reputation on the line for you. Within the Big Four professional services firms — Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, and EY— auditors are evaluated throughout the year after each client assignment. Supervisors generally award A-to-D grades on technical competence, teamwork, leadership, and client