Ernst & Young has announced plans to integrate its practices in 87 countries across Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa.
The decision by Ernst & Young's global executive and global advisory council will lead to the practices operating as a single unit, under the control of one executive team.
It will also create an organisation with more than 60,000 staff and a turnover of $11.2 billion (£5.6 billion), providing the change is approved by a vote of partners next month.
The switch is likely to be good news for the head of the Big 4 accountancy firm's UK operation Mark Otty, who has been nominated as managing partner for the new business area.
Ernst & Young's practices in 15 Far East territories are also to integrate into a single business area.
The move comes after KPMG formed a European firm by merging its UK, German and Swiss practices.
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