MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS AFFECTING SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - Company's Share Purchase Activity (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2013		Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011
Share Purchase and Redemption Activity [Line Items]
Accenture plc Class A Ordinary Shares (in shares)	31,297,277
Accenture plc Class A Ordinary Shares	$ 2,326,229		$ 1,960,396	$ 1,599,734
Accenture SCA Class I Common Shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. Exchangeable Shares (in shares)	3,062,148
Accenture SCA Class I Common Shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. Exchangeable Shares	218,123		138,445	572,143
Open-market share purchases
Share Purchase and Redemption Activity [Line Items]
Accenture plc Class A Ordinary Shares (in shares)	26,547,155	[1]
Accenture plc Class A Ordinary Shares	1,996,622	[1]
Accenture SCA Class I Common Shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. Exchangeable Shares (in shares)	0	[1]
Accenture SCA Class I Common Shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. Exchangeable Shares	0	[1]
Other share purchase programs
Share Purchase and Redemption Activity [Line Items]
Accenture plc Class A Ordinary Shares (in shares)	0
Accenture plc Class A Ordinary Shares	0
Accenture SCA Class I Common Shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. Exchangeable Shares (in shares)	3,062,148
Accenture SCA Class I Common Shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. Exchangeable Shares	218,123
Other purchases
Share Purchase and Redemption Activity [Line Items]
Accenture plc Class A Ordinary Shares (in shares)	4,750,122	[2]
Accenture plc Class A Ordinary Shares	329,607	[2]
Accenture SCA Class I Common Shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. Exchangeable Shares (in shares)	0	[2]
Accenture SCA Class I Common Shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. Exchangeable Shares	$ 0	[2]

[1] The Company conducts a publicly announced, open-market share purchase program for Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares. These shares are held as treasury shares by Accenture plc and may be utilized to provide for select employee benefits, such as equity awards to the Company’s employees.

[2] During fiscal 2013, as authorized under the Company’s various employee equity share plans, the Company acquired Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares primarily via share withholding for payroll tax obligations due from employees and former employees in connection with the delivery of Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares under those plans. These purchases of shares in connection with employee share plans do not affect the Company’s aggregate available authorization for the Company’s publicly announced open-market share purchase and the other share purchase programs.