10-Q

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

☑ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended May 31, 2023

OR

☐	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
	For the transition period from             to

Commission File Number: 001-34448

Accenture plc

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Ireland	98-0627530
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1 Grand Canal Square,

Grand Canal Harbour,

Dublin 2, Ireland

(Address of principal executive offices)

(353) (1) 646-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0000225 per share	ACN	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☑ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☑ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer	☑	Accelerated filer	☐	Non-accelerated filer	☐
Smaller reporting company	☐	Emerging growth company	☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☑

The number of shares of the registrant’s Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0000225 per share, outstanding as of June 8, 2023 was 664,311,732 (which number includes 33,516,386 issued shares held by the registrant). The number of shares of the registrant’s Class X ordinary shares, par value $0.0000225 per share, outstanding as of June 8, 2023 was 335,238.

Table of Contents

		Page
Part I.	Financial Information	3
Item 1.	Financial Statements	3
	Consolidated Balance Sheets as of May 31, 2023 (Unaudited) and August 31, 2022	3
	Consolidated Income Statements (Unaudited) for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 and 2022	4
	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 and 2022	5
	Consolidated Shareholders’ Equity Statement (Unaudited) for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 and 2022	6
	Consolidated Cash Flows Statements (Unaudited) for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 and 2022	10
	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)	11
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	21
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	37
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	37
Part II.	Other Information	38
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	38
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	38
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	38
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	38
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	39
Item 5.	Other Information	39
Item 6.	Exhibits	39
Signatures		40

Table of Contents	Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q		3

Part I — Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

Consolidated Balance Sheets

May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022

	May 31, 2023		August 31, 2022
ASSETS	(Unaudited)
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	8,535,446	$	7,889,833
Short-term investments	4,482		3,973
Receivables and contract assets	12,582,660		11,776,775
Other current assets	2,257,485		1,940,290
Total current assets	23,380,073		21,610,871
NON-CURRENT ASSETS:
Contract assets	66,432		46,844
Investments	176,259		317,972
Property and equipment, net	1,534,927		1,659,140
Lease assets	2,743,382		3,018,535
Goodwill	14,461,094		13,133,293
Deferred contract costs	852,188		807,940
Deferred tax assets	4,105,869		4,001,200
Other non-current assets	2,808,051		2,667,595
Total non-current assets	26,748,202		25,652,519
TOTAL ASSETS	$	50,128,275	$	47,263,390
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current portion of long-term debt and bank borrowings	$	10,389	$	9,175
Accounts payable	2,388,474		2,559,485
Deferred revenues	5,101,692		4,478,048
Accrued payroll and related benefits	6,632,448		7,611,794
Income taxes payable	688,525		646,471
Lease liabilities	690,584		707,598
Other accrued liabilities	1,580,416		1,510,925
Total current liabilities	17,092,528		17,523,496
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt	43,865		45,893
Deferred revenues	687,098		712,715
Retirement obligation	1,678,405		1,692,152
Deferred tax liabilities	402,984		318,584
Income taxes payable	1,270,733		1,198,139
Lease liabilities	2,351,375		2,563,090
Other non-current liabilities	539,358		462,233
Total non-current liabilities	6,973,818		6,992,806
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Ordinary shares, par value 1.00 euros per share, 40,000 shares authorized and issued as of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022	57		57
Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0000225 per share, 20,000,000,000 shares authorized, 664,125,473 and 664,561,282 shares issued as of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022, respectively	15		15
Class X ordinary shares, par value $0.0000225 per share, 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 335,238 and 500,837 shares issued and outstanding as of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022, respectively	—		—
Restricted share units	2,030,576		2,091,382
Additional paid-in capital	12,637,709		10,679,180
Treasury shares, at cost: Ordinary, 40,000 shares as of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022; Class A ordinary, 33,323,829 and 33,393,703 shares as of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022, respectively	(6,127,121)		(6,678,037)
Retained earnings	18,692,118		18,203,842
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,900,923)		(2,190,342)
Total Accenture plc shareholders’ equity	25,332,431		22,106,097
Noncontrolling interests	729,498		640,991
Total shareholders’ equity	26,061,929		22,747,088
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$	50,128,275	$	47,263,390

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

Table of Contents	Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q		4

Consolidated Income Statements

For the Three and Nine Months Ended May 31, 2023 and 2022

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022		May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
REVENUES:
Revenues	$	16,564,585	$	16,158,803	$	48,126,545	$	46,170,649
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of services	11,035,515		10,844,069		32,576,567		31,415,167
Sales and marketing	1,738,621		1,660,919		4,852,207		4,530,158
General and administrative costs	1,084,288		1,050,697		3,209,539		3,126,332
Business optimization costs	346,873		—		591,263		—
Total operating expenses	14,205,297		13,555,685		41,229,576		39,071,657
OPERATING INCOME	2,359,288		2,603,118		6,896,969		7,098,992
Interest income	81,818		8,727		176,782		22,046
Interest expense	(11,208)		(12,050)		(30,122)		(34,449)
Other income (expense), net	201,783		(8,877)		136,576		(39,089)
Loss on disposition of Russia business	—		(96,294)		—		(96,294)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	2,631,681		2,494,624		7,180,205		6,951,206
Income tax expense	583,346		675,308		1,584,887		1,654,631
NET INCOME	2,048,335		1,819,316		5,595,318		5,296,575
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in Accenture Canada Holdings Inc.	(2,101)		(1,902)		(5,790)		(5,578)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests – other	(36,238)		(31,339)		(90,934)		(78,956)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ACCENTURE PLC	$	2,009,996	$	1,786,075	$	5,498,594	$	5,212,041
Weighted average Class A ordinary shares:
Basic	631,535,162		632,749,442		630,826,230		632,969,487
Diluted	638,743,434		641,004,741		638,404,751		643,692,440
Earnings per Class A ordinary share:
Basic	$	3.18	$	2.82	$	8.72	$	8.23
Diluted	$	3.15	$	2.79	$	8.62	$	8.11
Cash dividends per share	$	1.12	$	0.97	$	3.36	$	2.91

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

Table of Contents	Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands of U.S. dollars)
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q		5

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

For the Three and Nine Months Ended May 31, 2023 and 2022

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022		May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
NET INCOME	$	2,048,335	$	1,819,316	$	5,595,318	$	5,296,575
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF TAX:
Foreign currency translation	13,252		(231,311)		210,045		(442,664)
Defined benefit plans	6,722		10,292		104,941		6,865
Cash flow hedges	23,373		(57,642)		(25,567)		(98,850)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ACCENTURE PLC	43,347		(278,661)		289,419		(534,649)
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	827		(4,456)		6,165		(10,032)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	$	2,092,509	$	1,536,199	$	5,890,902	$	4,751,894
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ACCENTURE PLC	$	2,053,343	$	1,507,414	$	5,788,013	$	4,677,392
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	39,166		28,785		102,889		74,502
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	$	2,092,509	$	1,536,199	$	5,890,902	$	4,751,894

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

Table of Contents	Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands of U.S. dollars and share amounts)
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q		6

Consolidated Shareholders’ Equity Statement

For the Three Months Ended May 31, 2023

(Unaudited)

	Ordinary Shares			Class A Ordinary Shares			Class X Ordinary Shares			Restricted Share Units		Additional Paid-in Capital		Treasury Shares			Retained Earnings		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss		Total Accenture plc Shareholders’ Equity		Noncontrolling Interests		Total Shareholders’ Equity
	$		No. Shares	$		No. Shares	$		No. Shares					$		No. Shares
Balance as of February 28, 2023	$	57	40	$	15	662,406	$	—	339	$	1,636,155	$	12,163,671	$	(5,593,010)	(31,181)	$	17,500,001	$	(1,944,270)	$	23,762,619	$	694,659	$	24,457,278
Net income																	2,009,996				2,009,996		38,339		2,048,335
Other comprehensive income (loss)																			43,347		43,347		827		44,174
Purchases of Class A shares												703		(787,299)		(2,815)					(786,596)		(703)		(787,299)
Share-based compensation expense										406,504		66,191									472,695				472,695
Purchases/redemptions of Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares and Class X shares									(4)			(1,638)									(1,638)				(1,638)
Issuances of Class A shares for employee share programs						1,719				(40,094)		406,315		253,188		632	(82,866)				536,543		473		537,016
Dividends										28,011							(735,013)				(707,002)		(740)		(707,742)
Other, net												2,467									2,467		(3,357)		(890)
Balance as of May 31, 2023	$	57	40	$	15	664,125	$	—	335	$	2,030,576	$	12,637,709	$	(6,127,121)	(33,364)	$	18,692,118	$	(1,900,923)	$	25,332,431	$	729,498	$	26,061,929

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

Table of Contents	Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands of U.S. dollars and share amounts)
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q		7

Consolidated Shareholders’ Equity Statement — (continued)

For the Three Months Ended May 31, 2022

(Unaudited)

	Ordinary Shares			Class A Ordinary Shares			Class X Ordinary Shares			Restricted Share Units		Additional Paid-in Capital		Treasury Shares			Retained Earnings		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss		Total Accenture plc Shareholders’ Equity		Noncontrolling Interests		Total Shareholders’ Equity
	$		No. Shares	$		No. Shares	$		No. Shares					$		No. Shares
Balance as of February 28, 2022	$	57	40	$	15	662,417	$	—	504	$	1,438,596	$	10,065,790	$	(5,297,349)	(29,035)	$	16,028,399	$	(1,675,485)	$	20,560,023	$	596,956	$	21,156,979
Net income																	1,786,075				1,786,075		33,241		1,819,316
Other comprehensive income (loss)																			(278,661)		(278,661)		(4,456)		(283,117)
Purchases of Class A shares												925		(972,171)		(3,102)					(971,246)		(925)		(972,171)
Share-based compensation expense										346,666		60,591									407,257				407,257
Purchases/redemptions of Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares and Class X shares																					—				—
Issuances of Class A shares for employee share programs						1,568				(55,313)		405,704		147,118		569					497,509		465		497,974
Dividends										23,981							(637,116)				(613,135)		(650)		(613,785)
Other, net												1,272									1,272		(2,002)		(730)
Balance as of May 31, 2022	$	57	40	$	15	663,985	$	—	504	$	1,753,930	$	10,534,282	$	(6,122,402)	(31,568)	$	17,177,358	$	(1,954,146)	$	21,389,094	$	622,629	$	22,011,723

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

Table of Contents	Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands of U.S. dollars and share amounts)
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q		8

Consolidated Shareholders’ Equity Statement — (continued)

For the Nine Months Ended May 31, 2023

(Unaudited)

	Ordinary Shares			Class A Ordinary Shares			Class X Ordinary Shares			Restricted Share Units		Additional Paid-in Capital		Treasury Shares			Retained Earnings		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss		Total Accenture plc Shareholders’ Equity		Noncontrolling Interests		Total Shareholders’ Equity
	$		No. Shares	$		No. Shares	$		No. Shares					$		No. Shares
Balance as of August 31, 2022	$	57	40	$	15	664,561	$	—	501	$	2,091,382	$	10,679,180	$	(6,678,037)	(33,434)	$	18,203,842	$	(2,190,342)	$	22,106,097	$	640,991	$	22,747,088
Net income																	5,498,594				5,498,594		96,724		5,595,318
Other comprehensive income (loss)																			289,419		289,419		6,165		295,584
Purchases of Class A shares												3,021		(3,321,982)		(12,110)					(3,318,961)		(3,021)		(3,321,982)
Cancellation of treasury shares						(8,828)						(175,701)		2,595,281		8,828	(2,419,580)				—				—
Share-based compensation expense										1,407,869		122,165									1,530,034				1,530,034
Purchases/redemptions of Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares and Class X shares									(166)			(3,868)									(3,868)				(3,868)
Issuances of Class A shares for employee share programs						8,392				(1,553,088)		2,006,131		1,277,617		3,352	(387,229)				1,343,431		1,206		1,344,637
Dividends										84,413							(2,203,509)				(2,119,096)		(2,235)		(2,121,331)
Other, net												6,781									6,781		(10,332)		(3,551)
Balance as of May 31, 2023	$	57	40	$	15	664,125	$	—	335	$	2,030,576	$	12,637,709	$	(6,127,121)	(33,364)	$	18,692,118	$	(1,900,923)	$	25,332,431	$	729,498	$	26,061,929

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

Table of Contents	Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands of U.S. dollars and share amounts)
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q		9

Consolidated Shareholders’ Equity Statement — (continued)

For the Nine Months Ended May 31, 2022

(Unaudited)

	Ordinary Shares			Class A Ordinary Shares			Class X Ordinary Shares			Restricted Share Units		Additional Paid-in Capital		Treasury Shares			Retained Earnings		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss		Total Accenture plc Shareholders’ Equity		Noncontrolling Interests		Total Shareholders’ Equity
	$		No. Shares	$		No. Shares	$		No. Shares					$		No. Shares
Balance as of August 31, 2021	$	57	40	$	15	656,591	$	—	513	$	1,750,784	$	8,617,838	$	(3,408,491)	(24,545)	$	13,988,748	$	(1,419,497)	$	19,529,454	$	567,660	$	20,097,114
Net income																	5,212,041				5,212,041		84,534		5,296,575
Other comprehensive income (loss)																			(534,649)		(534,649)		(10,032)		(544,681)
Purchases of Class A shares												3,388		(3,506,617)		(10,119)					(3,503,229)		(3,388)		(3,506,617)
Share-based compensation expense										1,210,825		108,730									1,319,555				1,319,555
Purchases/redemptions of Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares and Class X shares									(9)			(4,274)									(4,274)				(4,274)
Issuances of Class A shares for employee share programs						7,394				(1,285,617)		1,795,507		792,706		3,096	(103,889)				1,198,707		1,144		1,199,851
Dividends										77,938							(1,919,542)				(1,841,604)		(1,972)		(1,843,576)
Other, net												13,093									13,093		(15,317)		(2,224)
Balance as of May 31, 2022	$	57	40	$	15	663,985	$	—	504	$	1,753,930	$	10,534,282	$	(6,122,402)	(31,568)	$	17,177,358	$	(1,954,146)	$	21,389,094	$	622,629	$	22,011,723

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

Table of Contents	Consolidated Financial Statements  (In thousands of U.S. dollars)
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q		10

Consolidated Cash Flows Statements

For the Nine Months Ended May 31, 2023 and 2022

(Unaudited)

	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$	5,595,318	$	5,296,575
Adjustments to reconcile Net income to Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities —
Depreciation, amortization and other	1,639,804		1,553,311
Share-based compensation expense	1,530,034		1,319,555
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	(136,237)		(27,784)
Other, net	(228,922)		(99,979)
Change in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions —
Receivables and contract assets, current and non-current	(410,214)		(2,594,564)
Other current and non-current assets	(588,958)		(713,632)
Accounts payable	(242,633)		142,286
Deferred revenues, current and non-current	381,121		585,497
Accrued payroll and related benefits	(1,064,577)		489,743
Income taxes payable, current and non-current	57,745		360,262
Other current and non-current liabilities	(417,601)		(560,251)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	6,114,880		5,751,019
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment	(347,878)		(540,947)
Purchases of businesses and investments, net of cash acquired	(1,334,007)		(2,212,388)
Proceeds from the sale of businesses and investments, net of cash transferred	418,113		(108,099)
Other investing, net	8,392		9,397
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(1,255,380)		(2,852,037)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of shares	1,344,637		1,199,851
Purchases of shares	(3,325,850)		(3,510,891)
Proceeds from (repayments of) long-term debt, net	(364)		(11,530)
Cash dividends paid	(2,121,331)		(1,843,576)
Other financing, net	(62,117)		(43,468)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(4,165,025)		(4,209,614)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(48,862)		(153,974)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	645,613		(1,464,606)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	7,889,833		8,168,174
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$	8,535,446	$	6,703,568
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Income taxes paid, net	$	1,774,337	$	1,264,631

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

Table of Contents	Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts or as otherwise disclosed)
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q		11

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements of Accenture plc and its controlled subsidiary companies have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for complete financial statements. We use the terms “Accenture,” “we” and “our” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements to refer to Accenture plc and its subsidiaries. These Consolidated Financial Statements should therefore be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2022 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on October 12, 2022.

The accompanying unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying disclosures. Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions that we may undertake in the future, actual results may differ from those estimates. The Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments of a normal, recurring nature that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of results for these interim periods. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023.

Allowance for Credit Losses—Client Receivables and Contract Assets

As of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022, the total allowance for credit losses recorded for client receivables and contract assets was $26,770 and $25,786, respectively. The change in the allowance is primarily due to immaterial write-offs and changes in gross client receivables and contract assets.

Investments

All available-for-sale securities and liquid investments with an original maturity greater than three months but less than one year are considered to be Short-term investments. Non-current investments consist of equity securities in publicly-traded and privately-held companies and are accounted for using either the equity or fair value measurement alternative method of accounting (for investments without readily determinable fair values).

Our non-current investments are as follows:

	May 31, 2023		August 31, 2022
Equity method investments	$	22,816	$	164,164
Investments without readily determinable fair values	153,443		153,808
Total non-current investments	$	176,259	$	317,972

For investments in which we can exercise significant influence but do not control, we use the equity method of accounting. Equity method investments are initially recorded at cost and our proportionate share of gains and losses of the investee are included as a component of Other income (expense), net.

As of August 31, 2022, our equity method investments consisted primarily of an investment in Duck Creek Technologies. On March 30, 2023, Duck Creek Technologies was acquired by Vista Equity Partners for $19.00 per share. As part of this transaction, we received proceeds of $400,355 and recorded a gain of $252,920 in Other income (expense), net during the third quarter of fiscal 2023.

Table of Contents	Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts or as otherwise disclosed)
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q		12

Depreciation and Amortization

As of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022, total accumulated depreciation was $2,766,344 and $2,490,187, respectively. See table below for a summary of depreciation on fixed assets, deferred transition amortization, intangible assets amortization and operating lease cost for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022		May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
Depreciation	$	165,053	$	150,272	$	446,844	$	438,937
Amortization - Deferred transition	91,480		68,420		247,080		203,957
Amortization - Intangible assets	101,814		109,855		331,095		328,228
Operating lease cost	240,601		193,209		605,329		576,320
Other	2,151		2,430		9,456		5,869
Total depreciation, amortization and other	$	601,099	$	524,186	$	1,639,804	$	1,553,311

Business Optimization

During the second quarter of fiscal 2023, we initiated actions to streamline our operations, transform our non-billable corporate functions and consolidate our office space to reduce costs. We recorded $346,873 and $591,263 of business optimization costs during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023, respectively, primarily for employee severance. Total business optimization costs by reportable operating segment are as follows:

	Three Months Ended		Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2023
North America	$	96,349	$	273,329
Europe	166,463		206,840
Growth Markets	84,061		111,094
Total business optimization costs	$	346,873	$	591,263

We continue to expect to record total business optimization costs of approximately $1.5 billion related to these actions, with approximately $800 million in fiscal 2023 and $700 million in fiscal 2024. This consists of approximately $1.2 billion of employee severance and other personnel costs and $300 million of costs related to the consolidation of office space. The actual amount and timing of severance and other personnel costs are dependent in part upon local country consultation processes and regulations and may differ from our current expectations and estimates.

Table of Contents	Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts or as otherwise disclosed)
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q		13

2. Revenues

Disaggregation of Revenue

See Note 11 (Segment Reporting) to these Consolidated Financial Statements for our disaggregated revenues.

Remaining Performance Obligations

We had remaining performance obligations of approximately $26 billion and $24 billion as of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022, respectively. Our remaining performance obligations represent the amount of transaction price for which work has not been performed and revenue has not been recognized. The majority of our contracts are terminable by the client on short notice with little or no termination penalties, and some without notice. Under Topic 606, only the non-cancelable portion of these contracts is included in our performance obligations. Additionally, our performance obligations only include variable consideration if we assess it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty is resolved. Based on the terms of our contracts, a significant portion of what we consider contract bookings is not included in our remaining performance obligations. We expect to recognize approximately 37% of our remaining performance obligations as of May 31, 2023 as revenue in fiscal 2023, an additional 35% in fiscal 2024, and the balance thereafter.

Contract Estimates

Adjustments in contract estimates related to performance obligations satisfied or partially satisfied in prior periods were immaterial for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 and 2022.

Contract Balances

Deferred transition revenues were $687,098 and $712,715 as of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022, respectively, and are included in Non-current deferred revenues. Costs related to these activities are also deferred and are expensed as the services are provided. Deferred transition costs were $852,188 and $807,940 as of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022, respectively, and are included in Deferred contract costs. Generally, deferred amounts are protected in the event of early termination of the contract and are monitored regularly for impairment. Impairment losses are recorded when projected remaining undiscounted operating cash flows of the related contract are not sufficient to recover the carrying amount of contract assets.

The following table provides information about the balances of our Receivables and Contract assets, net of allowance, and Contract liabilities (Deferred revenues):

	As of May 31, 2023		As of August 31, 2022
Receivables	$	11,005,863	$	10,484,211
Contract assets (current)	1,576,797		1,292,564
Receivables and contract assets, net of allowance (current)	12,582,660		11,776,775
Contract assets (non-current)	66,432		46,844
Deferred revenues (current)	5,101,692		4,478,048
Deferred revenues (non-current)	687,098		712,715

Changes in the contract asset and liability balances during the nine months ended May 31, 2023 were a result of normal business activity and not materially impacted by any other factors.

Revenues recognized during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 that were included in Deferred revenues as of February 28, 2023 and August 31, 2022 were $2.7 billion and $3.7 billion, respectively. Revenues recognized during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022 that were included in Deferred revenues as of February 28, 2022 and August 31, 2021 were $2.5 billion and $3.5 billion, respectively.

Table of Contents	Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts or as otherwise disclosed)
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q		14

3. Earnings Per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share are calculated as follows:

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022		May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
Basic earnings per share
Net income attributable to Accenture plc	$	2,009,996	$	1,786,075	$	5,498,594	$	5,212,041
Basic weighted average Class A ordinary shares	631,535,162		632,749,442		630,826,230		632,969,487
Basic earnings per share	$	3.18	$	2.82	$	8.72	$	8.23
Diluted earnings per share
Net income attributable to Accenture plc	$	2,009,996	$	1,786,075	$	5,498,594	$	5,212,041
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. (1)	2,101		1,902		5,790		5,578
Net income for diluted earnings per share calculation	$	2,012,097	$	1,787,977	$	5,504,384	$	5,217,619
Basic weighted average Class A ordinary shares	631,535,162		632,749,442		630,826,230		632,969,487
Class A ordinary shares issuable upon redemption/exchange of noncontrolling interests (1)	660,083		673,775		664,324		677,363
Diluted effect of employee compensation related to Class A ordinary shares	6,505,805		7,513,927		6,830,076		9,834,622
Diluted effect of share purchase plans related to Class A ordinary shares	42,384		67,597		84,121		210,968
Diluted weighted average Class A ordinary shares	638,743,434		641,004,741		638,404,751		643,692,440
Diluted earnings per share	$	3.15	$	2.79	$	8.62	$	8.11

(1)Diluted earnings per share assumes the exchange of all Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares for Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis. The income effect does not take into account “Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests - other,” since those shares are not redeemable or exchangeable for Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares.

Table of Contents	Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts or as otherwise disclosed)
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q		15

4. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The following table summarizes the changes in the accumulated balances for each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to Accenture plc:

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022		May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
Foreign currency translation
Beginning balance	$	(1,655,527)	$	(1,186,417)	$	(1,852,320)	$	(975,064)
Foreign currency translation	12,897		(235,827)		217,607		(455,075)
Income tax benefit (expense)	1,152		110		(1,479)		2,477
Portion attributable to noncontrolling interests	(797)		4,406		(6,083)		9,934
Foreign currency translation, net of tax	13,252		(231,311)		210,045		(442,664)
Ending balance	(1,642,275)		(1,417,728)		(1,642,275)		(1,417,728)
Defined benefit plans
Beginning balance	(250,552)		(563,385)		(348,771)		(559,958)
Reclassifications into net periodic pension and              post-retirement expense	8,712		12,579		143,602		7,881
Income tax benefit (expense)	(1,984)		(2,276)		(38,552)		(1,009)
Portion attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6)		(11)		(109)		(7)
Defined benefit plans, net of tax	6,722		10,292		104,941		6,865
Ending balance	(243,830)		(553,093)		(243,830)		(553,093)
Cash flow hedges
Beginning balance	(38,191)		74,317		10,749		115,525
Unrealized gain (loss)	25,722		(37,978)		(66,994)		(31,924)
Reclassification adjustments into Cost of services	4,115		(27,449)		24,721		(78,142)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(6,440)		7,724		16,679		11,111
Portion attributable to noncontrolling interests	(24)		61		27		105
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	23,373		(57,642)		(25,567)		(98,850)
Ending balance (1)	(14,818)		16,675		(14,818)		16,675
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	(1,900,923)	$	(1,954,146)	$	(1,900,923)	$	(1,954,146)

(1)As of May 31, 2023, $1,761 of net unrealized gains related to derivatives designated as cash flow hedges is expected to be reclassified into Cost of services in the next twelve months.

Table of Contents	Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts or as otherwise disclosed)
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q		16

5. Business Combinations

During the nine months ended May 31, 2023, we completed individually immaterial acquisitions for total consideration of $1,315,925, net of cash acquired. The pro forma effects of these acquisitions on our operations were not material.

6. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable operating segment are as follows:

	August 31, 2022		Additions/ Adjustments		Foreign Currency Translation		May 31, 2023
North America	$	7,744,582	$	293,229	$	(16,741)	$	8,021,070
Europe	4,134,091		452,915		269,623		4,856,629
Growth Markets	1,254,620		366,380		(37,605)		1,583,395
Total	$	13,133,293	$	1,112,524	$	215,277	$	14,461,094

Goodwill includes immaterial adjustments related to prior period acquisitions.

Intangible Assets

Our definite-lived intangible assets by major asset class are as follows:

	August 31, 2022						May 31, 2023
Intangible Asset Class	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount
Customer-related	$	2,498,001	$	(842,056)	$	1,655,945	$	2,667,461	$	(969,779)	$	1,697,682
Technology	283,251		(96,782)		186,469		287,727		(127,137)		160,590
Patents	126,950		(70,745)		56,205		124,293		(69,930)		54,363
Other	62,875		(30,686)		32,189		66,919		(40,471)		26,448
Total	$	2,971,077	$	(1,040,269)	$	1,930,808	$	3,146,400	$	(1,207,317)	$	1,939,083

Total amortization related to our intangible assets was $101,814 and $331,095 for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023, respectively. Total amortization related to our intangible assets was $109,855 and $328,228 for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022, respectively. Estimated future amortization related to intangible assets held as of May 31, 2023 is as follows:

Fiscal Year	Estimated Amortization
Remainder of 2023	$	107,772
2024	394,822
2025	361,876
2026	312,945
2027	250,085
Thereafter	511,583
Total	$	1,939,083

Table of Contents	Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts or as otherwise disclosed)
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q		17

7. Shareholders’ Equity

Cancellation of Treasury Shares

During the nine months ended May 31, 2023, we cancelled 8,828,496 Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares that were held as treasury shares and had an aggregate cost of $2,595,281. The effect of the cancellation of these treasury shares was recognized in Class A ordinary shares and Additional paid-in capital with the residual recorded in Retained earnings. There was no effect on total shareholders’ equity as a result of this cancellation.

Dividends

Our dividend activity during the nine months ended May 31, 2023 is as follows:

	Dividend Per Share		Accenture plc Class A Ordinary Shares			Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. Exchangeable Shares			Total Cash Outlay
Dividend Payment Date			Record Date	Cash Outlay		Record Date	Cash Outlay
November 15, 2022	$	1.12	October 13, 2022	$	704,938	October 11, 2022	$	629	$	705,567
February 15, 2023	1.12		January 12, 2023	707,156		January 10, 2023	866		708,022
May 15, 2023	1.12		April 13, 2023	707,002		April 11, 2023	740		707,742
Total Dividends				$	2,119,096		$	2,235	$	2,121,331

The payment of cash dividends includes the net effect of $84,413 of additional restricted stock units being issued as a part of our share plans, which resulted in 297,073 restricted share units being issued.

Subsequent Event

On June 21, 2023, the Board of Directors of Accenture plc declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.12 per share on our Class A ordinary shares for shareholders of record at the close of business on July 13, 2023 payable on August 15, 2023.

Table of Contents	Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts or as otherwise disclosed)
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q		18

8. Financial Instruments

Derivatives

In the normal course of business, we use derivative financial instruments to manage foreign currency exchange rate risk. Our derivative financial instruments consist of deliverable and non-deliverable foreign currency forward contracts.

Cash Flow Hedges

For a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the change in estimated fair value of a hedging instrument is recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss as a separate component of Shareholders’ Equity and is reclassified into Cost of services in the Consolidated Income Statements during the period in which the hedged transaction is recognized. For information related to derivatives designated as cash flow hedges that were reclassified into Cost of services during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 and 2022, as well as those expected to be reclassified into Cost of services in the next 12 months, see Note 4 (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss) to these Consolidated Financial Statements.

Other Derivatives

Realized gains or losses and changes in the estimated fair value of foreign currency forward contracts that have not been designated as hedges were net losses of $72,091 and $94,351 for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023, respectively, and net losses of $31,285 and $67,812 for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022, respectively. Gains and losses on these contracts are recorded in Other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Income Statements and are offset by gains and losses on the related hedged items.

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments

The notional and fair values of all derivative instruments are as follows:

	May 31, 2023		August 31, 2022
Assets
Cash Flow Hedges
Other current assets	$	56,648	$	89,867
Other non-current assets	39,624		69,209
Other Derivatives
Other current assets	6,986		8,657
Total assets	$	103,258	$	167,733
Liabilities
Cash Flow Hedges
Other accrued liabilities	$	54,887	$	61,156
Other non-current liabilities	25,743		42,537
Other Derivatives
Other accrued liabilities	90,903		83,792
Total liabilities	$	171,533	$	187,485
Total fair value	$	(68,275)	$	(19,752)
Total notional value	$	13,373,535	$	11,095,604

We utilize standard counterparty master agreements containing provisions for the netting of certain foreign currency transaction obligations and for the set-off of certain obligations in the event of an insolvency of one of the parties to the transaction. In the Consolidated Balance Sheets, we record derivative assets and liabilities at gross fair value. The potential effect of netting derivative assets against liabilities under the counterparty master agreements is as follows:

	May 31, 2023		August 31, 2022
Net derivative assets	$	46,349	$	140,073
Net derivative liabilities	114,624		159,825
Total fair value	$	(68,275)	$	(19,752)

Table of Contents	Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts or as otherwise disclosed)
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q		19

9. Income Taxes

We apply an estimated annual effective tax rate to our year-to-date operating results to determine the interim provision for income tax expense. In addition, we recognize taxes related to unusual or infrequent items or resulting from a change in judgment regarding a position taken in a prior year as discrete items in the interim period in which the event occurs.

Our effective tax rates for the three months ended May 31, 2023 and 2022 were 22.2% and 27.1%, respectively. The lower effective tax rate for the three months ended May 31, 2023 was primarily due to lower tax expense from changes in the geographic distribution of earnings, the tax impact from an investment gain and higher benefits from adjustments to prior year tax liabilities. Our effective tax rates for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 and 2022 were 22.1% and 23.8%, respectively. The lower effective tax rate for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 was primarily due to lower tax expense from changes in the geographic distribution of earnings, higher benefits from adjustments to prior year tax liabilities and the tax impact from an investment gain, partially offset by lower tax benefits from share-based payments.

10. Commitments and Contingencies

Indemnifications and Guarantees

In the normal course of business and in conjunction with certain client engagements, we have entered into contractual arrangements through which we may be obligated to indemnify clients with respect to certain matters.

As of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022, our aggregate potential liability to our clients for expressly limited guarantees involving the performance of third parties was approximately $1,750,000 and $1,349,000, respectively, of which all but approximately $51,000 and $49,000, respectively, may be recovered from the other third parties if we are obligated to make payments to the indemnified parties as a consequence of a performance default by the other third parties. For arrangements with unspecified limitations, we cannot reasonably estimate the aggregate maximum potential liability, as it is inherently difficult to predict the maximum potential amount of such payments, due to the conditional nature and unique facts of each particular arrangement.

As of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022, we have issued or provided guarantees in the form of letters of credit and surety bonds of $1,239,648 and $1,116,298, respectively, the majority of which support certain contracts that require us to provide them as a guarantee of our performance. These guarantees are typically renewed annually and remain in place until the contractual obligations are satisfied. In general, we would only be liable for these guarantees in the event we defaulted in performing our obligations under each contract, the probability of which we believe is remote.

To date, we have not been required to make any significant payment under any of the arrangements described above. We have assessed the current status of performance/payment risk related to arrangements with limited guarantees, warranty obligations, unspecified limitations, indemnification provisions, letters of credit and surety bonds, and believe that any potential payments would be immaterial to the Consolidated Financial Statements, as a whole.

Legal Contingencies

As of May 31, 2023, we or our present personnel had been named as a defendant in various litigation matters. We and/or our personnel also from time to time are involved in investigations by various regulatory or legal authorities concerning matters arising in the course of our business around the world. Based on the present status of these matters, management believes the range of reasonably possible losses in addition to amounts accrued, net of insurance recoveries, will not have a material effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

On July 24, 2019, Accenture was named in a putative class action lawsuit filed by consumers of Marriott International, Inc. (“Marriott”) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The complaint alleges negligence by us, and seeks monetary damages, costs and attorneys’ fees and other related relief, relating to a data security incident involving unauthorized access to the reservations database of Starwood Worldwide Resorts, Inc. (“Starwood”), which was acquired by Marriott on September 23, 2016. Since 2009, we have provided certain IT infrastructure outsourcing services to Starwood. On October 27, 2020, the court issued an order largely denying Accenture’s motion to dismiss the claims against us. On May 3, 2022, the court issued an order granting in part the plaintiffs’ motion for class certification, which we are appealing. Oral argument on the appeal was held on May 3, 2023. We continue to believe the lawsuit is without merit and we will vigorously defend it. At present, we do not believe any losses from this matter will have a material effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

Table of Contents	Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts or as otherwise disclosed)
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q		20

11. Segment Reporting

Our reportable segments are our three geographic markets, which are North America, Europe and Growth Markets. Information regarding reportable segments, industry groups and type of work is as follows:

	Revenues
	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022		May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
Geographic Markets
North America	$	7,720,903	$	7,613,629	$	22,741,597	$	21,597,880
Europe	5,615,466		5,350,360		15,987,685		15,460,313
Growth Markets	3,228,216		3,194,814		9,397,263		9,112,456
Total Revenues	$	16,564,585	$	16,158,803	$	48,126,545	$	46,170,649
Industry Groups (1)
Communications, Media & Technology	$	2,880,187	$	3,222,525	$	8,745,192	$	9,118,790
Financial Services	3,138,181		3,079,418		9,104,444		8,869,296
Health & Public Service	3,266,347		2,917,028		9,289,961		8,333,915
Products	4,968,399		4,806,180		14,352,759		13,797,044
Resources	2,311,471		2,133,652		6,634,189		6,051,604
Total Revenues	$	16,564,585	$	16,158,803	$	48,126,545	$	46,170,649
Type of Work
Consulting	$	8,693,030	$	9,032,484	$	25,416,160	$	25,747,095
Managed Services (2)	7,871,555		7,126,319		22,710,385		20,423,554
Total Revenues	$	16,564,585	$	16,158,803	$	48,126,545	$	46,170,649

(1)Effective June 1, 2022, we revised the reporting of our industry groups for the movement of Aerospace & Defense from Communications, Media & Technology to Products. Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current period presentation.

(2)Previously referred to as our outsourcing business.

	Operating Income
	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022		May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
Geographic Markets
North America	$	1,241,245	$	1,379,828	$	3,374,986	$	3,715,155
Europe	631,547		693,512		1,895,180		1,969,997
Growth Markets	486,496		529,778		1,626,803		1,413,840
Total Operating Income	$	2,359,288	$	2,603,118	$	6,896,969	$	7,098,992

Table of Contents
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q	Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	21

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2022, and with the information under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2022.

We use the terms “Accenture,” “we,” “our” and “us” in this report to refer to Accenture plc and its subsidiaries. All references to years, unless otherwise noted, refer to our fiscal year, which ends on August 31. For example, a reference to “fiscal 2023” means the 12-month period that will end on August 31, 2023. All references to quarters, unless otherwise noted, refer to the quarters of our fiscal year.

We use the term “in local currency” so that certain financial results may be viewed without the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, thereby facilitating period-to-period comparisons of business performance. Financial results “in local currency” are calculated by restating current period activity into U.S. dollars using the comparable prior year period’s foreign currency exchange rates. This approach is used for all results where the functional currency is not the U.S. dollar.

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) relating to our operations, results of operations and other matters that are based on our current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “aspires,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “positioned,” “outlook,” “goal,” “target,” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in these forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and other factors that might cause such differences, some of which could be material, include but are not limited to those identified below.

Business Risks

•Our results of operations have been, and may in the future be, adversely affected by volatile, negative or uncertain economic and political conditions and the effects of these conditions on our clients’ businesses and levels of business activity.

•Our business depends on generating and maintaining client demand for our services and solutions, including through the adaptation and expansion of our services and solutions in response to ongoing changes in technology and offerings, and a significant reduction in such demand or an inability to respond to the evolving technological environment could materially affect our results of operations.

•If we are unable to match people and their skills with client demand around the world and attract and retain professionals with strong leadership skills, our business, the utilization rate of our professionals and our results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

•We face legal, reputational and financial risks from any failure to protect client and/or Accenture data from security incidents or cyberattacks.

•The markets in which we operate are highly competitive, and we might not be able to compete effectively.

•Our ability to attract and retain business and employees may depend on our reputation in the marketplace.

•Our environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments and disclosures may expose us to reputational risks and legal liability.

•If we do not successfully manage and develop our relationships with key ecosystem partners or if we fail to anticipate and establish new alliances in new technologies, our results of operations could be adversely affected.

Table of Contents
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q	Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	22

Financial Risks

•Our profitability could materially suffer if we are unable to obtain favorable pricing for our services and solutions, if we are unable to remain competitive, if our cost-management strategies are unsuccessful or if we experience delivery inefficiencies or fail to satisfy certain agreed-upon targets or specific service levels.

•Changes in our level of taxes, as well as audits, investigations and tax proceedings, or changes in tax laws or in their interpretation or enforcement, could have a material adverse effect on our effective tax rate, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

•Our results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.

•Changes to accounting standards or in the estimates and assumptions we make in connection with the preparation of our consolidated financial statements could adversely affect our financial results.

Operational Risks

•As a result of our geographically diverse operations and strategy to continue to grow in key markets around the world, we are more susceptible to certain risks.

•If we are unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with our size, we might be unable to achieve our business objectives.

•We might not be successful at acquiring, investing in or integrating businesses, entering into joint ventures or divesting businesses.

Legal and Regulatory Risks

•Our business could be materially adversely affected if we incur legal liability.

•Our global operations expose us to numerous and sometimes conflicting legal and regulatory requirements, and violation of these regulations could harm our business.

•Our work with government clients exposes us to additional risks inherent in the government contracting environment.

•If we are unable to protect or enforce our intellectual property rights, or if our services or solutions infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or we lose our ability to utilize the intellectual property of others, our business could be adversely affected.

•We are incorporated in Ireland and Irish law differs from the laws in effect in the United States and might afford less protection to our shareholders. We may also be subject to criticism and negative publicity related to our incorporation in Ireland.

For a more detailed discussion of these factors, see the information under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2022. In addition, the timing and amount of costs related to our business optimization actions and the nature and extent of benefits realized from such actions are subject to uncertainties and other factors, including local country consultation processes and regulations, and may differ from our current expectations and estimates. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report or as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Table of Contents
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q	Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	23

Overview

Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions across Strategy & Consulting, Technology, Operations, Industry X and Song. We serve clients in three geographic markets: North America, Europe and Growth Markets (Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East). We combine our strength in technology with industry experience, functional expertise and global delivery capability to help the world’s leading businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services—creating tangible value at speed and scale.

Our results of operations are affected by economic conditions, including macroeconomic conditions, the overall inflationary environment and levels of business confidence. There continues to be significant economic and geopolitical uncertainty in many markets around the world, which has impacted and may continue to impact our business. These conditions have slowed the pace and level of client spending for smaller contracts with a shorter duration, especially for our consulting services. From an industry perspective, we are also experiencing reduced demand particularly in our Communications, Media & Technology industry group.

Key Metrics

Key metrics for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2022 are included below. We have presented operating margin and diluted earnings per share on a non-GAAP or “adjusted” basis to exclude the impact of $347 million in business optimization costs and, with respect to diluted earnings per share, the impact of a $253 million investment gain recorded during the third quarter of fiscal 2023. For additional information, see Note 1 (Basis of Presentation) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 1, “Financial Statements.”

•Revenues of $16.6 billion, representing 3% growth in U.S. dollars and 5% growth in local currency;

•New bookings of $17.2 billion, an increase of 2% in U.S. dollars and 4% in local currency;

•Operating margin of 14.2%, compared to 16.1% in the third quarter of fiscal 2022; adjusted operating margin expanded 20 basis points to 16.3%;

•Diluted earnings per share of $3.15, compared to $2.79 in the third quarter of fiscal 2022; adjusted earnings per share increased 14% to $3.19; and

•Cash returned to shareholders of $1.5 billion, including share purchases of $789 million and dividends of $708 million.

Revenues

		Three Months Ended				Percent Increase (Decrease) U.S. Dollars		Percent Increase (Decrease) Local Currency
(in billions of U.S. Dollars)		May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
Geographic Markets	North America	$	7.7	$	7.6	1	%	2	%
	Europe	5.6		5.4		5		7
	Growth Markets	3.2		3.2		1		9
	Total Revenues	$	16.6	$	16.2	3	%	5	%
Industry Groups (1)	Communications, Media & Technology	$	2.9	$	3.2	(11)	%	(8)	%
	Financial Services	3.1		3.1		2		5
	Health & Public Service	3.3		2.9		12		14
	Products	5.0		4.8		3		6
	Resources	2.3		2.1		8		12
	Total Revenues	$	16.6	$	16.2	3	%	5	%
Type of Work	Consulting	$	8.7	$	9.0	(4)	%	(1)	%
	Managed Services (2)	7.9		7.1		10		13
	Total Revenues	$	16.6	$	16.2	3	%	5	%

Amounts in table may not total due to rounding.

(1)Effective June 1, 2022, we revised the reporting of our industry groups for the movement of Aerospace & Defense from Communications, Media & Technology to Products. Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current period presentation.

(2)Previously referred to as our outsourcing business.

Table of Contents
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q	Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	24

Revenues for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 increased 3% in U.S. dollars and 5% in local currency compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2022. Revenues for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 increased 4% in U.S. dollars and 10% in local currency compared to the nine months ended May 31, 2022. During the third quarter of fiscal 2023, revenue growth in local currency was strong in Growth Markets and Europe and modest in North America. We experienced local currency revenue growth that was very strong in Health & Public Service and Resources, strong in Products and solid in Financial Services, partially offset by a decline in Communications, Media & Technology. Revenue growth in local currency was very strong in managed services, partially offset by a slight decline in consulting during the third quarter of fiscal 2023. In the third quarter of fiscal 2023, pricing, which we define as the contract profitability or margin on the work that we sell, was lower in some areas of our business.

In our consulting business, revenues for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 decreased 4% in U.S. dollars and 1% in local currency compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2022. Consulting revenues for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 decreased 1% in U.S. dollars and increased 4% in local currency compared to the nine months ended May 31, 2022. The decline in consulting revenue in local currency for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 was driven by a modest decline in North America, partially offset by modest growth in Growth Markets, while Europe was flat. Our consulting revenue continues to be driven by helping our clients accelerate their digital transformation, including moving to the cloud, embedding security across the enterprise and adopting new technologies. In addition, clients continue to be focused on initiatives designed to deliver cost savings and operational efficiency, as well as projects to accelerate growth and improve customer experiences. While we continue to experience demand for these services, we are seeing a slower pace and level of client spending, especially for smaller contracts with a shorter duration.

In our managed services business, revenues for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 increased 10% in U.S. dollars and 13% in local currency compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2022. Managed services revenues for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 increased 11% in U.S. dollars and 16% in local currency compared to the nine months ended May 31, 2022. Managed services revenue in local currency for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 was driven by very strong growth in Growth Markets and Europe and strong growth in North America. We continue to experience growing demand to assist clients with application modernization and maintenance, cloud enablement and managed security services. In addition, clients continue to be focused on transforming their operations through data and analytics, automation and artificial intelligence to drive productivity and operational cost savings.

As we are a global company, our revenues are denominated in multiple currencies and may be significantly affected by currency exchange rate fluctuations. While a significant portion of our revenues are in U.S. dollars, the majority of our revenues are denominated in other currencies, including the Euro, Japanese yen and U.K. pound. There continues to be volatility in foreign currency exchange rates. Unfavorable fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates have had and could in the future have a material effect on our financial results. If the U.S. dollar weakens against other currencies, resulting in favorable currency translation, our revenues, revenue growth and results of operations in U.S. dollars may be higher. If the U.S. dollar strengthens against other currencies, resulting in unfavorable currency translation, our revenues, revenue growth and results of operations in U.S. dollars may be lower. The U.S. dollar strengthened against various currencies during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 compared to the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022, resulting in unfavorable currency translation and U.S. dollar revenue growth that was approximately 2.5% and 5.5% lower, respectively, than our revenue growth in local currency. Assuming that exchange rates stay within recent ranges for the remainder of fiscal 2023, we estimate that our full fiscal 2023 revenue growth in U.S. dollars will be approximately 4% lower than our revenue growth in local currency.

People Metrics

Utilization	Workforce	Annualized Voluntary Attrition
91%	732,000	13%
consistent with the third quarter of fiscal 2022	compared to approximately 710,000 as of May 31, 2022	compared to 20% in the third quarter of fiscal 2022

Utilization for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 was 91%, consistent with the third quarter of fiscal 2022. We hire to meet current and projected future demand. We proactively plan and manage the size and composition of our workforce and take actions as needed to address changes in the anticipated demand for our services and solutions, given that compensation costs are the most significant portion of our operating expenses. Our workforce, the majority of which serves our clients, increased to approximately 732,000 as of May 31, 2023, compared to approximately 710,000 as of May 31, 2022. The year-over-year increase in our workforce reflects people added in connection with acquisitions and hiring for specific skills.

For the third quarter of fiscal 2023, annualized attrition, excluding involuntary terminations, was 13%, down from 20% in the third quarter of fiscal 2022. We evaluate voluntary attrition, adjust levels of new hiring and use involuntary terminations as a means to keep our supply of skills and resources in balance with changes in client demand.

Table of Contents
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q	Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	25

In addition, we adjust compensation in order to attract and retain appropriate numbers of qualified employees. For the majority of our people, compensation increases became effective December 1st of fiscal 2023. Given the overall inflationary environment, compensation has increased faster than in prior years. We strive to adjust pricing as well as drive cost and delivery efficiencies, such as changing the mix of people and utilizing technology, to reduce the impact of compensation increases on our margin and contract profitability.

Our ability to grow our revenues and maintain or increase our margin could be adversely affected if we are unable to: match people and skills with the types or amounts of services and solutions clients are demanding; recover or offset increases in compensation; deploy our employees globally on a timely basis; manage attrition; and/or effectively assimilate new employees.

Operating Expenses

The primary categories of operating expenses include Cost of services, Sales and marketing and General and administrative costs. Cost of services is primarily driven by the cost of people serving our clients, which consists mainly of compensation, subcontractor and other payroll costs, and non-payroll costs on managed services contracts. Cost of services includes a variety of activities such as: contract delivery; recruiting and training; software development; and integration of acquisitions. Sales and marketing costs are driven primarily by: compensation costs for business development activities; marketing- and advertising-related activities; and certain acquisition-related costs. General and administrative costs primarily include costs for people that are non-client-facing, information systems, office space and certain acquisition-related costs.

Gross margin (Revenues less Cost of services as a percentage of Revenues) for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 was 33.4%, compared with 32.9% for the third quarter of fiscal 2022. Gross margin for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 was 32.3% compared with 32.0% for the nine months ended May 31, 2022. The increase in gross margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 and nine months ended May 31, 2023 was primarily due to lower labor costs, including lower subcontractor costs, partially offset by higher non-payroll costs, primarily for travel.

Sales and marketing and General and administrative costs as a percentage of revenues were 17.0% for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 and 16.8% for the nine months ended May 31, 2023, compared with 16.8% for the third quarter of fiscal 2022 and 16.6% for the nine months ended May 31, 2022. For the third quarter of fiscal 2023 and nine months ended May 31, 2023, compared to the same period in fiscal 2022, Sales and marketing costs increased 20 and 30 basis points, respectively, due to higher selling and other business development costs as a percentage of revenues. For the third quarter of fiscal 2023 and nine months ended May 31, 2023, compared to the same period in fiscal 2022, General and administrative costs were flat and decreased 10 basis points, respectively, as a percentage of revenues.

During the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023, we recorded $347 million and $591 million in business optimization costs, respectively, primarily for employee severance. For additional information, see Note 1 (Basis of Presentation) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 1, “Financial Statements.”

Operating margin (Operating income as a percentage of Revenues) for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 was 14.2%, compared with 16.1% for the third quarter of fiscal 2022. Operating margin for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 was 14.3%, compared with 15.4% for the nine months ended May 31, 2022. The business optimization costs recorded during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 reduced operating margin by 210 and 130 basis points, respectively. Excluding these costs, operating margin for both the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 increased 20 basis points to 16.3% and 15.6%, respectively.

Other Income (Expense), net

During the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023, we recorded a gain of $253 million related to our investment in Duck Creek Technologies. For additional information, see Note 1 (Basis of Presentation) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 1, “Financial Statements.”

Effective Tax Rate

The effective tax rates for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 and 2022 were 22.2% and 27.1%, respectively. The effective tax rates for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 and 2022 were 22.1% and 23.8%, respectively. Absent the business optimization costs of $347 million and $591 million and related reduction in tax expense of $80 million and $132 million, as well as an investment gain of $253 million and related tax expense of $9 million, our effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 were 24.0% and 22.7%, respectively.

Earnings Per Share

Diluted earnings per share were $3.15 for the third quarter of fiscal 2023, compared with $2.79 for the third quarter of fiscal 2022. Diluted earnings per share were $8.62 for the nine months ended May 31, 2023, compared with $8.11 for the nine months ended May 31, 2022. The $267 million of business optimization costs, net of related taxes, decreased diluted earnings per share by $0.42 and the $244 million investment gain, net of related taxes, increased diluted earnings per share by $0.38 for the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Excluding these impacts, diluted earnings per share were $3.19 for the third quarter of fiscal 2023. The $459 million of business optimization costs, net of related taxes, decreased diluted earnings per share by $0.72 and the $244

Table of Contents
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q	Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	26

million investment gain, net of related taxes, increased diluted earnings per share by $0.38 for the nine months ended May 31, 2023. Excluding these impacts, diluted earnings per share were $8.96 for the nine months ended May 31, 2023.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

For fiscal 2023, we have presented effective tax rates and diluted earnings per share excluding the business optimization costs and investment gain, as well as operating income and operating margin excluding the business optimization costs, as we believe doing so facilitates understanding as to the impact of these items and our performance in comparison to the prior periods. While we believe that this non-GAAP financial information is useful in evaluating our operations, this information should be considered as supplemental in nature and not as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.

New Bookings

	Three Months Ended				Percent Increase (Decrease) U.S. Dollars		Percent  Increase (Decrease) Local  Currency
(in billions of U.S. dollars)	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
Consulting	$	8.9	$	9.1	(2)	%	1	%
Managed Services (1)	8.3		7.8		6		9
Total New Bookings	$	17.2	$	17.0	2	%	4	%

Amounts in table may not total due to rounding.

(1)Previously referred to as our outsourcing business.

	Nine Months Ended				Percent Increase (Decrease) U.S. Dollars		Percent  Increase (Decrease) Local Currency
(in billions of U.S. dollars)	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
Consulting	$	27.7	$	29.4	(6)	%	(1)	%
Managed Services (1)	27.9		23.9		17		22
Total New Bookings	$	55.6	$	53.3	4	%	10	%

(1)Previously referred to as our outsourcing business.

We provide information regarding our new bookings, which include new contracts, including those acquired through acquisitions, as well as renewals, extensions and changes to existing contracts, because we believe doing so provides useful trend information regarding changes in the volume of our new business over time. New bookings can vary significantly quarter to quarter depending in part on the timing of the signing of a small number of large managed services contracts. The types of services and solutions clients are demanding and the pace and level of their spending may impact the conversion of new bookings to revenues. For example, managed services bookings, which are typically for multi-year contracts, generally convert to revenue over a longer period of time compared to consulting bookings.

Information regarding our new bookings is not comparable to, nor should it be substituted for, an analysis of our revenues over time. New bookings involve estimates and judgments. There are no third-party standards or requirements governing the calculation of bookings. We do not update our new bookings for material subsequent terminations or reductions related to bookings originally recorded in prior fiscal years. New bookings are recorded using then-existing foreign currency exchange rates and are not subsequently adjusted for foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

The majority of our contracts are terminable by the client on short notice with little or no termination penalties, and some without notice. Only the non-cancelable portion of these contracts is included in our remaining performance obligations disclosed in Note 2 (Revenues) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 1, “Financial Statements.” Accordingly, a significant portion of what we consider contract bookings is not included in our remaining performance obligations.

Table of Contents
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q	Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	27

Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended May 31, 2023 Compared to the Three Months Ended May 31, 2022

Revenues by geographic market, industry group and type of work are as follows:

	Three Months Ended				Percent Increase (Decrease) U.S. Dollars		Percent Increase (Decrease) Local Currency		Percent of Revenues for the Three Months Ended
(in millions of U.S. dollars)	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022						May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
Geographic Markets
North America	$	7,721	$	7,614	1	%	2	%	47	%	47	%
Europe	5,615		5,350		5		7		34		33
Growth Markets	3,228		3,195		1		9		19		20
Total	$	16,565	$	16,159	3	%	5	%	100	%	100	%
Industry Groups (1)
Communications, Media & Technology	$	2,880	$	3,223	(11)	%	(8)	%	17	%	20	%
Financial Services	3,138		3,079		2		5		19		19
Health & Public Service	3,266		2,917		12		14		20		18
Products	4,968		4,806		3		6		30		30
Resources	2,311		2,134		8		12		14		13
Total	$	16,565	$	16,159	3	%	5	%	100	%	100	%
Type of Work
Consulting	$	8,693	$	9,032	(4)	%	(1)	%	52	%	56	%
Managed Services (2)	7,872		7,126		10		13		48		44
Total	$	16,565	$	16,159	3	%	5	%	100	%	100	%

Amounts in table may not total due to rounding.

(1)Effective June 1, 2022, we revised the reporting of our industry groups for the movement of Aerospace & Defense from Communications, Media & Technology to Products. Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current period presentation.

(2)Previously referred to as our outsourcing business.

Revenues

The following revenues commentary discusses local currency revenue changes for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2022:

Geographic Markets

•North America revenues increased 2% in local currency, led by growth in Public Service for our U.S. federal business, Health and Utilities. These increases were partially offset by declines in Communications & Media, High Tech, Software & Platforms and Banking & Capital Markets. Revenue growth was driven by the United States.

•Europe revenues increased 7% in local currency, led by growth in Banking & Capital Markets, Industrial and Public Service. Revenue growth was driven by Italy, Germany and France.

•Growth Markets revenues increased 9% in local currency, led by growth in Public Service, Chemicals & Natural Resources and Banking & Capital Markets. Revenue growth was led by Japan.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 increased $650 million, or 5%, compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2022, and increased as a percentage of revenues to 85.8% compared to 83.9% during this period. The increase as a percentage of revenues is primarily due to business optimization costs of $347 million recorded during the third quarter of fiscal 2023.

Table of Contents
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q	Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	28

Operating expenses by category are as follows:

	Three Months Ended
(in millions of U.S. dollars)	May 31, 2023				May 31, 2022				Increase (Decrease)
Operating Expenses	$	14,205	85.8	%	$	13,556	83.9	%	$	650
Cost of services	11,036		66.6		10,844		67.1		191
Sales and marketing	1,739		10.5		1,661		10.3		78
General and administrative costs	1,084		6.5		1,051		6.5		34
Business optimization costs	347		2.1		—		—		347

Amounts in table may not total due to rounding.

Cost of Services

Cost of services for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 increased $191 million, or 2%, over the third quarter of fiscal 2022, and decreased as a percentage of revenues to 66.6% from 67.1% during this period. Gross margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 increased as a percentage of revenues to 33.4% over 32.9% during the third quarter of fiscal 2022. The increase in gross margin was primarily due to lower labor costs, including lower subcontractor costs, partially offset by higher non-payroll costs, primarily for travel compared to the same period in fiscal 2022.

Sales and Marketing

Sales and marketing expense for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 increased $78 million, or 5%, over the third quarter of fiscal 2022, and increased as a percentage of revenues to 10.5% over 10.3% during this period due to higher selling and other business development costs.

General and Administrative Costs

General and administrative costs for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 increased $34 million, or 3%, over the third quarter of fiscal 2022, and remained flat as a percentage of revenues at 6.5% during this period.

Business Optimization Costs

During the third quarter of fiscal 2023, we recorded business optimization costs of $347 million, primarily for employee severance. For additional information, see Note 1 (Basis of Presentation) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 1, “Financial Statements.”

Operating Income and Operating Margin

Operating income for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 decreased $244 million, or 9%, from the third quarter of fiscal 2022. Operating margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 was 14.2%, compared with 16.1% for the third quarter of fiscal 2022. The business optimization costs reduced operating margin by 210 basis points. Excluding these costs, operating margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 increased 20 basis points to 16.3%.

Operating income and operating margin for each of the geographic markets are as follows:

	Three Months Ended
	May 31, 2023				May 31, 2022
(in millions of U.S. dollars)	Operating Income		Operating Margin		Operating Income		Operating Margin		Increase (Decrease)
North America	$	1,241	16	%	$	1,380	18	%	$	(139)
Europe	632		11		694		13		(62)
Growth Markets	486		15		530		17		(43)
Total	$	2,359	14.2	%	$	2,603	16.1	%	$	(244)

Amounts in table may not total due to rounding.

Table of Contents
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q	Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	29

Operating Income and Operating Margin Excluding Business Optimization Costs (Non-GAAP)

	Three Months Ended
	May 31, 2023								May 31, 2022
(in millions of U.S. dollars)	Operating Income (GAAP)		Business Optimization (1)		Operating Income (Non-GAAP)		Operating Margin (Non-GAAP)		Operating Income (GAAP)		Operating Margin (GAAP)		Increase (Decrease)
North America	$	1,241	$	96	$	1,338	17	%	$	1,380	18	%	$	(42)
Europe	632		166		798		14		694		13		104
Growth Markets	486		84		571		18		530		17		41
Total	$	2,359	$	347	$	2,706	16.3	%	$	2,603	16.1	%	$	103

Amounts in table may not total due to rounding.

(1)Costs recorded in connection with our business optimization initiatives, primarily for employee severance.

We estimate that the aggregate percentage impact of foreign currency exchange rates on our operating income during the third quarter of fiscal 2023 was similar to that disclosed for revenue for each geographic market. In addition, during the third quarter of fiscal 2023 each geographic market’s operating income was unfavorably impacted by business optimization costs. The commentary below provides insight into other factors affecting geographic market performance and operating income for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2022:

•North America operating income decreased as revenue growth was more than offset by lower consulting contract profitability as well as higher selling and other business development costs as a percentage of revenues.

•Europe operating income increased primarily due to revenue growth.

•Growth Markets operating income increased primarily due to revenue growth, partially offset by an increase in selling and other business development costs as a percentage of revenues.    

Interest Income

Interest income for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 was $82 million, an increase of $73 million over the third quarter of fiscal 2022. The increase was primarily due to higher interest rates.

Other Income (Expense), net

Other income (expense), net primarily consists of foreign currency gains and losses, non-operating components of pension expense, as well as gains and losses associated with our investments. During the third quarter of fiscal 2023, other income (expense), net increased $211 million over the third quarter of fiscal 2022, primarily due to higher gains on investments. For additional information, see Note 1 (Basis of Presentation) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 1, “Financial Statements.”

Loss on Disposition of Russia Business

We recorded a loss from the disposal of our business in Russia of $96 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2022.

Income Tax Expense

The effective tax rates for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 and 2022 were 22.2% and 27.1%, respectively. Absent the business optimization costs of $347 million and related reduction in tax expense of $80 million, and the investment gain of $253 million and related tax expense of $9 million, our effective tax rate was 24.0% for the three months ended May 31, 2023. The lower effective tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 was primarily due to lower tax expense from changes in the geographic distribution of earnings and higher benefits from adjustments to prior year tax liabilities.

Earnings Per Share

Diluted earnings per share were $3.15 for the third quarter of fiscal 2023, compared with $2.79 for the third quarter of fiscal 2022. The $267 million of business optimization costs, net of related taxes, decreased diluted earnings per share by $0.42 and the $244 million investment gain, net of related taxes, increased diluted earnings per share by $0.38 for the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Excluding these impacts, diluted earnings per share were $3.19 for the third quarter of fiscal 2023. For information regarding our earnings per share calculations, see Note 3 (Earnings Per Share) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 1, “Financial Statements.”

Table of Contents
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q	Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	30

The increase in diluted earnings per share was due to the following factors:

	Earnings Per Share
Q3 FY22 As Reported	$	2.79
Higher revenue and operating results	0.12
Loss on disposition of Russia business recorded in fiscal 2022	0.15
Lower effective tax rate (excluding loss on disposition of Russia business)	0.09
Higher non-operating income (excluding loss on disposition of Russia business)	0.04
Lower share count	0.01
Higher net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(0.01)
Q3 FY23 As Adjusted	$	3.19
Gain on an investment, net of tax	0.38
Business optimization costs	(0.42)
Q3 FY23 As Reported	$	3.15

Table of Contents
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q	Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	31

Results of Operations for the Nine Months Ended May 31, 2023 Compared to the Nine Months Ended May 31, 2022

Revenues by geographic market, industry group and type of work are as follows:

	Nine Months Ended				Percent Increase (Decrease) U.S. Dollars		Percent Increase (Decrease) Local Currency		Percent of Revenues for the Nine Months Ended
(in millions of U.S. dollars)	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022						May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
Geographic Markets
North America	$	22,742	$	21,598	5	%	6	%	47	%	47	%
Europe	15,988		15,460		3		12		33		33
Growth Markets	9,397		9,112		3		14		20		20
Total	$	48,127	$	46,171	4	%	10	%	100	%	100	%
Industry Groups (1)
Communications, Media & Technology	$	8,745	$	9,119	(4)	%	1	%	18	%	20	%
Financial Services	9,104		8,869		3		9		19		19
Health & Public Service	9,290		8,334		11		15		19		18
Products	14,353		13,797		4		10		30		30
Resources	6,634		6,052		10		16		14		13
Total	$	48,127	$	46,171	4	%	10	%	100	%	100	%
Type of Work
Consulting	$	25,416	$	25,747	(1)	%	4	%	53	%	56	%
Managed Services (2)	22,710		20,424		11		16		47		44
Total	$	48,127	$	46,171	4	%	10	%	100	%	100	%

Amounts in table may not total due to rounding.

(1)Effective June 1, 2022, we revised the reporting of our industry groups for the movement of Aerospace & Defense from Communications, Media & Technology to Products. Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current period presentation.

(2)Previously referred to as our outsourcing business.

Revenues

The following revenues commentary discusses local currency revenue changes for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 compared to the nine months ended May 31, 2022:

Geographic Markets

•North America revenues increased 6% in local currency, led by growth in Public Service for our U.S. federal business, Health and Utilities. These increases were partially offset by a decline in Communications & Media. Revenue growth was driven by the United States.

•Europe revenues increased 12% in local currency, led by growth in Industrial, Banking & Capital Markets and Public Service. Revenue growth was driven by Germany, Italy and France.

•Growth Markets revenues increased 14% in local currency, led by growth in Banking & Capital Markets, Public Service and Chemicals & Natural Resources. Revenue growth was led by Japan.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 increased $2,158 million, or 6%, compared to the nine months ended May 31, 2022, and increased as a percentage of revenues to 85.7% compared to 84.6% during this period. The increase as a percentage of revenues is primarily due to business optimization costs of $591 million recorded during the nine months ended May 31, 2023.

Table of Contents
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q	Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	32

Operating expenses by category are as follows:

	Nine Months Ended
(in millions of U.S. dollars)	May 31, 2023				May 31, 2022				Increase (Decrease)
Operating Expenses	$	41,230	85.7	%	$	39,072	84.6	%	$	2,158
Cost of services	32,577		67.7		31,415		68.0		1,161
Sales and marketing	4,852		10.1		4,530		9.8		322
General and administrative costs	3,210		6.7		3,126		6.8		83
Business optimization costs	591		1.2		—		—		591

Amounts in table may not total due to rounding.

Cost of Services

Cost of services for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 increased $1,161 million, or 4%, over the nine months ended May 31, 2022, and decreased as a percentage of revenues to 67.7% from 68.0% during this period. Gross margin for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 increased to 32.3% over 32.0% during the nine months ended May 31, 2022. The increase in gross margin was primarily due to lower labor costs, including lower subcontractor costs, partially offset by higher non-payroll costs, primarily for travel compared to the same period in fiscal 2022.

Sales and Marketing

Sales and marketing expense for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 increased $322 million, or 7%, over the nine months ended May 31, 2022, and increased as a percentage of revenues to 10.1% over 9.8% during this period due to higher selling and other business development costs.

General and Administrative Costs

General and administrative costs for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 increased $83 million, or 3%, over the nine months ended May 31, 2022, and decreased as a percentage of revenues to 6.7% from 6.8% during this period.

Business Optimization Costs

During the nine months ended May 31, 2023, we recorded business optimization costs of $591 million, primarily for employee severance. For additional information, see Note 1 (Basis of Presentation) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 1, “Financial Statements.”

Operating Income and Operating Margin

Operating income for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 decreased $202 million, or 3%, compared with the nine months ended May 31, 2022. Operating margin for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 was 14.3%, compared with 15.4% for the nine months ended May 31, 2022. The business optimization costs reduced operating margin by 130 basis points. Excluding these costs, operating margin for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 increased 20 basis points to 15.6%.

Operating income and operating margin for each of the geographic markets are as follows:

	Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023				May 31, 2022
(in millions of U.S. dollars)	Operating Income		Operating Margin		Operating Income		Operating Margin		Increase (Decrease)
North America	$	3,375	15	%	$	3,715	17	%	$	(340)
Europe	1,895		12		1,970		13		(75)
Growth Markets	1,627		17		1,414		16		213
Total	$	6,897	14.3	%	$	7,099	15.4	%	$	(202)

Table of Contents
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q	Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	33

Operating Income and Operating Margin Excluding Business Optimization Costs (Non-GAAP)

	Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023								May 31, 2022
(in millions of U.S. dollars)	Operating Income (GAAP)		Business Optimization (1)		Operating Income (Non-GAAP)		Operating Margin (Non-GAAP)		Operating Income (GAAP)		Operating Margin (GAAP)		Increase (Decrease)
North America	$	3,375	$	273	$	3,648	16	%	$	3,715	17	%	$	(67)
Europe	1,895		207		2,102		13		1,970		13		132
Growth Markets	1,627		111		1,738		18		1,414		16		324
Total	$	6,897	$	591	$	7,488	15.6	%	$	7,099	15.4	%	$	389

(1)Costs recorded in connection with our business optimization initiatives, primarily for employee severance.

We estimate that the aggregate percentage impact of foreign currency exchange rates on our operating income during the nine months ended May 31, 2023 was similar to that disclosed for revenue for each geographic market. In addition, during the nine months ended May 31, 2023 each geographic market’s operating income was unfavorably impacted by business optimization costs. The commentary below provides insight into other factors affecting geographic market performance and operating income, including the impact of foreign currency exchange rates where significant, for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 compared with the nine months ended May 31, 2022:

•North America operating income decreased as revenue growth was more than offset by higher labor costs, including an increase in selling and other business development costs as a percentage of revenues.

•Europe operating income increased due to revenue growth in local currency, partially offset by the negative impact of foreign currency exchange rates.

•Growth Markets operating income increased primarily due to higher contract profitability and revenue growth in local currency, partially offset by the negative impact of foreign currency exchange rates.

Interest Income

Interest income for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 was $177 million, an increase of $155 million over the nine months ended May 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to higher interest rates.

Other Income (Expense), net

Other income (expense), net primarily consists of foreign currency gains and losses, non-operating components of pension expense, as well as gains and losses associated with our investments. During the nine months ended May 31, 2023, other income (expense), net increased $176 million over the nine months ended May 31, 2022, primarily due to higher gains on investments, partially offset by foreign currency exchange losses. For additional information, see Note 1 (Basis of Presentation) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 1, “Financial Statements."

Loss on Disposition of Russia Business

We recorded a loss from the disposal of our business in Russia of $96 million during the nine months ended May 31, 2022.

Income Tax Expense

The effective tax rates for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 and 2022 were 22.1% and 23.8%, respectively. Absent the business optimization costs of $591 million and related reduction in tax expense of $132 million, and the investment gain of $253 million and related tax expense of $9 million, our effective tax rate was 22.7% for the nine months ended May 31, 2023. The lower effective tax rate for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 was primarily due to lower tax expense from changes in the geographic distribution of earnings and higher benefits from adjustments to prior year tax liabilities, partially offset by lower tax benefits from share-based payments.

Earnings Per Share

Diluted earnings per share were $8.62 for the nine months ended May 31, 2023, compared with $8.11 for the nine months ended May 31, 2022. The $459 million of business optimization costs, net of related taxes, decreased diluted earnings per share by $0.72 and the $244 million investment gain, net of related taxes, increased diluted earnings per share by $0.38 for the nine months ended May 31, 2023. Excluding these impacts, diluted earnings per share were $8.96 for the nine months ended May 31, 2023. For information regarding our earnings per share calculations, see Note 3 (Earnings Per Share) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 1, “Financial Statements.”

Table of Contents
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q	Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	34

The increase in diluted earnings per share was due to the following factors:

	Earnings Per Share
FY22 As Reported	$	8.11
Higher revenue and operating results	0.46
Loss on disposition of Russia business recorded in fiscal 2022	0.15
Higher non-operating income (excluding loss on disposition of Russia business)	0.10
Lower effective tax rate (excluding loss on disposition of Russia business)	0.09
Lower share count	0.07
Higher net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(0.02)
FY23 As Adjusted	$	8.96
Gain on an investment, net of tax	0.38
Business optimization costs	(0.72)
FY23 As Reported	$	8.62

Table of Contents
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q	Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	35

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of May 31, 2023, Cash and cash equivalents was $8.5 billion, compared with $7.9 billion as of August 31, 2022.

Cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities, as reflected in our Consolidated Cash Flows Statements, are summarized in the following table:

	Nine Months Ended
(in millions of U.S. dollars)	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022		Change
Net cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities	$	6,115	$	5,751	$	364
Investing activities	(1,255)		(2,852)		1,597
Financing activities	(4,165)		(4,210)		45
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(49)		(154)		105
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	$	646	$	(1,465)	$	2,110

Amounts in table may not total due to rounding.

Operating activities: The $364 million increase in operating cash flows was primarily due to higher net income as well as higher collections on net client balances (receivables from clients, contract assets and deferred revenues), partially offset by higher spending on certain compensation payments.

Investing activities: The $1,597 million decrease in cash used was primarily due to lower spending on business acquisitions and higher proceeds from the sale of businesses and investments. For additional information, see Note 5 (Business Combinations) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 1, “Financial Statements.”

Financing activities: The $45 million decrease in cash used was primarily due to a decrease in the net purchases of shares as well as an increase in net proceeds from share issuances, partially offset by an increase in cash dividends paid. For additional information, see Note 7 (Shareholders’ Equity) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 1, “Financial Statements.”

We believe that our current and longer-term working capital, investments and other general corporate funding requirements will be satisfied for the next twelve months and thereafter through cash flows from operations and, to the extent necessary, from our borrowing facilities and future financial market activities.

Substantially all of our cash is held in jurisdictions where there are no regulatory restrictions or material tax effects on the free flow of funds. Domestic cash inflows for our Irish parent, principally dividend distributions from lower-tier subsidiaries, have been sufficient to meet our historic cash requirements, and we expect this to continue into the future.

Borrowing Facilities

As of May 31, 2023, we had the following borrowing facilities, including the issuance of letters of credit, to support general working capital purposes:

(in millions of U.S. dollars)	Facility Amount		Borrowings Under Facilities
Syndicated loan facility	$	3,000	$	—
Separate, uncommitted, unsecured multicurrency revolving credit facilities	1,755		—
Local guaranteed and non-guaranteed lines of credit	246		—
Total	$	5,001	$	—

Under the borrowing facilities described above, we had an aggregate of $1,028 million of letters of credit outstanding as of May 31, 2023. We have a short-term commercial paper financing program backed by our $3 billion syndicated credit facility. As of May 31, 2023, we had no commercial paper outstanding.

Table of Contents
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q	Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	36

Share Purchases and Redemptions

The Board of Directors of Accenture plc has authorized funding for our publicly announced open-market share purchase program for acquiring Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares and for purchases and redemptions of Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares held by current and former members of Accenture Leadership and their permitted transferees.

Our share purchase activity during the nine months ended May 31, 2023 is as follows:

	Accenture plc Class A Ordinary Shares			Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. Exchangeable Shares
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except share amounts)	Shares	Amount		Shares	Amount
Open-market share purchases (1)	9,623,466	$	2,647	—	$	—
Other share purchase programs	—	—		13,935	4
Other purchases (2)	2,486,767	675		—	—
Total	12,110,233	$	3,322	13,935	$	4

(1)We conduct 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 our employees.

(2)During the nine months ended May 31, 2023, as authorized under our various employee equity share plans, we 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 our aggregate available authorization for our publicly announced open-market share purchase and the other share purchase programs.

We intend to continue to use a significant portion of cash generated from operations for share repurchases during the remainder of fiscal 2023. The number of shares ultimately repurchased under our open-market share purchase program may vary depending on numerous factors, including, without limitation, share price and other market conditions, our ongoing capital allocation planning, the levels of cash and debt balances, other demands for cash, such as acquisition activity, general economic and/or business conditions, and board and management discretion. Additionally, as these factors may change over the course of the year, the amount of share repurchase activity during any particular period cannot be predicted and may fluctuate from time to time. Share repurchases may be made from time to time through open-market purchases, in respect of purchases and redemptions of Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares, through the use of Rule 10b5-1 plans and/or by other means. The repurchase program may be accelerated, suspended, delayed or discontinued at any time, without notice.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

In the normal course of business and in conjunction with some client engagements, we have entered into contractual arrangements through which we may be obligated to indemnify clients with respect to certain matters.

To date, we have not been required to make any significant payment under any of the arrangements described above. For further discussion of these transactions, see Note 10 (Commitments and Contingencies) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 1, “Financial Statements.”

Significant Accounting Policies

See Note 1 (Basis of Presentation) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 1, “Financial Statements.”

Table of Contents
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q	Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	37

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

During the nine months ended May 31, 2023, there were no material changes to the information on market risk exposure disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2022. For a discussion of our market risk associated with foreign currency risk, interest rate risk and equity price risk as of August 31, 2022, see “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in Part II, Item 7A, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2022.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Based on that evaluation, the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer of Accenture plc have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the third quarter of fiscal 2023 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Table of Contents
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q	Part II — Other Information	38

Part II — Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The information set forth under “Legal Contingencies” in Note 10 (Commitments and Contingencies) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1, “Financial Statements,” is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

For a discussion of our potential risks and uncertainties, see the information under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2022 (the “Annual Report”). There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Purchases of Accenture plc Class A Ordinary Shares

The following table provides information relating to our purchases of Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares during the third quarter of fiscal 2023.

Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased	Average Price Paid per Share (1)		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (2)	Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (3)
					(in millions of U.S. dollars)
March 1, 2023 — March 31, 2023	266,578	$	276.04	242,375	$	4,149
April 1, 2023 — April 30, 2023	992,346	278.92		975,270	3,877
May 1, 2023 — May 31, 2023	1,556,265	280.75		1,416,566	3,478
Total (4)	2,815,189	$	279.66	2,634,211

(1)Average price paid per share reflects the total cash outlay for the period, divided by the number of shares acquired, including those acquired by purchase or redemption for cash and any acquired by means of employee forfeiture.

(2)Since August 2001, the Board of Directors of Accenture plc has authorized and periodically confirmed a publicly announced open-market share purchase program for acquiring Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares. During the third quarter of fiscal 2023, we purchased 2,634,211 Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares under this program for an aggregate price of $737 million. The open-market purchase program does not have an expiration date.

(3)As of May 31, 2023, our aggregate available authorization for share purchases and redemptions was $3,478 million which management has the discretion to use for either our publicly announced open-market share purchase program or the other share purchase programs. Since August 2001 and as of May 31, 2023, the Board of Directors of Accenture plc has authorized an aggregate of $46.1 billion for share purchases and redemptions by Accenture plc and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc.

(4)During the third quarter of fiscal 2023, Accenture purchased 180,978 Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares in transactions unrelated to publicly announced share plans or programs. These transactions consisted of acquisitions of 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 our various employee equity share plans. These purchases of shares in connection with employee share plans do not affect our aggregate available authorization for our publicly announced open-market share purchase and the other share purchase programs.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Table of Contents
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q	Part II — Other Information	39

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information

(a) None.

(b) None.

Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibit Index:

Exhibit Number	Exhibit
3.1	Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of Accenture plc (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Accenture plc’s 8-K filed on February 7, 2018)
31.1	Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith)
31.2	Certification of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith)
32.1	Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith)
32.2	Certification of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith)
101	The following financial information from Accenture plc’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended May 31, 2023, formatted in Inline XBRL: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of May 31, 2023 (Unaudited) and August 31, 2022, (ii) Consolidated Income Statements (Unaudited) for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 and May 31, 2022, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 and May 31, 2022, (iv) Consolidated Shareholders’ Equity Statement (Unaudited) for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 and May 31, 2022, (v) Consolidated Cash Flows Statements (Unaudited) for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 and May 31, 2022 and (vi) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
104	The cover page from Accenture plc’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended May 31, 2023, formatted in Inline XBRL (included as Exhibit 101)

Table of Contents
ACCENTURE FORM 10-Q	Signatures	40

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date: June 22, 2023

ACCENTURE PLC
By:	/s/ KC McClure
Name:	KC McClure
Title:	Chief Financial Officer
	(Principal Financial Officer and Authorized Signatory)

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER CERTIFICATION

I, Julie Sweet, certify that:

1.I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Accenture plc for the period ended May 31, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof;

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: June 22, 2023

/s/ Julie Sweet

Julie Sweet

Chief Executive Officer of Accenture plc

(principal executive officer)

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER CERTIFICATION

I, KC McClure, certify that:

1.I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Accenture plc for the period ended May 31, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof;

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: June 22, 2023

/s/ KC McClure

KC McClure

Chief Financial Officer of Accenture plc

(principal financial officer)

EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

Certification of the Principal Executive Officer

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Accenture plc (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended May 31, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Julie Sweet, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: June 22, 2023

/s/ Julie Sweet

Julie Sweet

Chief Executive Officer of Accenture plc

(principal executive officer)

EX-32.2

Exhibit 32.2

Certification of the Principal Financial Officer

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Accenture plc (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended May 31, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, KC McClure, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: June 22, 2023

/s/ KC McClure

KC McClure

Chief Financial Officer of Accenture plc

(principal financial officer)

XML

Cover Page - shares	9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023	Jun. 08, 2023
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	May 31, 2023
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-34448
Entity Registrant Name	Accenture plc
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	L2
Entity Tax Identification Number	98-0627530
Entity Address, Address Line One	1 Grand Canal Square
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Grand Canal Harbour
Entity Address, City or Town	Dublin
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	2
Entity Address, Country	IE
Country Region	353
City Area Code	1
Local Phone Number	646-2000
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0000225 per share
Trading Symbol	ACN
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Central Index Key	0001467373
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--08-31
Class A Ordinary Shares
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		664,311,732
Class X Ordinary Shares
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		335,238

XML

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	May 31, 2023	Aug. 31, 2022
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 8,535,446	$ 7,889,833
Short-term investments	4,482	3,973
Receivables and contract assets	12,582,660	11,776,775
Other current assets	2,257,485	1,940,290
Total current assets	23,380,073	21,610,871
NON-CURRENT ASSETS:
Contract assets	66,432	46,844
Investments	176,259	317,972
Property and equipment, net	1,534,927	1,659,140
Lease assets	2,743,382	3,018,535
Goodwill	14,461,094	13,133,293
Deferred contract costs	852,188	807,940
Deferred tax assets	4,105,869	4,001,200
Other non-current assets	2,808,051	2,667,595
Total non-current assets	26,748,202	25,652,519
TOTAL ASSETS	50,128,275	47,263,390
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current portion of long-term debt and bank borrowings	10,389	9,175
Accounts payable	2,388,474	2,559,485
Deferred revenues	5,101,692	4,478,048
Accrued payroll and related benefits	6,632,448	7,611,794
Income taxes payable	688,525	646,471
Lease liabilities	690,584	707,598
Other accrued liabilities	1,580,416	1,510,925
Total current liabilities	17,092,528	17,523,496
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt	43,865	45,893
Deferred revenues	687,098	712,715
Retirement obligation	1,678,405	1,692,152
Deferred tax liabilities	402,984	318,584
Income taxes payable	1,270,733	1,198,139
Lease liabilities	2,351,375	2,563,090
Other non-current liabilities	539,358	462,233
Total non-current liabilities	6,973,818	6,992,806
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Restricted share units	2,030,576	2,091,382
Additional paid-in capital	12,637,709	10,679,180
Treasury shares, at cost: Ordinary, 40,000 shares as of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022; Class A ordinary, 33,323,829 and 33,393,703 shares as of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022, respectively	(6,127,121)	(6,678,037)
Retained earnings	18,692,118	18,203,842
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,900,923)	(2,190,342)
Total Accenture plc shareholders’ equity	25,332,431	22,106,097
Noncontrolling interests	729,498	640,991
Total shareholders’ equity	26,061,929	22,747,088
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	50,128,275	47,263,390
Ordinary Shares
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Ordinary shares, value	57	57
Class A Ordinary Shares
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Ordinary shares, value	15	15
Class X Ordinary Shares
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Ordinary shares, value	$ 0	$ 0

XML

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)	May 31, 2023 € / shares shares	May 31, 2023 $ / shares shares	Aug. 31, 2022 € / shares shares	Aug. 31, 2022 $ / shares shares
Ordinary Shares
Statement [Line Items]
Ordinary shares, par value (USD per share) | € / shares	€ 1.00		€ 1.00
Ordinary shares, shares authorized (in shares)	40,000	40,000	40,000	40,000
Ordinary shares, shares issued (in shares)	40,000	40,000	40,000	40,000
Treasury shares, ordinary shares (in shares)	40,000	40,000	40,000	40,000
Class A Ordinary Shares
Statement [Line Items]
Ordinary shares, par value (USD per share) | $ / shares		$ 0.0000225		$ 0.0000225
Ordinary shares, shares authorized (in shares)	20,000,000,000	20,000,000,000	20,000,000,000	20,000,000,000
Ordinary shares, shares issued (in shares)	664,125,473	664,125,473	664,561,282	664,561,282
Treasury shares, ordinary shares (in shares)	33,323,829	33,323,829	33,393,703	33,393,703
Class X Ordinary Shares
Statement [Line Items]
Ordinary shares, par value (USD per share) | $ / shares		$ 0.0000225		$ 0.0000225
Ordinary shares, shares authorized (in shares)	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000
Ordinary shares, shares issued (in shares)	335,238	335,238	500,837	500,837
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding (in shares)	335,238	335,238	500,837	500,837

XML

Consolidated Income Statements - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022
REVENUES:
Revenues	$ 16,564,585	$ 16,158,803	$ 48,126,545	$ 46,170,649
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of services	11,035,515	10,844,069	32,576,567	31,415,167
Sales and marketing	1,738,621	1,660,919	4,852,207	4,530,158
General and administrative costs	1,084,288	1,050,697	3,209,539	3,126,332
Business optimization costs	346,873	0	591,263	0
Total operating expenses	14,205,297	13,555,685	41,229,576	39,071,657
OPERATING INCOME	2,359,288	2,603,118	6,896,969	7,098,992
Interest income	81,818	8,727	176,782	22,046
Interest expense	(11,208)	(12,050)	(30,122)	(34,449)
Other income (expense), net	201,783	(8,877)	136,576	(39,089)
Loss on disposition of Russia business	0	(96,294)	0	(96,294)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	2,631,681	2,494,624	7,180,205	6,951,206
Income tax expense	583,346	675,308	1,584,887	1,654,631
NET INCOME	2,048,335	1,819,316	5,595,318	5,296,575
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in Accenture Canada Holdings Inc.	(2,101)	(1,902)	(5,790)	(5,578)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests – other	(36,238)	(31,339)	(90,934)	(78,956)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ACCENTURE PLC	$ 2,009,996	$ 1,786,075	$ 5,498,594	$ 5,212,041
Weighted average Class A ordinary shares:
Basic (in shares)	631,535,162	632,749,442	630,826,230	632,969,487
Diluted (in shares)	638,743,434	641,004,741	638,404,751	643,692,440
Earnings per Class A ordinary share:
Basic (in USD per share)	$ 3.18	$ 2.82	$ 8.72	$ 8.23
Diluted (in USD per share)	3.15	2.79	8.62	8.11
Cash dividends per share (in USD per share)	$ 1.12	$ 0.97	$ 3.36	$ 2.91

XML

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
NET INCOME	$ 2,048,335	$ 1,819,316	$ 5,595,318	$ 5,296,575
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF TAX:
Foreign currency translation	13,252	(231,311)	210,045	(442,664)
Defined benefit plans	6,722	10,292	104,941	6,865
Cash flow hedges	23,373	(57,642)	(25,567)	(98,850)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ACCENTURE PLC	43,347	(278,661)	289,419	(534,649)
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	827	(4,456)	6,165	(10,032)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	2,092,509	1,536,199	5,890,902	4,751,894
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ACCENTURE PLC	2,053,343	1,507,414	5,788,013	4,677,392
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	39,166	28,785	102,889	74,502
Other comprehensive income (loss)	$ 44,174	$ (283,117)	$ 295,584	$ (544,681)

XML

Consolidated Shareholders' Equity Statement - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 24,457,278	$ 21,156,979	$ 22,747,088	$ 20,097,114
Net income	2,048,335	1,819,316	5,595,318	5,296,575
Other comprehensive income (loss)	44,174	(283,117)	295,584	(544,681)
Purchases of Class A shares	(787,299)	(972,171)	(3,321,982)	(3,506,617)
Cancellation of treasury shares			0
Share-based compensation expense	472,695	407,257	1,530,034	1,319,555
Purchases/redemptions of Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares and Class X shares	(1,638)		(3,868)	(4,274)
Issuances of Class A shares for employee share programs	537,016	497,974	1,344,637	1,199,851
Dividends	(707,742)	(613,785)	(2,121,331)	(1,843,576)
Other, net	(890)	(730)	(3,551)	(2,224)
Ending Balance	$ 26,061,929	22,011,723	$ 26,061,929	22,011,723
Class X Ordinary Shares
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance (in shares)			500,837
Ending Balance (in shares)	335,238		335,238
Common Stock | Ordinary Shares
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 57	$ 57	$ 57	$ 57
Beginning Balance (in shares)	40,000	40,000	40,000	40,000
Ending Balance	$ 57	$ 57	$ 57	$ 57
Ending Balance (in shares)	40,000	40,000	40,000	40,000
Common Stock | Class A Ordinary Shares
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 15	$ 15	$ 15	$ 15
Beginning Balance (in shares)	662,406,000	662,417,000	664,561,000	656,591,000
Cancellation of treasury shares (in shares)			8,828,000
Issuances of Class A shares for employee share programs (in shares)	1,719,000	1,568,000	8,392,000	7,394,000
Ending Balance	$ 15	$ 15	$ 15	$ 15
Ending Balance (in shares)	664,125,000	663,985,000	664,125,000	663,985,000
Common Stock | Class X Ordinary Shares
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Beginning Balance (in shares)	339,000	504,000	501,000	513,000
Purchases/redemptions of Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares and Class X shares (in shares)	(4,000)		(166,000)	(9,000)
Ending Balance	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Ending Balance (in shares)	335,000	504,000	335,000	504,000
Common Stock | Restricted Share Units
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 1,636,155	$ 1,438,596	$ 2,091,382	$ 1,750,784
Share-based compensation expense	406,504	346,666	1,407,869	1,210,825
Issuances of Class A shares for employee share programs	(40,094)	(55,313)	(1,553,088)	(1,285,617)
Dividends	28,011	23,981	84,413	77,938
Ending Balance	2,030,576	1,753,930	2,030,576	1,753,930
Additional Paid-in Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	12,163,671	10,065,790	10,679,180	8,617,838
Purchases of Class A shares	703	925	3,021	3,388
Cancellation of treasury shares			(175,701)
Share-based compensation expense	66,191	60,591	122,165	108,730
Purchases/redemptions of Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares and Class X shares	(1,638)		(3,868)	(4,274)
Issuances of Class A shares for employee share programs	406,315	405,704	2,006,131	1,795,507
Other, net	2,467	1,272	6,781	13,093
Ending Balance	12,637,709	10,534,282	12,637,709	10,534,282
Treasury Shares
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ (5,593,010)	$ (5,297,349)	$ (6,678,037)	$ (3,408,491)
Beginning Balance (in shares)	31,181,000	29,035,000	33,434,000	24,545,000
Purchases of Class A shares	$ (787,299)	$ (972,171)	$ (3,321,982)	$ (3,506,617)
Purchases of Class A shares (in shares)	(2,815,000)	(3,102,000)	(12,110,000)	(10,119,000)
Cancellation of treasury shares (in shares)			8,828,496
Cancellation of treasury shares			$ 2,595,281
Issuances of Class A shares for employee share programs (in shares)	632,000	569,000	3,352,000	3,096,000
Issuances of Class A shares for employee share programs	$ 253,188	$ 147,118	$ 1,277,617	$ 792,706
Ending Balance	$ (6,127,121)	$ (6,122,402)	$ (6,127,121)	$ (6,122,402)
Ending Balance (in shares)	33,364,000	31,568,000	33,364,000	31,568,000
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 17,500,001	$ 16,028,399	$ 18,203,842	$ 13,988,748
Net income	2,009,996	1,786,075	5,498,594	5,212,041
Cancellation of treasury shares			(2,419,580)
Issuances of Class A shares for employee share programs	(82,866)		(387,229)	(103,889)
Dividends	(735,013)	(637,116)	(2,203,509)	(1,919,542)
Ending Balance	18,692,118	17,177,358	18,692,118	17,177,358
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(1,944,270)	(1,675,485)	(2,190,342)	(1,419,497)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	43,347	(278,661)	289,419	(534,649)
Ending Balance	(1,900,923)	(1,954,146)	(1,900,923)	(1,954,146)
Total Accenture plc Shareholders’ Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	23,762,619	20,560,023	22,106,097	19,529,454
Net income	2,009,996	1,786,075	5,498,594	5,212,041
Other comprehensive income (loss)	43,347	(278,661)	289,419	(534,649)
Purchases of Class A shares	(786,596)	(971,246)	(3,318,961)	(3,503,229)
Cancellation of treasury shares			0
Share-based compensation expense	472,695	407,257	1,530,034	1,319,555
Purchases/redemptions of Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares and Class X shares	(1,638)		(3,868)	(4,274)
Issuances of Class A shares for employee share programs	536,543	497,509	1,343,431	1,198,707
Dividends	(707,002)	(613,135)	(2,119,096)	(1,841,604)
Other, net	2,467	1,272	6,781	13,093
Ending Balance	25,332,431	21,389,094	25,332,431	21,389,094
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	694,659	596,956	640,991	567,660
Net income	38,339	33,241	96,724	84,534
Other comprehensive income (loss)	827	(4,456)	6,165	(10,032)
Purchases of Class A shares	(703)	(925)	(3,021)	(3,388)
Issuances of Class A shares for employee share programs	473	465	1,206	1,144
Dividends	(740)	(650)	(2,235)	(1,972)
Other, net	(3,357)	(2,002)	(10,332)	(15,317)
Ending Balance	$ 729,498	$ 622,629	$ 729,498	$ 622,629

XML

Consolidated Cash Flows Statements - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 2,048,335	$ 1,819,316	$ 5,595,318	$ 5,296,575
Adjustments to reconcile Net income to Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities —
Depreciation, amortization and other	601,099	524,186	1,639,804	1,553,311
Share-based compensation expense			1,530,034	1,319,555
Deferred tax expense (benefit)			(136,237)	(27,784)
Other, net			(228,922)	(99,979)
Change in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions —
Receivables and contract assets, current and non-current			(410,214)	(2,594,564)
Other current and non-current assets			(588,958)	(713,632)
Accounts payable			(242,633)	142,286
Deferred revenues, current and non-current			381,121	585,497
Accrued payroll and related benefits			(1,064,577)	489,743
Income taxes payable, current and non-current			57,745	360,262
Other current and non-current liabilities			(417,601)	(560,251)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			6,114,880	5,751,019
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment			(347,878)	(540,947)
Purchases of businesses and investments, net of cash acquired			(1,334,007)	(2,212,388)
Proceeds from the sale of businesses and investments, net of cash transferred			418,113	(108,099)
Other investing, net			8,392	9,397
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			(1,255,380)	(2,852,037)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of shares			1,344,637	1,199,851
Purchases of shares			(3,325,850)	(3,510,891)
Proceeds from (repayments of) long-term debt, net			(364)	(11,530)
Cash dividends paid			(2,121,331)	(1,843,576)
Other financing, net			(62,117)	(43,468)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(4,165,025)	(4,209,614)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(48,862)	(153,974)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS			645,613	(1,464,606)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period			7,889,833	8,168,174
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$ 8,535,446	$ 6,703,568	8,535,446	6,703,568
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Income taxes paid, net			$ 1,774,337	$ 1,264,631

XML

Basis of Presentation

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2023

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements of Accenture plc and its controlled subsidiary companies have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for complete financial statements. We use the terms “Accenture,” “we” and “our” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements to refer to Accenture plc and its subsidiaries. These Consolidated Financial Statements should therefore be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2022 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on October 12, 2022.

The accompanying unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying disclosures. Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions that we may undertake in the future, actual results may differ from those estimates. The Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments of a normal, recurring nature that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of results for these interim periods. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023.

Allowance for Credit Losses—Client Receivables and Contract Assets

As of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022, the total allowance for credit losses recorded for client receivables and contract assets was $26,770 and $25,786, respectively. The change in the allowance is primarily due to immaterial write-offs and changes in gross client receivables and contract assets.

Investments

All available-for-sale securities and liquid investments with an original maturity greater than three months but less than one year are considered to be Short-term investments. Non-current investments consist of equity securities in publicly-traded and privately-held companies and are accounted for using either the equity or fair value measurement alternative method of accounting (for investments without readily determinable fair values).

Our non-current investments are as follows:

	May 31, 2023		August 31, 2022
Equity method investments	$	22,816	$	164,164
Investments without readily determinable fair values	153,443		153,808
Total non-current investments	$	176,259	$	317,972

For investments in which we can exercise significant influence but do not control, we use the equity method of accounting. Equity method investments are initially recorded at cost and our proportionate share of gains and losses of the investee are included as a component of Other income (expense), net.

As of August 31, 2022, our equity method investments consisted primarily of an investment in Duck Creek Technologies. On March 30, 2023, Duck Creek Technologies was acquired by Vista Equity Partners for $19.00 per share. As part of this transaction, we received proceeds of $400,355 and recorded a gain of $252,920 in Other income (expense), net during the third quarter of fiscal 2023.

Depreciation and Amortization

As of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022, total accumulated depreciation was $2,766,344 and $2,490,187, respectively. See table below for a summary of depreciation on fixed assets, deferred transition amortization, intangible assets amortization and operating lease cost for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022		May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
Depreciation	$	165,053	$	150,272	$	446,844	$	438,937
Amortization - Deferred transition	91,480		68,420		247,080		203,957
Amortization - Intangible assets	101,814		109,855		331,095		328,228
Operating lease cost	240,601		193,209		605,329		576,320
Other	2,151		2,430		9,456		5,869
Total depreciation, amortization and other	$	601,099	$	524,186	$	1,639,804	$	1,553,311

Business Optimization

During the second quarter of fiscal 2023, we initiated actions to streamline our operations, transform our non-billable corporate functions and consolidate our office space to reduce costs. We recorded $346,873 and $591,263 of business optimization costs during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023, respectively, primarily for employee severance. Total business optimization costs by reportable operating segment are as follows:

	Three Months Ended		Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2023
North America	$	96,349	$	273,329
Europe	166,463		206,840
Growth Markets	84,061		111,094
Total business optimization costs	$	346,873	$	591,263

We continue to expect to record total business optimization costs of approximately $1.5 billion related to these actions, with approximately $800 million in fiscal 2023 and $700 million in fiscal 2024. This consists of approximately $1.2 billion of employee severance and other personnel costs and $300 million of costs related to the consolidation of office space. The actual amount and timing of severance and other personnel costs are dependent in part upon local country consultation processes and regulations and may differ from our current expectations and estimates.

XML

Revenues

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2023

Revenues [Abstract]

Revenues

Revenues

Disaggregation of Revenue

See Note 11 (Segment Reporting) to these Consolidated Financial Statements for our disaggregated revenues.

Remaining Performance Obligations

We had remaining performance obligations of approximately $26 billion and $24 billion as of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022, respectively. Our remaining performance obligations represent the amount of transaction price for which work has not been performed and revenue has not been recognized. The majority of our contracts are terminable by the client on short notice with little or no termination penalties, and some without notice. Under Topic 606, only the non-cancelable portion of these contracts is included in our performance obligations. Additionally, our performance obligations only include variable consideration if we assess it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty is resolved. Based on the terms of our contracts, a significant portion of what we consider contract bookings is not included in our remaining performance obligations. We expect to recognize approximately 37% of our remaining performance obligations as of May 31, 2023 as revenue in fiscal 2023, an additional 35% in fiscal 2024, and the balance thereafter.

Contract Estimates

Adjustments in contract estimates related to performance obligations satisfied or partially satisfied in prior periods were immaterial for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 and 2022.

Contract Balances

Deferred transition revenues were $687,098 and $712,715 as of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022, respectively, and are included in Non-current deferred revenues. Costs related to these activities are also deferred and are expensed as the services are provided. Deferred transition costs were $852,188 and $807,940 as of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022, respectively, and are included in Deferred contract costs. Generally, deferred amounts are protected in the event of early termination of the contract and are monitored regularly for impairment. Impairment losses are recorded when projected remaining undiscounted operating cash flows of the related contract are not sufficient to recover the carrying amount of contract assets.

The following table provides information about the balances of our Receivables and Contract assets, net of allowance, and Contract liabilities (Deferred revenues):

	As of May 31, 2023		As of August 31, 2022
Receivables	$	11,005,863	$	10,484,211
Contract assets (current)	1,576,797		1,292,564
Receivables and contract assets, net of allowance (current)	12,582,660		11,776,775
Contract assets (non-current)	66,432		46,844
Deferred revenues (current)	5,101,692		4,478,048
Deferred revenues (non-current)	687,098		712,715

Changes in the contract asset and liability balances during the nine months ended May 31, 2023 were a result of normal business activity and not materially impacted by any other factors.

Revenues recognized during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 that were included in Deferred revenues as of February 28, 2023 and August 31, 2022 were $2.7 billion and $3.7 billion, respectively. Revenues recognized during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022 that were included in Deferred revenues as of February 28, 2022 and August 31, 2021 were $2.5 billion and $3.5 billion, respectively.

XML

Earnings Per Share

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2023

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share are calculated as follows:

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022		May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
Basic earnings per share
Net income attributable to Accenture plc	$	2,009,996	$	1,786,075	$	5,498,594	$	5,212,041
Basic weighted average Class A ordinary shares	631,535,162		632,749,442		630,826,230		632,969,487
Basic earnings per share	$	3.18	$	2.82	$	8.72	$	8.23
Diluted earnings per share
Net income attributable to Accenture plc	$	2,009,996	$	1,786,075	$	5,498,594	$	5,212,041
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. (1)	2,101		1,902		5,790		5,578
Net income for diluted earnings per share calculation	$	2,012,097	$	1,787,977	$	5,504,384	$	5,217,619
Basic weighted average Class A ordinary shares	631,535,162		632,749,442		630,826,230		632,969,487
Class A ordinary shares issuable upon redemption/exchange of noncontrolling interests (1)	660,083		673,775		664,324		677,363
Diluted effect of employee compensation related to Class A ordinary shares	6,505,805		7,513,927		6,830,076		9,834,622
Diluted effect of share purchase plans related to Class A ordinary shares	42,384		67,597		84,121		210,968
Diluted weighted average Class A ordinary shares	638,743,434		641,004,741		638,404,751		643,692,440
Diluted earnings per share	$	3.15	$	2.79	$	8.62	$	8.11

(1)Diluted earnings per share assumes the exchange of all Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares for Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis. The income effect does not take into account “Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests - other,” since those shares are not redeemable or exchangeable for Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares.

XML

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2023

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The following table summarizes the changes in the accumulated balances for each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to Accenture plc:

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022		May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
Foreign currency translation
Beginning balance	$	(1,655,527)	$	(1,186,417)	$	(1,852,320)	$	(975,064)
Foreign currency translation	12,897		(235,827)		217,607		(455,075)
Income tax benefit (expense)	1,152		110		(1,479)		2,477
Portion attributable to noncontrolling interests	(797)		4,406		(6,083)		9,934
Foreign currency translation, net of tax	13,252		(231,311)		210,045		(442,664)
Ending balance	(1,642,275)		(1,417,728)		(1,642,275)		(1,417,728)
Defined benefit plans
Beginning balance	(250,552)		(563,385)		(348,771)		(559,958)
Reclassifications into net periodic pension and              post-retirement expense	8,712		12,579		143,602		7,881
Income tax benefit (expense)	(1,984)		(2,276)		(38,552)		(1,009)
Portion attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6)		(11)		(109)		(7)
Defined benefit plans, net of tax	6,722		10,292		104,941		6,865
Ending balance	(243,830)		(553,093)		(243,830)		(553,093)
Cash flow hedges
Beginning balance	(38,191)		74,317		10,749		115,525
Unrealized gain (loss)	25,722		(37,978)		(66,994)		(31,924)
Reclassification adjustments into Cost of services	4,115		(27,449)		24,721		(78,142)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(6,440)		7,724		16,679		11,111
Portion attributable to noncontrolling interests	(24)		61		27		105
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	23,373		(57,642)		(25,567)		(98,850)
Ending balance (1)	(14,818)		16,675		(14,818)		16,675
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	(1,900,923)	$	(1,954,146)	$	(1,900,923)	$	(1,954,146)

(1)As of May 31, 2023, $1,761 of net unrealized gains related to derivatives designated as cash flow hedges is expected to be reclassified into Cost of services in the next twelve months.

XML

Business Combinations	9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023
Business Combination and Asset Acquisition [Abstract]
Business Combinations	Business Combinations During the nine months ended May 31, 2023, we completed individually immaterial acquisitions for total consideration of $1,315,925, net of cash acquired. The pro forma effects of these acquisitions on our operations were not material.

XML

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2023

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable operating segment are as follows:

	August 31, 2022		Additions/ Adjustments		Foreign Currency Translation		May 31, 2023
North America	$	7,744,582	$	293,229	$	(16,741)	$	8,021,070
Europe	4,134,091		452,915		269,623		4,856,629
Growth Markets	1,254,620		366,380		(37,605)		1,583,395
Total	$	13,133,293	$	1,112,524	$	215,277	$	14,461,094

Goodwill includes immaterial adjustments related to prior period acquisitions.

Intangible Assets

Our definite-lived intangible assets by major asset class are as follows:

	August 31, 2022						May 31, 2023
Intangible Asset Class	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount
Customer-related	$	2,498,001	$	(842,056)	$	1,655,945	$	2,667,461	$	(969,779)	$	1,697,682
Technology	283,251		(96,782)		186,469		287,727		(127,137)		160,590
Patents	126,950		(70,745)		56,205		124,293		(69,930)		54,363
Other	62,875		(30,686)		32,189		66,919		(40,471)		26,448
Total	$	2,971,077	$	(1,040,269)	$	1,930,808	$	3,146,400	$	(1,207,317)	$	1,939,083

Total amortization related to our intangible assets was $101,814 and $331,095 for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023, respectively. Total amortization related to our intangible assets was $109,855 and $328,228 for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022, respectively. Estimated future amortization related to intangible assets held as of May 31, 2023 is as follows:

Fiscal Year	Estimated Amortization
Remainder of 2023	$	107,772
2024	394,822
2025	361,876
2026	312,945
2027	250,085
Thereafter	511,583
Total	$	1,939,083

XML

Shareholders' Equity

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2023

Equity [Abstract]

Shareholders' Equity

Shareholders’ Equity

Cancellation of Treasury Shares

During the nine months ended May 31, 2023, we cancelled 8,828,496 Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares that were held as treasury shares and had an aggregate cost of $2,595,281. The effect of the cancellation of these treasury shares was recognized in Class A ordinary shares and Additional paid-in capital with the residual recorded in Retained earnings. There was no effect on total shareholders’ equity as a result of this cancellation.

Dividends

Our dividend activity during the nine months ended May 31, 2023 is as follows:

	Dividend Per Share		Accenture plc Class A Ordinary Shares			Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. Exchangeable Shares			Total Cash Outlay
Dividend Payment Date			Record Date	Cash Outlay		Record Date	Cash Outlay
November 15, 2022	$	1.12	October 13, 2022	$	704,938	October 11, 2022	$	629	$	705,567
February 15, 2023	1.12		January 12, 2023	707,156		January 10, 2023	866		708,022
May 15, 2023	1.12		April 13, 2023	707,002		April 11, 2023	740		707,742
Total Dividends				$	2,119,096		$	2,235	$	2,121,331

The payment of cash dividends includes the net effect of $84,413 of additional restricted stock units being issued as a part of our share plans, which resulted in 297,073 restricted share units being issued.

Subsequent Event

On June 21, 2023, the Board of Directors of Accenture plc declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.12 per share on our Class A ordinary shares for shareholders of record at the close of business on July 13, 2023 payable on August 15, 2023.

XML

Financial Instruments

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2023

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments

Derivatives

In the normal course of business, we use derivative financial instruments to manage foreign currency exchange rate risk. Our derivative financial instruments consist of deliverable and non-deliverable foreign currency forward contracts.

Cash Flow Hedges

For a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the change in estimated fair value of a hedging instrument is recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss as a separate component of Shareholders’ Equity and is reclassified into Cost of services in the Consolidated Income Statements during the period in which the hedged transaction is recognized. For information related to derivatives designated as cash flow hedges that were reclassified into Cost of services during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 and 2022, as well as those expected to be reclassified into Cost of services in the next 12 months, see Note 4 (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss) to these Consolidated Financial Statements.

Other Derivatives

Realized gains or losses and changes in the estimated fair value of foreign currency forward contracts that have not been designated as hedges were net losses of $72,091 and $94,351 for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023, respectively, and net losses of $31,285 and $67,812 for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022, respectively. Gains and losses on these contracts are recorded in Other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Income Statements and are offset by gains and losses on the related hedged items.

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments

The notional and fair values of all derivative instruments are as follows:

	May 31, 2023		August 31, 2022
Assets
Cash Flow Hedges
Other current assets	$	56,648	$	89,867
Other non-current assets	39,624		69,209
Other Derivatives
Other current assets	6,986		8,657
Total assets	$	103,258	$	167,733
Liabilities
Cash Flow Hedges
Other accrued liabilities	$	54,887	$	61,156
Other non-current liabilities	25,743		42,537
Other Derivatives
Other accrued liabilities	90,903		83,792
Total liabilities	$	171,533	$	187,485
Total fair value	$	(68,275)	$	(19,752)
Total notional value	$	13,373,535	$	11,095,604

We utilize standard counterparty master agreements containing provisions for the netting of certain foreign currency transaction obligations and for the set-off of certain obligations in the event of an insolvency of one of the parties to the transaction. In the Consolidated Balance Sheets, we record derivative assets and liabilities at gross fair value. The potential effect of netting derivative assets against liabilities under the counterparty master agreements is as follows:

	May 31, 2023		August 31, 2022
Net derivative assets	$	46,349	$	140,073
Net derivative liabilities	114,624		159,825
Total fair value	$	(68,275)	$	(19,752)

XML

Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2023

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

We apply an estimated annual effective tax rate to our year-to-date operating results to determine the interim provision for income tax expense. In addition, we recognize taxes related to unusual or infrequent items or resulting from a change in judgment regarding a position taken in a prior year as discrete items in the interim period in which the event occurs.

Our effective tax rates for the three months ended May 31, 2023 and 2022 were 22.2% and 27.1%, respectively. The lower effective tax rate for the three months ended May 31, 2023 was primarily due to lower tax expense from changes in the geographic distribution of earnings, the tax impact from an investment gain and higher benefits from adjustments to prior year tax liabilities. Our effective tax rates for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 and 2022 were 22.1% and 23.8%, respectively. The lower effective tax rate for the nine months ended May 31, 2023 was primarily due to lower tax expense from changes in the geographic distribution of earnings, higher benefits from adjustments to prior year tax liabilities and the tax impact from an investment gain, partially offset by lower tax benefits from share-based payments.

XML

Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2023

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

Indemnifications and Guarantees

In the normal course of business and in conjunction with certain client engagements, we have entered into contractual arrangements through which we may be obligated to indemnify clients with respect to certain matters.

As of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022, our aggregate potential liability to our clients for expressly limited guarantees involving the performance of third parties was approximately $1,750,000 and $1,349,000, respectively, of which all but approximately $51,000 and $49,000, respectively, may be recovered from the other third parties if we are obligated to make payments to the indemnified parties as a consequence of a performance default by the other third parties. For arrangements with unspecified limitations, we cannot reasonably estimate the aggregate maximum potential liability, as it is inherently difficult to predict the maximum potential amount of such payments, due to the conditional nature and unique facts of each particular arrangement.

As of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022, we have issued or provided guarantees in the form of letters of credit and surety bonds of $1,239,648 and $1,116,298, respectively, the majority of which support certain contracts that require us to provide them as a guarantee of our performance. These guarantees are typically renewed annually and remain in place until the contractual obligations are satisfied. In general, we would only be liable for these guarantees in the event we defaulted in performing our obligations under each contract, the probability of which we believe is remote.

To date, we have not been required to make any significant payment under any of the arrangements described above. We have assessed the current status of performance/payment risk related to arrangements with limited guarantees, warranty obligations, unspecified limitations, indemnification provisions, letters of credit and surety bonds, and believe that any potential payments would be immaterial to the Consolidated Financial Statements, as a whole.

Legal Contingencies

As of May 31, 2023, we or our present personnel had been named as a defendant in various litigation matters. We and/or our personnel also from time to time are involved in investigations by various regulatory or legal authorities concerning matters arising in the course of our business around the world. Based on the present status of these matters, management believes the range of reasonably possible losses in addition to amounts accrued, net of insurance recoveries, will not have a material effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

On July 24, 2019, Accenture was named in a putative class action lawsuit filed by consumers of Marriott International, Inc. (“Marriott”) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The complaint alleges negligence by us, and seeks monetary damages, costs and attorneys’ fees and other related relief, relating to a data security incident involving unauthorized access to the reservations database of Starwood Worldwide Resorts, Inc. (“Starwood”), which was acquired by Marriott on September 23, 2016. Since 2009, we have provided certain IT infrastructure outsourcing services to Starwood. On October 27, 2020, the court issued an order largely denying Accenture’s motion to dismiss the claims against us. On May 3, 2022, the court issued an order granting in part the plaintiffs’ motion for class certification, which we are appealing. Oral argument on the appeal was held on May 3, 2023. We continue to believe the lawsuit is without merit and we will vigorously defend it. At present, we do not believe any losses from this matter will have a material effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

XML

Segment Reporting

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2023

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting

Segment Reporting

Our reportable segments are our three geographic markets, which are North America, Europe and Growth Markets. Information regarding reportable segments, industry groups and type of work is as follows:

	Revenues
	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022		May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
Geographic Markets
North America	$	7,720,903	$	7,613,629	$	22,741,597	$	21,597,880
Europe	5,615,466		5,350,360		15,987,685		15,460,313
Growth Markets	3,228,216		3,194,814		9,397,263		9,112,456
Total Revenues	$	16,564,585	$	16,158,803	$	48,126,545	$	46,170,649
Industry Groups (1)
Communications, Media & Technology	$	2,880,187	$	3,222,525	$	8,745,192	$	9,118,790
Financial Services	3,138,181		3,079,418		9,104,444		8,869,296
Health & Public Service	3,266,347		2,917,028		9,289,961		8,333,915
Products	4,968,399		4,806,180		14,352,759		13,797,044
Resources	2,311,471		2,133,652		6,634,189		6,051,604
Total Revenues	$	16,564,585	$	16,158,803	$	48,126,545	$	46,170,649
Type of Work
Consulting	$	8,693,030	$	9,032,484	$	25,416,160	$	25,747,095
Managed Services (2)	7,871,555		7,126,319		22,710,385		20,423,554
Total Revenues	$	16,564,585	$	16,158,803	$	48,126,545	$	46,170,649

(1)Effective June 1, 2022, we revised the reporting of our industry groups for the movement of Aerospace & Defense from Communications, Media & Technology to Products. Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current period presentation.

(2)Previously referred to as our outsourcing business.

	Operating Income
	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022		May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
Geographic Markets
North America	$	1,241,245	$	1,379,828	$	3,374,986	$	3,715,155
Europe	631,547		693,512		1,895,180		1,969,997
Growth Markets	486,496		529,778		1,626,803		1,413,840
Total Operating Income	$	2,359,288	$	2,603,118	$	6,896,969	$	7,098,992

XML

Basis of Presentation (Policies)

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2023

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements of Accenture plc and its controlled subsidiary companies have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for complete financial statements. We use the terms “Accenture,” “we” and “our” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements to refer to Accenture plc and its subsidiaries. These Consolidated Financial Statements should therefore be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2022 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on October 12, 2022.

The accompanying unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying disclosures. Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions that we may undertake in the future, actual results may differ from those estimates. The Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments of a normal, recurring nature that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of results for these interim periods. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023.

Allowance for Credit Losses - Client Receivables and Contract Assets

Allowance for Credit Losses—Client Receivables and Contract Assets As of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022, the total allowance for credit losses recorded for client receivables and contract assets was $26,770 and $25,786, respectively. The change in the allowance is primarily due to immaterial write-offs and changes in gross client receivables and contract assets.

Investments

Investments

All available-for-sale securities and liquid investments with an original maturity greater than three months but less than one year are considered to be Short-term investments. Non-current investments consist of equity securities in publicly-traded and privately-held companies and are accounted for using either the equity or fair value measurement alternative method of accounting (for investments without readily determinable fair values).

Our non-current investments are as follows:

	May 31, 2023		August 31, 2022
Equity method investments	$	22,816	$	164,164
Investments without readily determinable fair values	153,443		153,808
Total non-current investments	$	176,259	$	317,972

For investments in which we can exercise significant influence but do not control, we use the equity method of accounting. Equity method investments are initially recorded at cost and our proportionate share of gains and losses of the investee are included as a component of Other income (expense), net.

Income Taxes

We apply an estimated annual effective tax rate to our year-to-date operating results to determine the interim provision for income tax expense. In addition, we recognize taxes related to unusual or infrequent items or resulting from a change in judgment regarding a position taken in a prior year as discrete items in the interim period in which the event occurs.

Commitments and Contingencies

In the normal course of business and in conjunction with certain client engagements, we have entered into contractual arrangements through which we may be obligated to indemnify clients with respect to certain matters. As of May 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022, our aggregate potential liability to our clients for expressly limited guarantees involving the performance of third parties was approximately $1,750,000 and $1,349,000, respectively, of which all but approximately $51,000 and $49,000, respectively, may be recovered from the other third parties if we are obligated to make payments to the indemnified parties as a consequence of a performance default by the other third parties. For arrangements with unspecified limitations, we cannot reasonably estimate the aggregate maximum potential liability, as it is inherently difficult to predict the maximum potential amount of such payments, due to the conditional nature and unique facts of each particular arrangement.

XML

Basis of Presentation (Tables)

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2023

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Schedule of Non-current Investments

Our non-current investments are as follows:

	May 31, 2023		August 31, 2022
Equity method investments	$	22,816	$	164,164
Investments without readily determinable fair values	153,443		153,808
Total non-current investments	$	176,259	$	317,972

Schedule of Depreciation, Amortization and Other

See table below for a summary of depreciation on fixed assets, deferred transition amortization, intangible assets amortization and operating lease cost for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022		May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
Depreciation	$	165,053	$	150,272	$	446,844	$	438,937
Amortization - Deferred transition	91,480		68,420		247,080		203,957
Amortization - Intangible assets	101,814		109,855		331,095		328,228
Operating lease cost	240,601		193,209		605,329		576,320
Other	2,151		2,430		9,456		5,869
Total depreciation, amortization and other	$	601,099	$	524,186	$	1,639,804	$	1,553,311

Schedule of Business Optimization Costs

	Three Months Ended		Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2023
North America	$	96,349	$	273,329
Europe	166,463		206,840
Growth Markets	84,061		111,094
Total business optimization costs	$	346,873	$	591,263

XML

Revenues (Tables)

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2023

Revenues [Abstract]

Schedule of Receivables, Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities (Deferred Revenues)

The following table provides information about the balances of our Receivables and Contract assets, net of allowance, and Contract liabilities (Deferred revenues):

	As of May 31, 2023		As of August 31, 2022
Receivables	$	11,005,863	$	10,484,211
Contract assets (current)	1,576,797		1,292,564
Receivables and contract assets, net of allowance (current)	12,582,660		11,776,775
Contract assets (non-current)	66,432		46,844
Deferred revenues (current)	5,101,692		4,478,048
Deferred revenues (non-current)	687,098		712,715

XML

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2023

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share are calculated as follows:

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022		May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
Basic earnings per share
Net income attributable to Accenture plc	$	2,009,996	$	1,786,075	$	5,498,594	$	5,212,041
Basic weighted average Class A ordinary shares	631,535,162		632,749,442		630,826,230		632,969,487
Basic earnings per share	$	3.18	$	2.82	$	8.72	$	8.23
Diluted earnings per share
Net income attributable to Accenture plc	$	2,009,996	$	1,786,075	$	5,498,594	$	5,212,041
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. (1)	2,101		1,902		5,790		5,578
Net income for diluted earnings per share calculation	$	2,012,097	$	1,787,977	$	5,504,384	$	5,217,619
Basic weighted average Class A ordinary shares	631,535,162		632,749,442		630,826,230		632,969,487
Class A ordinary shares issuable upon redemption/exchange of noncontrolling interests (1)	660,083		673,775		664,324		677,363
Diluted effect of employee compensation related to Class A ordinary shares	6,505,805		7,513,927		6,830,076		9,834,622
Diluted effect of share purchase plans related to Class A ordinary shares	42,384		67,597		84,121		210,968
Diluted weighted average Class A ordinary shares	638,743,434		641,004,741		638,404,751		643,692,440
Diluted earnings per share	$	3.15	$	2.79	$	8.62	$	8.11

(1)Diluted earnings per share assumes the exchange of all Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares for Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis. The income effect does not take into account “Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests - other,” since those shares are not redeemable or exchangeable for Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares.

XML

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Tables)

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2023

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]

Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The following table summarizes the changes in the accumulated balances for each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to Accenture plc:

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022		May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
Foreign currency translation
Beginning balance	$	(1,655,527)	$	(1,186,417)	$	(1,852,320)	$	(975,064)
Foreign currency translation	12,897		(235,827)		217,607		(455,075)
Income tax benefit (expense)	1,152		110		(1,479)		2,477
Portion attributable to noncontrolling interests	(797)		4,406		(6,083)		9,934
Foreign currency translation, net of tax	13,252		(231,311)		210,045		(442,664)
Ending balance	(1,642,275)		(1,417,728)		(1,642,275)		(1,417,728)
Defined benefit plans
Beginning balance	(250,552)		(563,385)		(348,771)		(559,958)
Reclassifications into net periodic pension and              post-retirement expense	8,712		12,579		143,602		7,881
Income tax benefit (expense)	(1,984)		(2,276)		(38,552)		(1,009)
Portion attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6)		(11)		(109)		(7)
Defined benefit plans, net of tax	6,722		10,292		104,941		6,865
Ending balance	(243,830)		(553,093)		(243,830)		(553,093)
Cash flow hedges
Beginning balance	(38,191)		74,317		10,749		115,525
Unrealized gain (loss)	25,722		(37,978)		(66,994)		(31,924)
Reclassification adjustments into Cost of services	4,115		(27,449)		24,721		(78,142)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(6,440)		7,724		16,679		11,111
Portion attributable to noncontrolling interests	(24)		61		27		105
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	23,373		(57,642)		(25,567)		(98,850)
Ending balance (1)	(14,818)		16,675		(14,818)		16,675
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	(1,900,923)	$	(1,954,146)	$	(1,900,923)	$	(1,954,146)

(1)As of May 31, 2023, $1,761 of net unrealized gains related to derivatives designated as cash flow hedges is expected to be reclassified into Cost of services in the next twelve months.

XML

Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2023

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Goodwill

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable operating segment are as follows:

	August 31, 2022		Additions/ Adjustments		Foreign Currency Translation		May 31, 2023
North America	$	7,744,582	$	293,229	$	(16,741)	$	8,021,070
Europe	4,134,091		452,915		269,623		4,856,629
Growth Markets	1,254,620		366,380		(37,605)		1,583,395
Total	$	13,133,293	$	1,112,524	$	215,277	$	14,461,094

Schedule of Definite-Lived Intangible Assets

Our definite-lived intangible assets by major asset class are as follows:

	August 31, 2022						May 31, 2023
Intangible Asset Class	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount
Customer-related	$	2,498,001	$	(842,056)	$	1,655,945	$	2,667,461	$	(969,779)	$	1,697,682
Technology	283,251		(96,782)		186,469		287,727		(127,137)		160,590
Patents	126,950		(70,745)		56,205		124,293		(69,930)		54,363
Other	62,875		(30,686)		32,189		66,919		(40,471)		26,448
Total	$	2,971,077	$	(1,040,269)	$	1,930,808	$	3,146,400	$	(1,207,317)	$	1,939,083

Schedule of Future Amortization Expense Related to Intangible Assets

Estimated future amortization related to intangible assets held as of May 31, 2023 is as follows:

Fiscal Year	Estimated Amortization
Remainder of 2023	$	107,772
2024	394,822
2025	361,876
2026	312,945
2027	250,085
Thereafter	511,583
Total	$	1,939,083

XML

Shareholders' Equity (Tables)

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2023

Equity [Abstract]

Schedule of Dividend Activity

Our dividend activity during the nine months ended May 31, 2023 is as follows:

	Dividend Per Share		Accenture plc Class A Ordinary Shares			Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. Exchangeable Shares			Total Cash Outlay
Dividend Payment Date			Record Date	Cash Outlay		Record Date	Cash Outlay
November 15, 2022	$	1.12	October 13, 2022	$	704,938	October 11, 2022	$	629	$	705,567
February 15, 2023	1.12		January 12, 2023	707,156		January 10, 2023	866		708,022
May 15, 2023	1.12		April 13, 2023	707,002		April 11, 2023	740		707,742
Total Dividends				$	2,119,096		$	2,235	$	2,121,331

XML

Financial Instruments (Tables)

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2023

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Notional and Fair Values of Derivative Instruments

The notional and fair values of all derivative instruments are as follows:

	May 31, 2023		August 31, 2022
Assets
Cash Flow Hedges
Other current assets	$	56,648	$	89,867
Other non-current assets	39,624		69,209
Other Derivatives
Other current assets	6,986		8,657
Total assets	$	103,258	$	167,733
Liabilities
Cash Flow Hedges
Other accrued liabilities	$	54,887	$	61,156
Other non-current liabilities	25,743		42,537
Other Derivatives
Other accrued liabilities	90,903		83,792
Total liabilities	$	171,533	$	187,485
Total fair value	$	(68,275)	$	(19,752)
Total notional value	$	13,373,535	$	11,095,604

Schedule of Netting Derivative Assets against Liabilities under Counterparty Master Agreements

The potential effect of netting derivative assets against liabilities under the counterparty master agreements is as follows:

	May 31, 2023		August 31, 2022
Net derivative assets	$	46,349	$	140,073
Net derivative liabilities	114,624		159,825
Total fair value	$	(68,275)	$	(19,752)

XML

Segment Reporting (Tables)

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2023

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Reportable Segments

Information regarding reportable segments, industry groups and type of work is as follows:

	Revenues
	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022		May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
Geographic Markets
North America	$	7,720,903	$	7,613,629	$	22,741,597	$	21,597,880
Europe	5,615,466		5,350,360		15,987,685		15,460,313
Growth Markets	3,228,216		3,194,814		9,397,263		9,112,456
Total Revenues	$	16,564,585	$	16,158,803	$	48,126,545	$	46,170,649
Industry Groups (1)
Communications, Media & Technology	$	2,880,187	$	3,222,525	$	8,745,192	$	9,118,790
Financial Services	3,138,181		3,079,418		9,104,444		8,869,296
Health & Public Service	3,266,347		2,917,028		9,289,961		8,333,915
Products	4,968,399		4,806,180		14,352,759		13,797,044
Resources	2,311,471		2,133,652		6,634,189		6,051,604
Total Revenues	$	16,564,585	$	16,158,803	$	48,126,545	$	46,170,649
Type of Work
Consulting	$	8,693,030	$	9,032,484	$	25,416,160	$	25,747,095
Managed Services (2)	7,871,555		7,126,319		22,710,385		20,423,554
Total Revenues	$	16,564,585	$	16,158,803	$	48,126,545	$	46,170,649

(1)Effective June 1, 2022, we revised the reporting of our industry groups for the movement of Aerospace & Defense from Communications, Media & Technology to Products. Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current period presentation.

(2)Previously referred to as our outsourcing business.

	Operating Income
	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022		May 31, 2023		May 31, 2022
Geographic Markets
North America	$	1,241,245	$	1,379,828	$	3,374,986	$	3,715,155
Europe	631,547		693,512		1,895,180		1,969,997
Growth Markets	486,496		529,778		1,626,803		1,413,840
Total Operating Income	$	2,359,288	$	2,603,118	$	6,896,969	$	7,098,992

XML

Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	Aug. 31, 2024	Aug. 31, 2023	Mar. 30, 2023	Aug. 31, 2022
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Allowance for credit losses for client receivables and contract assets	$ 26,770		$ 26,770					$ 25,786
Accumulated depreciation	2,766,344		2,766,344					$ 2,490,187
Business optimization costs	346,873	$ 0	591,263	$ 0
Expected business optimization costs	1,500,000		1,500,000
Employee Severance and Other Personnel Costs
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Expected business optimization costs	1,200,000		1,200,000
Consolidation of Office Space
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Expected business optimization costs	300,000		$ 300,000
Forecast
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Expected business optimization costs					$ 700,000	$ 800,000
Duck Creek Technologies
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Proceeds from equity method investment transaction	400,355
Grain from equity method investment transaction	$ 252,920
Duck Creek Technologies | Vista Equity Partners
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Acquisition price per share (in USD per share)							$ 19.00

XML

Basis of Presentation - Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	May 31, 2023	Aug. 31, 2022
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Equity method investments	$ 22,816	$ 164,164
Investments without readily determinable fair values	153,443	153,808
Total non-current investments	$ 176,259	$ 317,972

XML

Basis of Presentation - Depreciation and Amortization (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Depreciation	$ 165,053	$ 150,272	$ 446,844	$ 438,937
Amortization - Deferred transition	91,480	68,420	247,080	203,957
Amortization - Intangible assets	101,814	109,855	331,095	328,228
Operating lease cost	240,601	193,209	605,329	576,320
Other	2,151	2,430	9,456	5,869
Total depreciation, amortization and other	$ 601,099	$ 524,186	$ 1,639,804	$ 1,553,311

XML

Basis of Presentation - Business Optimization (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Total business optimization costs	$ 346,873	$ 0	$ 591,263	$ 0
North America
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Total business optimization costs	96,349		273,329
Europe
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Total business optimization costs	166,463		206,840
Growth Markets
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Total business optimization costs	$ 84,061		$ 111,094

XML

Revenues - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	Aug. 31, 2022
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Remaining performance obligation	$ 26,000,000		$ 26,000,000		$ 24,000,000
Deferred transition revenues	687,098		687,098		712,715
Deferred transition costs	852,188		852,188		$ 807,940
Revenues recognized that were included in deferred revenues	$ 2,700,000	$ 2,500,000	$ 3,700,000	$ 3,500,000
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2023-06-01
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Percentage of remaining performance obligation expected to be recognized	37.00%		37.00%
Timing of satisfaction of remaining performance obligation	3 months		3 months
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2024-09-01
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Percentage of remaining performance obligation expected to be recognized	35.00%		35.00%
Timing of satisfaction of remaining performance obligation	1 year		1 year

XML

Revenues - Schedule of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	May 31, 2023	Aug. 31, 2022
Revenues [Abstract]
Receivables	$ 11,005,863	$ 10,484,211
Contract assets (current)	1,576,797	1,292,564
Receivables and contract assets, net of allowance (current)	12,582,660	11,776,775
Contract assets (non-current)	66,432	46,844
Deferred revenues (current)	5,101,692	4,478,048
Deferred revenues (non-current)	$ 687,098	$ 712,715

XML

Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022
Basic earnings per share
Net income attributable to Accenture plc	$ 2,009,996	$ 1,786,075	$ 5,498,594	$ 5,212,041
Basic weighted average Class A ordinary shares (in shares)	631,535,162	632,749,442	630,826,230	632,969,487
Basic earnings per share (in USD per share)	$ 3.18	$ 2.82	$ 8.72	$ 8.23
Diluted earnings per share
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ACCENTURE PLC	$ 2,009,996	$ 1,786,075	$ 5,498,594	$ 5,212,041
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in Accenture Canada Holdings Inc.	2,101	1,902	5,790	5,578
Net income for diluted earnings per share calculation	$ 2,012,097	$ 1,787,977	$ 5,504,384	$ 5,217,619
Basic weighted average Class A ordinary shares (in shares)	631,535,162	632,749,442	630,826,230	632,969,487
Class A ordinary shares issuable upon redemption/exchange of noncontrolling interests (in shares)	660,083	673,775	664,324	677,363
Diluted effect of employee compensation related to Class A ordinary shares (in shares)	6,505,805	7,513,927	6,830,076	9,834,622
Diluted effect of share purchase plans related to Class A ordinary shares (in shares)	42,384	67,597	84,121	210,968
Diluted weighted average Class A ordinary shares (in shares)	638,743,434	641,004,741	638,404,751	643,692,440
Diluted earnings per share (in USD per share)	$ 3.15	$ 2.79	$ 8.62	$ 8.11

XML

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	Aug. 31, 2022
Foreign currency translation
Beginning balance	$ (1,655,527)	$ (1,186,417)	$ (1,852,320)	$ (975,064)
Foreign currency translation	12,897	(235,827)	217,607	(455,075)
Income tax benefit (expense)	1,152	110	(1,479)	2,477
Portion attributable to noncontrolling interests	(797)	4,406	(6,083)	9,934
Foreign currency translation, net of tax	13,252	(231,311)	210,045	(442,664)
Ending balance	(1,642,275)	(1,417,728)	(1,642,275)	(1,417,728)
Defined benefit plans
Beginning balance	(250,552)	(563,385)	(348,771)	(559,958)
Reclassifications into net periodic pension and post-retirement expense	8,712	12,579	143,602	7,881
Income tax benefit (expense)	(1,984)	(2,276)	(38,552)	(1,009)
Portion attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6)	(11)	(109)	(7)
Defined benefit plans, net of tax	6,722	10,292	104,941	6,865
Ending balance	(243,830)	(553,093)	(243,830)	(553,093)
Cash flow hedges
Beginning balance	(38,191)	74,317	10,749	115,525
Unrealized gain (loss)	25,722	(37,978)	(66,994)	(31,924)
Reclassification adjustments into Cost of services	4,115	(27,449)	24,721	(78,142)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(6,440)	7,724	16,679	11,111
Portion attributable to noncontrolling interests	(24)	61	27	105
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	23,373	(57,642)	(25,567)	(98,850)
Ending Balance	(14,818)	16,675	(14,818)	16,675
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (1,900,923)	$ (1,954,146)	(1,900,923)	$ (1,954,146)	$ (2,190,342)
Net unrealized gains expected to be reclassified in the next twelve months			$ 1,761

XML

Business Combinations (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023 USD ($)
Individually Immaterial Acquisitions
Business Acquisitions [Line Items]
Total considerations, net of cash acquired	$ 1,315,925

XML

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Goodwill Rollforward (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023 USD ($)
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 13,133,293
Additions/ Adjustments	1,112,524
Foreign Currency Translation	215,277
Goodwill, ending balance	14,461,094
North America
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	7,744,582
Additions/ Adjustments	293,229
Foreign Currency Translation	(16,741)
Goodwill, ending balance	8,021,070
Europe
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	4,134,091
Additions/ Adjustments	452,915
Foreign Currency Translation	269,623
Goodwill, ending balance	4,856,629
Growth Markets
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,254,620
Additions/ Adjustments	366,380
Foreign Currency Translation	(37,605)
Goodwill, ending balance	$ 1,583,395

XML

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Intangible Table by Major Class (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	May 31, 2023	Aug. 31, 2022
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 3,146,400	$ 2,971,077
Accumulated Amortization	(1,207,317)	(1,040,269)
Net Carrying Amount	1,939,083	1,930,808
Customer-related
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	2,667,461	2,498,001
Accumulated Amortization	(969,779)	(842,056)
Net Carrying Amount	1,697,682	1,655,945
Technology
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	287,727	283,251
Accumulated Amortization	(127,137)	(96,782)
Net Carrying Amount	160,590	186,469
Patents
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	124,293	126,950
Accumulated Amortization	(69,930)	(70,745)
Net Carrying Amount	54,363	56,205
Other
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	66,919	62,875
Accumulated Amortization	(40,471)	(30,686)
Net Carrying Amount	$ 26,448	$ 32,189

XML

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Amortization (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	Aug. 31, 2022
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Amortization related to intangible assets	$ 101,814	$ 109,855	$ 331,095	$ 328,228
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Maturity Schedule [Abstract]
Remainder of 2023	107,772		107,772
2024	394,822		394,822
2025	361,876		361,876
2026	312,945		312,945
2027	250,085		250,085
Thereafter	511,583		511,583
Net Carrying Amount	$ 1,939,083		$ 1,939,083		$ 1,930,808

XML

Shareholders' Equity - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 21, 2023	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022
Dividends [Line Items]
Cancellation of treasury shares				$ 0
Dividends		$ (707,742)	$ (613,785)	$ (2,121,331)	$ (1,843,576)
Treasury Shares
Dividends [Line Items]
Cancellation of treasury shares (in shares)				8,828,496
Cancellation of treasury shares				$ 2,595,281
Restricted Share Units
Dividends [Line Items]
Shares issued (in shares)				297,073
Restricted Share Units | Common Stock
Dividends [Line Items]
Dividends		$ 28,011	$ 23,981	$ 84,413	$ 77,938
Class A Ordinary Shares | Subsequent Event
Dividends [Line Items]
Quarterly cash dividend declared (in USD per share)	$ 1.12
Class A Ordinary Shares | Common Stock
Dividends [Line Items]
Cancellation of treasury shares (in shares)				8,828,000

XML

Shareholders' Equity - Dividend Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands							3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Apr. 13, 2023	Apr. 11, 2023	Jan. 12, 2023	Jan. 10, 2023	Oct. 13, 2022	Oct. 11, 2022	May 31, 2023	Feb. 28, 2023	Nov. 30, 2022	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022
Dividends [Line Items]
Dividend Per Share (in USD per share)							$ 1.12			$ 0.97	$ 3.36	$ 2.91
Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. Exchangeable Shares
Dividends [Line Items]
Total Cash Outlay											$ 2,235
Accenture Plc Ordinary Shares And Accenture Canada Holdings Inc Exchangeable Shares
Dividends [Line Items]
Total Cash Outlay											2,121,331
Class A Ordinary Shares
Dividends [Line Items]
Total Cash Outlay											$ 2,119,096
Dividend Payment November 2022
Dividends [Line Items]
Dividend Per Share (in USD per share)									$ 1.12
Dividend Payment November 2022 | Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. Exchangeable Shares
Dividends [Line Items]
Total Cash Outlay						$ 629
Dividend Payment November 2022 | Accenture Plc Ordinary Shares And Accenture Canada Holdings Inc Exchangeable Shares
Dividends [Line Items]
Total Cash Outlay									$ 705,567
Dividend Payment November 2022 | Class A Ordinary Shares
Dividends [Line Items]
Total Cash Outlay					$ 704,938
Dividend Payment February 2023
Dividends [Line Items]
Dividend Per Share (in USD per share)								$ 1.12
Dividend Payment February 2023 | Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. Exchangeable Shares
Dividends [Line Items]
Total Cash Outlay				$ 866
Dividend Payment February 2023 | Accenture Plc Ordinary Shares And Accenture Canada Holdings Inc Exchangeable Shares
Dividends [Line Items]
Total Cash Outlay								$ 708,022
Dividend Payment February 2023 | Class A Ordinary Shares
Dividends [Line Items]
Total Cash Outlay			$ 707,156
Dividend Payment May 2023
Dividends [Line Items]
Dividend Per Share (in USD per share)							$ 1.12
Dividend Payment May 2023 | Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. Exchangeable Shares
Dividends [Line Items]
Total Cash Outlay		$ 740
Dividend Payment May 2023 | Accenture Plc Ordinary Shares And Accenture Canada Holdings Inc Exchangeable Shares
Dividends [Line Items]
Total Cash Outlay							$ 707,742
Dividend Payment May 2023 | Class A Ordinary Shares
Dividends [Line Items]
Total Cash Outlay	$ 707,002

XML

Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Losses recognized in income on derivatives	$ 72,091	$ 31,285	$ 94,351	$ 67,812

XML

Financial Instruments - Notional and Fair Values of All Derivative Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	May 31, 2023	Aug. 31, 2022
Assets
Total assets	$ 103,258	$ 167,733
Liabilities
Total liabilities	171,533	187,485
Total fair value	(68,275)	(19,752)
Total notional value	13,373,535	11,095,604
Cash Flow Hedges | Other current assets
Assets
Total assets	56,648	89,867
Cash Flow Hedges | Other non-current assets
Assets
Total assets	39,624	69,209
Cash Flow Hedges | Other accrued liabilities
Liabilities
Total liabilities	54,887	61,156
Cash Flow Hedges | Other non-current liabilities
Liabilities
Total liabilities	25,743	42,537
Other Derivatives | Other current assets
Assets
Total assets	6,986	8,657
Other Derivatives | Other accrued liabilities
Liabilities
Total liabilities	$ 90,903	$ 83,792

XML

Financial Instruments - Offsetting Derivative Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	May 31, 2023	Aug. 31, 2022
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Net derivative assets	$ 46,349	$ 140,073
Net derivative liabilities	114,624	159,825
Total fair value	$ (68,275)	$ (19,752)

XML

Income Taxes (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Effective tax rates	22.20%	27.10%	22.10%	23.80%

XML

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	May 31, 2023	Aug. 31, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Expressly limited performance guarantee	$ 1,750,000	$ 1,349,000
Portion of guarantee not recoverable	51,000	49,000
Letter of credit and surety bonds outstanding	$ 1,239,648	$ 1,116,298

XML

Segment Reporting - Additional Information (Details)	9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023 reportableSegment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	3

XML

Segment Reporting - Reportable Operating Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 16,564,585	$ 16,158,803	$ 48,126,545	$ 46,170,649
Total Operating Income	2,359,288	2,603,118	6,896,969	7,098,992
Consulting
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	8,693,030	9,032,484	25,416,160	25,747,095
Managed Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	7,871,555	7,126,319	22,710,385	20,423,554
Communications, Media & Technology
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	2,880,187	3,222,525	8,745,192	9,118,790
Financial Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	3,138,181	3,079,418	9,104,444	8,869,296
Health & Public Service
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	3,266,347	2,917,028	9,289,961	8,333,915
Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	4,968,399	4,806,180	14,352,759	13,797,044
Resources
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	2,311,471	2,133,652	6,634,189	6,051,604
North America
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	7,720,903	7,613,629	22,741,597	21,597,880
Total Operating Income	1,241,245	1,379,828	3,374,986	3,715,155
Europe
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	5,615,466	5,350,360	15,987,685	15,460,313
Total Operating Income	631,547	693,512	1,895,180	1,969,997
Growth Markets
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	3,228,216	3,194,814	9,397,263	9,112,456
Total Operating Income	$ 486,496	$ 529,778	$ 1,626,803	$ 1,413,840