How to get a job at Ernst & Young (EY)

Ernst & Young (EY) is one of the Big Four professional services firms with around 20,000 employees across the UK. The firm operates across multiple service lines including Assurance, Advisory, Consulting, and Tax, serving FTSE 100 companies, mid-market businesses, and public sector organisations. EY's UK presence spans major cities including London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Edinburgh, with a strong footprint across all major industry sectors including financial services, technology, energy, and healthcare.

EY has established itself as a leader in technology-driven consulting and digital transformation advisory. The firm has invested significantly in areas like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, climate and sustainability, and advanced analytics. EY is recognised for its innovative approach to complex business challenges and its commitment to helping clients navigate ongoing disruption. The organisation operates with a purpose to "Build a better working world"—a commitment reflected in its approach to sustainability, social impact, and the development of its people.

As a firm, EY places strong emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship, encouraging employees to challenge conventional thinking and pursue transformational ideas. The organisation invests heavily in training and development, offering clear career progression and opportunities to work on diverse and high-impact projects globally. EY is committed to creating an environment where talented people from all backgrounds can build meaningful and rewarding careers.

Most roles at Ernst & Young (EY) are office-based or hybrid, with teams typically splitting time between their London, UK offices and remote working. The day usually starts with team stand-ups or check-ins, followed by focused project work. Collaboration is a significant part of the role — expect cross-functional meetings, client interactions, and working alongside colleagues from different departments throughout the day. The rhythm varies by team, but most people find a mix of heads-down work and collaborative sessions. Peak periods (month-end, quarter-end, project deadlines) can mean longer hours, but the day-to-day pace is generally manageable.

With 320,000+ globally employees globally, Ernst & Young (EY) is a large organisation — but that doesn't mean you'll feel like a number. Individual teams are typically 8–20 people with their own culture and working style. The advantage of scale is breadth: you'll have access to diverse projects, international colleagues, and resources that smaller companies can't match. The trade-off is that decision-making can be slower and navigating the organisation takes time to learn.

The culture at Ernst & Young (EY) shapes how the day feels beyond just the work itself. Colleagues describe the environment as one that values Purpose-driven mindset and Technological fluency. Lunch breaks, team socials, and informal catch-ups are part of the rhythm — Ernst & Young (EY) recognises that building relationships across the organisation is as important as the deliverables themselves. Most employees report that the people are one of the best things about working here, and that the team dynamic makes challenging work feel manageable.

Career progression at Ernst & Young (EY) follows a relatively clear path for most roles. Promotions typically depend on demonstrating increased responsibility, deeper expertise, and leadership capability — whether that's leading teams, managing clients, or driving technical innovation. The organisation values both specialist depth and the ability to take on broader management responsibilities, so there are usually multiple progression routes available. Don't assume you need to move into management to advance — many big 4 organisations increasingly recognise and reward technical and specialist career paths.

Ernst & Young (EY) supports employee development through a combination of on-the-job learning, internal training programmes, and access to external courses. The level of formal L&D investment varies by team and seniority, but most roles include opportunities for skills development and professional growth. If structured development matters to you, ask about the specific training budget and programmes available for your role during the interview process. While formal mentoring programmes may vary across departments, the culture generally encourages learning from more experienced colleagues. Building relationships with senior team members is one of the most effective ways to accelerate your development — seek out people whose career trajectory you admire and ask them for advice regularly.

For professional services & consulting professionals, Ernst & Young (EY) offers exposure to projects and challenges that build a strong CV whether you stay long-term or move on after a few years. The skills and experience you gain — particularly around Purpose-driven mindset and Technological fluency — are transferable across the big 4 sector and beyond. Internal mobility is possible for strong performers, with opportunities to move between teams, departments, or even locations as your career develops. Many senior leaders at Ernst & Young (EY) started in entry-level or early-career positions, which speaks to the genuine career development opportunities available.