EY reviews

Alot of administrative red tape - professionals will find themselves spending lots of time of adminstrative garbarge that non-professionals should be doing. While there's something to be said for having specialists and resources, maybe it's a little too siloed -- you end up with 8 different "speciality" persons on any given project. Senior Managers are expected to function like PPEDs, without being compensated for it -- and all of the development of staff/seniors fall on them and the managers. There is very little focus paid by PPEDs on development of personnel. Salaries among a given level vary widely and there is no transparency whatsoever. You are CONSTANTLY reminded of your utilization -- you hear about it if you do not meet your utilization goals and in the same breath your hours on a given project will be questioned. This focus on budget and utilization are in conflict. They are also horrendously bad with getting new hires integrated -- clearly they hire people who are bright and experienced and there's a need for them yet you have to "sell" yourself to a group for up to a year before you can get any work -- makes absolutely no sense.

Politics. Like every other place. Winnowing through the hierarcharal system is cumbersome. Seniors are assigned all the tasks, juggling many responsibilites, yet the staff below does all the heavy lifting while they get the credit. So, this is really the biggest weakness. It seems like you are constantly looking over your shoulder, though there is great communication you never really know where you stand. Ego and politics, to me in spite of one's technical prowess rule the day. In the current economic meltdown, it seems that everyone is keeping a low profile. Everyone is working extra hard and doing their best to keep a low profile. Just heard through the grapevine last week that E&Y laid off another 30 in audit. Had a big roundtable at the company cafeteria. Head partner talking out of both sides of his mouth at the same time. If you read between the lines of his speech, then no one is safe.