Company: EY
Date: 2017-10-14
Overall rating: 4/5
Employment status: former
Experience level: Junior

The best of the Big 4
Pros: - Great learning ground and platform for those starting out their careers.
- Great training opportunities both on-the-job and formal. 
- Constantly learning and being challenged.
- Great performance review and feedback mechanisms - very transparent how everyone is rated and what expectations are for each role etc. 
- Study support for Chartered Accounting qualification is fantastic and it's great doing the CA with heaps of peers.
- Work with other like-minded people and learn from the best.  
- Work on the best clients and at times, you can manage your own portfolio.
- Opportunities to travel, transfer to other offices and go on secondment to clients or to other offices.
- Great thought leadership and tools developed in-house to use on jobs (leads to efficiencies).
- Heaps of opportunities for career progression.
- Global presence, great brand name to have on the CV etc.
Cons: - High pressure environment so it's hard to maintain work-life balance. I've heard of relationships, friendships, health etc failing whilst working at EY. However, I should note that EY is working exceptionally hard to improve this aspect for its employees.
- High expectations not commensurate with your rank or compensation. 
- At times, can work with  difficult clients or managers and not be supported to deal with issues.
- I experienced and witnessed countless examples of more junior staff members taking on more responsibilities (due to high staff turnover etc) than what is expected of their level. Whilst stepping up at times may be good for development, I noticed that if things went well, then you're often not recognised for it and Managers etc would take credit and if things go pear-shaped, you get blamed and this is reflected in your feedback. 
- As mentioned earlier,  compensation (remuneration and other benefits) does not line up with the hours you put in.