Company: EY
Date: 2010-01-07
Overall rating: 1/5
Employment status: former

Is Accountability a Word Reserved for Staff?
Pros: Big 4 name on resume definite plus.  Networking opportunities to meet other professionals in the accounting field.  Ernst & Young was absolutely a great teaching tool in creating a clearer picture of what a healthy work environment looks like and what type of people I will choose to work with and for in my future career.  Knowledge is power indeed.  Even in this economic downturn, the experience with E&Y has made me more more vigilant in my due diligence efforts regarding the type of employer I need to work for.
Cons: Management sets the example of being singularly focused in achieving their objectives without consideration of staff.  Management invests little to no time with knowledgement management and training.  However, staff is expected to efficiently operate at optimal leves in short, unexpressed time frames under these conditions.  Accountability for job performance is placed squarely on the shoulders of staff without consderation for sub-standard knowledge and training.  

Added to the aforementioned environement is staff at the level of associates who have a third-world-like caste system mindset wherein ones of lower status are treated as lesser ones.  And this mindset only gets worse in the upper levels of the firm.  Thus, a very divisive atmosphere exists wherein mutual trust and respect cannot exist.  Partners conduct themselves as if they were gods.  I know this is not normal partner behavior.  I have worked with former partners who were of real substance in caring for the needs of the business and were very approachable in discussions regarding business objectives.