Company: EY
Date: 2009-01-12
Overall rating: 4/5
Employment status: current

Satisfied, but cautious
Pros: One of the strongest global accounting firms.  Opportunity to work and expand and overseas career.  This is a company that goes the extra mile to document everything you do.  The opportunities are there if you make them. It seems for the most part communication is highly rewarded.  Getting ahold of your senior staff , even partners by way of arranging a meeting seems to be pretty easily facilitated. 

If I can hang on through this global meltdown without taking a job hit, then I think my opportunity to work overseas will be really on the plus side. I think the latest memo I read was they had 115 overseas/international offices.
Cons: 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.