Company: EY
Date: 2017-03-07
Overall rating: 3/5
Employment status: former
Experience level: Junior

Audit - NYC Financial Services Office
Pros: Great people with amazing diversity.  I worked with people from all over the world.  All very driven and high achieving.  Also, and especially for new staff, you are pretty much inducted into a fellowship, the "EY Club."  The most important thing is definitely the connections and relationships you build.  Networking, getting the EY mark on your resume. 

EY does a great job of trying to implement good coaching and mentorship.  You receive a manager as your "coach", group together with other colleagues to form a "Counseling Family", and have the chance to become a peer mentor to new hires and help with recruiting.  There are many social events and lots of opportunities to get involved with things IF YOU SEEK IT OUT and connect with the right people who will help make a stand for you. 

Tons of responsibility right away.  You are tossed into the middle of the fire often without much explanation but this gives you a chance to adapt quickly.  

A perk is you can buy unlimited vacation! You dove to get it approved.  But I took a good month off to go to Europe, and had friends who did similar.  But when you're working that much you need it for your sanity
Cons: No doubt the major lack of work life balance.  My frustration came with the dishonesty about how long and how much you will actually work.  You are almost guaranteed to work more than one busy season, so when they try to say in orientation you'll be busy for two to three months then the rest is smooth sailing, it's very inaccurate.  I myself was on two busy seasons lasting six months total and on top of that, quarterly endings.  I have friends who have been put on back to back busy seasons for almost two years straight. While busy season experiences can range from working til 10pm and on weekends, it can also likely range working till 1, 2, 3 am.  Try to study for the CPA on top of that? If you want to spend your life working, and compromise time with friends and family, a career in the Big 4 auditing is for you!! It's also not just at staff level.  I looked up to my managers and saw more stress because more liability comes with being higher up.

It is very stressful, poor management often on audit teams.  But I really believe it's because everyone is just overwhelmed and stressed.  There seems to be a shortage of people to fill spots so everyone is overwhelmed with assignments.  

Also, they try to emphasize that there is opportunity to move from audit to other areas such as Consulting or Transaction Services.  However it is VERY hard to make the move out of audit. It is contingent on being a top performer and networking with higher ups who make a stand for you.  

So, in a nutshell, I think the experience is great to get on your resume.  You learn how to talk to people high up in the company you audit, and survive through high levels of stress with madly competing deadlines.  If you can find time, there are great opportunities to get involved.  Still, hands down the best part are the friends you make and the relationships you build.  You are also highly marketable searching for jobs afterwards. Turnover is high, this is kind of expected in the Big 4, and after being through it, it is noticeable why.