Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young (E&Y) are the 4th largest auditor in the UK.

Ernst & Young's operates four main lines of service:

Ernst & Young Application Process - Assurance and Tax

Application Process

The application process consists of:
  • Online Application Form
  • Online Numerical, Verbal and Diagrammatic Tests
  • First Interview
  • Assessment Centre
  • Partner Interview

Online Application Form

You will need to submit:
  • Personal Details
  • Career Preferences
  • Your Strengths (questions listed below)
  • Academic Results (GCSE, AS/A Level, and Degree including module grades)
  • Responsibilities and Work Experience
Questions which appear on the application form:
  • What was the last activity you completed that took you out of your comfort zone? (max 150 words)
  • Describe a time when you have contributed to motivating a team? (max 150 words)
  • Describe how you have applied something that you have learnt to make a practical difference. (max 150 words)
  • Describe a situation where you took responsibility without being asked (max 150 words)
  • Describe the last time you delivered a task that required sustained effort. (max 150 words)

Online Numerical Test

Applicants who have A-level Mathematics or significant mathematical content in their degree may progress straight to the first interview stage of the application process.

First Interview

The first interview will be conducted by a manager in the service line to which you have applied. There are thirty questions in all and the interview is designed to last for 60-90 minutes. You are asked all the odd questions first and then the interviewer will go back to the start and ask all the even questions.

Questions that are asked in the first interview:

Why have you applied to Assurance/Tax?
Should there be more hours in the day?
Tell me about your group of friends?
Do you talk to different groups of friends differently?
Is there a company/brand you admire?
Do you enjoy working in a team?
Have you ever wanted to quit something?
Have you ever put the needs of a team before your own?
Have you ever done something differently second time around?
Have you ever built a relationship with anyone?
Do you prefer starting or finishing?
Do you need to be an expert at something in order to lead a team?
Do you prefer quick action or careful planning?
How do you know your strengths and weaknesses?
How would a lecturer describe you?
Would a friend say you are organised?
Would you say you are a good listener?
What do you call a good day?
How do you deal with a boring task?

It is advisable to try and include any examples from school/university/work/spare time to back up your answers to all questions if possible.
There is no Why EY? question and no commercial awareness questions either at first interview.

Assessment Centre

There could be up to 12 applicants at the Assessment Centre from either Tax or Assurance. The actual timetable will also vary depending on location.

11.00am – The day will start with an introduction by a member of the recruitment team, there will also be a manager from the service line you are applying to present. The setup of the day will be explained as well as the tasks that you will be undertaking. This will be followed by a getting to know you session, where each person in the room will be asked to give their name, where they're from, what they're doing at the moment and what the best thing that has happened to them recently is.

11.45am – The first task of the day is a team meeting between all the people at the Assessment Centre. This task uses the research you are asked to complete prior to the Assessment Centre. You will have to talk through what you have found and devise a plan as to how your manager should present a presentation on the research area to a client. You will have 45 minutes for this task, however during the last 10 minutes the managers will ask some questions to clarify any points you have made.

12.30pm – For the second task you are given information on a company and a brief to follow. For this task you have to condense the information given to meet the brief. This is done on a laptop provided and all your work is saved onto a USB. You will have 45 minutes to complete this task and there are 8 pages of information provided.

1.30pm – You will have a 15 minute break for lunch prior to the third task. For this task you will be required to plan a careers fair event which Ernst and Young will be part of. For this you will be given a booklet which includes information on the event and people who can help you; this booklet is 6 pages long. You have to outline all the tasks which need to be completed, who you need to help you complete the tasks and a time frame for when the tasks need to be completed by. This task is only 30 minutes long and is again done on a laptop.

2.00pm – The next task will test your basic English skills. You will be given a report which has been compiled by someone who supposedly works at EY. It is full of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors and you have to find these and highlight them; the report is five pages long. You will also be asked to provide feedback to the person who wrote the report. You have to fill in a form as to how you will go about this and what you hope to achieve. This is followed by a 10 minute mock phone call to the person who wrote the report, this will be played by one of the managers at the Assessment Centre. In this task you will be asked to give feedback over the phone to help the person improve in the future. You have 30 minutes to proof read the report and 15 minutes for the phone call.

3.00pm – There will be another 15 minute break prior to the numerical test. This will be the PSL psychometric test and there are 32 questions to answer in 35 minutes. The questions get harder towards the end of the book. There are 3 diagrams or graphs on each page followed by between 3 and 5 questions relating to these diagrams.

3.45pm – The final task of the day will be a quick debrief by one of the managers at the Assessment Centre. There are 23 questions to answer and although they say this is informal it is just as important as any of the other tasks during the day. The questions include, How do you feel the day has gone? What have you learnt from today? What do you think was your best/worst task today? You are asked about each task and how you thought it went.

4.15pm – The day ends with the recruiter explaining how the application process will progress following the Assessment Centre. Including how and when you will be informed of the outcome of the day.

4.30am – End of the Assessment Centre.

If you have been successful at the Assessment Centre you will receive a call from the recruitment team within 2 days. This call will include feedback from the Assessment Centre on what you did well and why they are putting you through to the final stage of the application process. If you aren't successful you will first receive an e-mail followed by a call from the recruitment team to give you feedback on your Assessment Centre and what you need to improve on.

Partner Interview

Ernst & Young Graduate Schemes

Graduate Schemes Available

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(see also Ernst & Young interview questions)

Ernst & Young graduate schemes are available in the following service lines:

An estimated 70% of graduates are recruited into Assurance each year, with Tax being the next highest recruiter.

Academic Requirements

[Edit] Most positions at Ernst & Young require the following:
  • A grade A or B for GCSE Mathematics and English Language
  • 300 (24) UCAS points (excluding general studies)
  • Predicted 2.1 honours degree (any discipline)

Some positions may require higher qualifications, such as actuarial or advisory roles.

Equivalent foreign qualifications (e.g. Scottish Highers) are accepted.

Training

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The majority of graduates train for the CA qualification through ICAS. However some schemes do require other formal training.

Ernst & Young Interview Questions

Ernst & Young Application Process - Corporate Finance & Advisory (excluding BAS)

Application Process

[Edit] The application process consists of:

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Online Application Form

[Edit] You will need to submit:
  • Personal Details
  • Career Preferences
  • Your Strengths (Competency Questions listed below)
  • Academic Results (GCSE, AS/A Level, and Degree including module grades)
  • Responsibilities and Work Experience
Questions which appear on the application form:
  • What was the last activity you completed that took you out of your comfort zone? (max 150 words)
  • Describe a time when you have contributed to motivating a team? (max 150 words)
  • Describe how you have applied something that you have learnt to make a practical difference. (max 150 words)
  • Describe a situation where you took responsibility without being asked (max 150 words)
  • Describe the last time you delivered a task that required sustained effort. (max 150 words)
Take a practice course to prepare for competency based questions in your upcoming job interviews and job applications - click here.

Online Aptitude Test

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Applicants who have A-level Mathematics or significant mathematical content in their degree may progress straight to the first interview stage of the application process.

The online numerical & verbal reasoning test is the GTIOS psychometric test. Candidates are required to sit both tests.

Take a practice version of the Ernst & Young psychometric test - click here

Most people will need to practise the numerical reasoning test to pass it. Pages 7-23 of this book may prove extremely useful in preparing for any of the numerical tests.

Written Numerical Test

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If you are successful at completing the online application form and test, you will be asked to attend a numerical test in person at an E&Y office. You will be told if you have passed within 2-3 days.

The test is designed by SHL and consists of 35 questions in 30 minutes. The test is multiple choice, in a similar format to the online test, and you have a choice of five possible answers for each question.

You will be required to interpret data from tables and graphs, and typically there are 2-3 questions based upon each table or graph you are given.

It is unlikely you will finish the test, and the questions are challenging. Graduates with a mathematical background are sometimes exempted from the test.

Practice SHL style tests with WikiJob here

Most people will need to practise the numerical reasoning test to pass it. Pages 7-23 of this book may prove extremely useful in preparing for any of the numerical tests.

Read more about Ernst & Young interviews on the WikiJob candidate interview forums.

First Interview

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The E&Y interview is a general interview with some competency based questions and will last approximately 50 minutes. This will be with a manager from the line of service to which you have applied.

Questions that you are likely to be asked in this interview include:
  • What motivates you?
  • Why do you want to join audit/tax/advisory?
  • Give an example of a time when you had to go out of your way to help someone.
  • Do you need to be an expert at something in order to lead a team?
  • Give an example of when you had to change the way you did something in order to solve a problem.
  • Do you enjoy hard work
  • Do you believe in talent or hard work
  • Do you ask for more responsibility
  • How do you manage risk
  • Would a friend say you are organised?
  • Do you plan your week
Questions people who have applied for Tax positions have specifically been asked:
  • Why tax?
  • What have you done to follow up/learn about tax?
  • Should there be more hours in the day?
  • Tell me about your groups of friends?
  • Do you talk to different groups of friends differently?
  • Is there a company/brand you admire and if you could ask them some questions what would they be?
  • Do you enjoy working in a team?
  • Have you ever wanted to quit something?
  • Have you ever put the needs of a team before your own?
  • Have you ever done something differently second time around?
  • Have you ever built a relationship with anyone?
  • Do you prefer starting or finishing?
  • When have you persuaded someone?
  • Do you prefer quick action or careful planning?
  • How do you know your strengths and weaknesses?
  • Why would you be better than other people?
  • How would a lecturer describe you?
  • Would a friend say you are organised?

Assessment day

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Generally speaking the assessment days do not take place in busy season (January - March), so most assessment days will be from March onwards.

The assessment day consists of:

Psychometric Success offer a printed guide to getting through Assessment Centres which is available to all WikiJob users - click here to download your copy now

Partner Interview

[Edit] The partner interview at E&Y is substantially more competency based than other firms. Expect similar questions that you had to field in your first interview, including:
  • Why Ernst & Young and not another Big 4 or a smaller firm?
  • Why audit/tax/the line of service you have applied?
  • What is audit/tax/the line of service you have applied?
  • Give me an example of when you motivated someone.
  • Give me an example of when you worked in a team.
  • Give me an example of when you were a leader.

Report Writing Exercise

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You will have to sit a report writing session. You will be given information relating to a hotel, which has a subsidiary which it is considering selling. You will be required to think of the advantages and disadvantages of the hotel's divesture, and what services E&Y could provide or obtain through the divesture, should it take place.

The exercise is extremely time pressured. You should spend time planning your argument before you commence writing. You will be writing on paper, so ensure that you use correct grammar and spelling, and that your writing is clear and legible.

Group exercise

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The group exercise is based up on the same scenario used for the report writing exercise. You will be asked to sit in a group with other candidates. You will be required to work as a team and be required to agree upon:
  • The 3 most beneficial advantages of the hotel's divesture
  • 3 disadvantages of hotel's divesture
  • What other information ought to be considered when examining the hotel's divesture.

You will only have a short time to reach a conclusion, so you must work quickly. The assessors will have no knowledge of the points made within the written exercise, so you are free to reiterate these during the group exercise. You will be assessed on how well you work as a team, and you should seek that everybody makes an equal contribution.

'You can practice group exercises online here’

National Tax Assessment day

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The tax division has its own assessment day, which differs from other service lines, although the bulk of the day is the same, the case study is not.

The tax assessment day consists of:
  • Partner interview (60 minutes)
  • Case Study exercise (75 minutes)
  • Group exercise of case study (30-40 minutes depending on the group size)
  • Client preparation meeting (30 minutes with 10 minutes of preparation time)

Case Study Exercise

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You will have to sit a case study session. You will be given an information pack relating to a magazine publishing company. A partner from EY is due to meet with the CEO of the publishing company and has asked you to brief him on the main points for discussion. You will be required to write bullet points (on a laptop) of areas which you think are important, and questions you think the partner should raise with the client. You then need to identify the top three priorities from your bullet list, and your reasoning. Finally, you need to suggest some other areas in which EY could provide services to this company. You will be required to perform some simple debt to equity calculations, and some "effective tax rate" calculations and comment on them. The pack shows you how to do this, and it is not complicated at all.

A few things to note about the case study:

  • Make sure you are very aware of EY's services, particularly within tax. There is mention of changing the way employees are paid, so human capital solutions is a good one to mention (as well as corporate tax planning etc).
  • The UK group owns subsidiaries in Denmark and Switzerland, and at the back of the pack there are inland revenue rules VAT collection within EU states. Switzerland is NOT in the EU and so the rules stated do NOT apply to them.
  • The UK group has a loan at preferential rates from the parent company. Read the "arm's length" guidelines at the back of your pack carefully, as this applies to this transaction.

Group Exercise

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The group exercise is based up on the same case study as the first exercise. You will be asked to sit in a group with other candidates and further prepare for the meeting between the partner and the client.

You are told that the three major principles which the partner wishes to discuss in the meeting are

  1. UK group's expansion
  2. The tax compliance issues
  3. The loans that the UK group has taken

You will also be required to discuss any other services within tax that EY could provide.

You will be required to work as a team and discuss the points within these categories.

You will be given a fresh printed copy of your written bullet points that you made during the first exercise. You will NOT be given the initial information pack for this exercise, so make sure you remember key points, or perhaps include them within your written bullet points so you can refer back to them,

The assessors will have no knowledge of the points made within the written exercise, so you are free to reiterate these during the group exercise. You will be assessed on how well you work as a team, and you should seek that everybody makes an equal contribution.

'You can practice group exercises online here’

Client preparation meeting

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This is a role play event. The partner has not had time to review your written notes, and would like you to brief him before he meets the client tomorrow. This exercise is held with a partner or a senior manager.

You will be paired off with a member from your group discussion and will have 10 minutes with each other to agree on points to raise with the partner. You can draw on the ideas raised within the group discussion. You will also need to propose an agenda for the partner's meeting with the client and suggest objectives for the meeting. Make sure you split the talking equally with your peer.

After the 10 minutes of preparation, the partner will walk in and begin the assessment stage. Be prepared to be questioned throughout - this is not a presentation, but a discussion.

Take a practice course to prepare for difficult interview questions from employers in your industry - click here.

Further Information

[Edit] For further information see:

Ernst & Young TSRS Internship Interview Process

Technology and Security Risk Services (TSRS) - summer internship interview & assessment process

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The applicaiton and assessment process for a summer internship is as follows:

After submitting your application form, candidates are usually contacted by email within two to three weeks, either with a rejection notification, or an invitation to an assessment centre.

Assessment Centre

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There is only one single round of assessment (the assessment centre itself) and this consists of two exercises and an interview with a member of the service line you applied to.

The assessment centre consists of:
  • Arrival
  • Corporate presentation
  • Report writing case study
  • Interview
  • Lunch
  • Group discussion

Arrival

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The day usually begins at 9:30am. You will arrive at reception and meet up to ten other students and graduates. Pastries and water will be available.

Welcome Presentation

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Ernst & Young begin the internship assessment centre with a corporate presentation. A graduate recruitment representative will give a brief talk and show a PowerPoint presentation with some information about the summer vacation scheme. The talk will be about 15 minutes long.

Report Writing

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At about 10:00am candidates will be asked to perform the first task of the day, which tests your ability to digest important information and rewrite it in a professional, concise and easy to understand manner.

In the past candidates have been given a case study involving a Hotel group that wants to sell part of its business. The report is not about your opinion or recommendation, but simply a test to see how well you can condense information. The first half of the task involves writing a list of key factors that must be considered. The second half of the task involves including in the report what services E&Y could offer the company should the divestment go ahead.

Interview

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At about 11:45am candidates will sit an interview with someone from the TSRS division itself. The interview should be fairly comfortable and relaxed. Candidates have noted the interview was very much a two-way conversation.

Questions candidates have been asked in the past include:
  • What is your proudest accomplishment?
  • Tell me about a time you worked with a team (teamwork).
  • Tell me about a time you lead a team (leadership).
  • Tell me about a time you used your own initiative.
  • Tell me about a time you showed flexibility.
  • Tell me about a time you changed the way you did something based on the recommendations of others.
  • Why do you want to join Ernst & Young?
  • Why Ernst & Young over other Big 4 firms?

The whole interview will take approximately 40 minutes to one hour.

Lunch (with trainees)

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Ernst & Young provide a free lunch which consists of sandwiches. Your candidate group will be joined by an equal number of current company graduate trainees. You will be given the opportunity to talk informally with them, finding out what it was really like working at the firm. There will be one trainee from the appropriate service line for each candidate being interviewed.

Group Discussion

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At 1:30pm all of your candidate group will be split into three smaller groups and lead to separate meeting rooms. You will be given the reports written in the earlier exercise and a few pieces of paper to continue working on the Hotel case study. You will then have ten minutes to individually come up with answers for the following:

  • Three advantages and three disadvantages for the company to proceed with the divestment.
  • Assuming the divestment is completed, three strategies for the company to continue increasing their market share.
  • Additional information you need from the client to make a recommendation.

At the end of the time allowed, two assessors will walk in to your room. You will be asked to ignore them. You will then be given 20 minutes as a group to agree on the three main disadvantages and 3 main advantages. At the end of the 20 minutes, you will be given a new 'e-mail' which will inform you that you now have ten minutes to decide on the three best strategies to recommend to the Hotel group.

The assessment centre ends at 2:30pm.

Ernst & Young Working Culture

Working at Ernst & Young

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What's it like to work at Ernst & Young? Let others know by adding information to the wiki below.

Your assistance is required to complete this section. Please help others by adding information. Click the 'Edit' button at the top to do so.

Salary and benefits

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Standard employment benefits (available to all staff depending on their grade) include:

  • Car Allowance
  • The Ernst & Young Retirement Savings Plan (EYRSP)
  • Holiday
  • Private Healthcare Insurance
  • Sick Pay and Prolonged Disability Insurance
  • Life Assurance
  • Personal Accident Insurance
  • Interest Free Season Ticket Loan
  • Excellent Health and Welfare Facilities
  • Leisure Facilities (at some locations)
  • Subsidised Restaurants (at some locations)

There are also additional benefits that recruits are able to select a limited number of. These include:

  • Annual Travel Insurance
  • Childcare Vouchers
  • Dental Insurance
  • Personal Accident Insurance

Work/Life Balanace

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Ernst & Young allow some flexible working on certain occassions, providing that your overall standard hours are maintained.