What it does: EY (Ernst & Young) collaborate with government agencies and private organizations and specializes in the provision of various financial services such as tax, advisory, assurance, and transaction services for its numerous clients across Nigeria.
Mission: EY is dedicated to contributing significantly to creating a better working world.
Size and presence: EY Nigeria has over 4,600 employees spread across three offices in Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Abuja.
Best known for: EY is a leader in the finance industry. This firm is best known for providing value and insights that have established trust and confidence in the capital market.
The good bits: Good work-life balance, healthy working environment, sound employee welfare, the ideal place to begin one's career.
The not so good bits: High work pressure and challenging jobs.
Though EY has a very young history in Nigeria, spanning just about five decades, it's been in existence long before that. Ernst & Young is widely regarded as one of the Big Four accounting firms, alongside PwC, Deloitte, and KPMG.
This firm was founded in Ohio as Ernst & Ernst in 1903 by Alwin and Theodore Ernst. In 1979, they merged with a British organization, Whimmey Smith & Whimmey, to become Ernst & Whimmey. This made them the 4th biggest accounting firm in the world. Ten years later, they merged with Arthur Young & Co, the 5th biggest accounting firm in the world, to become Ernst & Young.
In the fourth quarter of 1997, Ernst & Young was on the verge of merging with KPMG. However, these plans were dropped in the first quarter of 1998. Factors such as antitrust issues, client opposition, the difficulty of merging two accounting giants with diverse cultures, and cost problems were the reasons behind it.
During the 80s and the 90s, Ernst & Young went on an expansion spree for its consulting services. In 2013, Ernst & Young rebranded to EY and changed its logo. After successfully splitting its consulting business, the company nursed the idea of separating its accounting and advisory arms to form two distinct organizations.
Currently, EY is one of the largest Fintech companies in the world, and they have three offices and a modest workforce in Nigeria.
As a Fintech firm, EY is a big fan of innovation, and its laid-back work atmosphere helps bring out the best in its employees. EY is beyond a company; it's a community of individuals working towards a common goal. The firm is established on the values of inclusion, integrity, teamwork, and respect.
Its innovative work culture ensures that the opinions of employees are listened to. Its healthy working environment greatly benefits fresh graduates and experienced professionals. More importantly, it fosters a fertile ground for career advancement.
EY adopts a multi-stage recruitment process that can take up to 6 weeks. After application submission and review, selected candidates will go through a phone interview, online assessments, and a final interview. After completing all stages, EY will offer the job to successful candidates.
Anyone can reach any height in the organizational hierarchy as long as the work is put in and value is given. EY even supports the next generation of human resources through its training programs for school dropouts, undergraduates, and graduates.
Working as a fresh graduate at EY will expose you to enriching experiences and opportunities. Plus, you'll be mentored by some of the best minds in the finance industry.
The average annual salary for a fresh graduate is ₦3.5 million.
EY Nigeria is known for giving back to society. In 2020, they gave electronics to the inclusive unit of St. Joseph Catholic School, Lagos Island. They also donated toiletries and food items to Living Fountain Orphanage, Lekki. Every year, EY actively gives to orphanages and schools across Nigeria.
To the best of our knowledge, EY is not directly or indirectly associated with any controversy in Nigeria.