Beyond the Brand: A Ground-Level Look into Life at EY

Ernst & Young (EY) has long been a household name in the professional services world, admired for its global footprint and impressive clientele. But behind the polished reputation lies a more nuanced reality — one shaped by the daily experiences of its employees across geographies. At Ksepiyas, we dug deep across trusted platforms like Glassdoor, AmbitionBox, The Guardian, and more to understand what truly matters to employees — and how EY fares in each category. Here's what we found:

Culture: A Double-Edged Sword EY’s work culture, while structured and professional, often leans towards being intensely demanding. The unfortunate death of a young professional in India put a spotlight on the mental and physical toll such environments can take. These incidents have triggered vital conversations about corporate pressure and wellbeing. For a company built on excellence, fostering a healthier internal culture could be its next frontier.

Growth: Opportunities Exist, But So Do Hurdles The firm does offer ample learning modules, internal development programs, and access to industry-leading training. However, their execution sometimes stumbles. A notable example: employees reportedly dismissed for juggling multiple online training courses simultaneously. This raised red flags around communication clarity and flexibility — showing that intent alone doesn't always guarantee impact.

Job Security: Generally Stable, With Some Gray Areas EY typically provides a sense of professional stability, but some recent decisions — particularly those involving abrupt policy-driven terminations — have made employees question the transparency and consistency of their contracts. While not inherently insecure, the perception of unpredictability remains a concern.

Work-Life Balance: Still a Work in Progress Work-life harmony appears to be one of the firm’s weakest links. Long hours, weekend work, and high expectations can blur personal boundaries. Reviews consistently reflect burnout and fatigue, making this an area where EY has considerable ground to cover to meet modern workplace expectations.

Compensation & Benefits: Competitive, Yet Room to Elevate On the salary front, EY meets industry benchmarks, but seldom exceeds them. Employee reviews often refer to compensation as “fair” or “average,” indicating that while pay isn’t a deal-breaker, it’s not a standout either. There is room for improvement in aligning rewards with the firm’s rigorous workload.

Diversity & Inclusion: Leading With Intention This is one area where EY seems to be making notable strides. Initiatives like gender-based hiring targets — such as aiming for 50% female graduate hires by 2027 in Sydney — reflect a serious push toward inclusivity. These efforts are not just symbolic but structural, suggesting a broader cultural shift is in motion.

L ike many global firms, EY exists in a paradox — a place of tremendous opportunity and equally significant challenge. For candidates and professionals evaluating their next move, it’s essential to look beyond titles and prestige to understand the lived experiences within these firms. At Ksepiyas, our goal is to cut through the noise and help you align your next career move with environments that genuinely support your growth, well-being, and aspirations.