At Ernst & Young, we are committed to giving you every opportunity to develop yourself and your career. We provide you with the resources and support to be able to do so.

During your time on your chosen graduate programme, you will be given extensive learning and development opportunities right from day one.

Induction

Our induction will help you to understand your office, your business unit and your role in the firm. We aim to give you a comprehensive introduction to the firm, our culture and values. We also begin the process of equipping you with the skills and network you will need to perform effectively at the client and in the office. The length of the induction will vary depending on the programme you apply for.

Professional exam training

Professional exam training at Ernst & Young is very much a two-way process. We’re 100% committed to your success, so we ensure that you learn with top quality tutors and that you’re given study leave and financial support appropriate to the examinations you’re sitting.

Graduates studying towards membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland should note that their exams will be front-loaded. You should expect to spend a lot of time out at college almost immediately, and be prepared to sit your exams early.
Accelerated exams will give you a strong technical foundation very quickly, making you exceptionally valuable to our clients earlier in your career. Our exam structure will also enable you to rapidly advance your career progress internally. But be prepared for some very hard work.

Further information on the ICAS exams can be found on the ICAS website.

Continuous learning

There is a wide range of ways to increase your knowledge and continue to learn throughout your career with Ernst & Young. For example, we have a formal learning curriculum which provides classroom-based and e-learning on personal excellence skills development.

You are also encouraged to pursue your development through more informal methods such as work shadowing, mentoring, coaching, secondments and on-the-job learning.

We recognise that learning is constant and continuous, whether on a training course or working with clients, so we provide learning maps and counselling to support and guide your decisions.

Client exposure

Client contact comes early to accelerate your business learning. Working with clients helps you to develop technical, team, personal and client relationship skills. We help you plan your exposure to clients, and ensure you’re working with the right team, on the right project and with appropriate clients.

Secondments

A secondment is the opportunity to work in another area of the firm, (including other service lines or offices), into a client’s organisation or to a third party organisation. Through exposure to a specific area, you’ll have the opportunity to gain new insights, increase you knowledge of Ernst & Young, build valuable networks and increase your business acumen.

Overseas opportunities

We have a number of overseas assignment programmes which are very popular. Programmes involve working for an extended period of time in one of our overseas offices. Popular destinations include Sydney and New York.

Opportunities such as these are extremely sought after and therefore competition is tough. Places go to people who have completed their training contracts successfully and who have built their reputation as high performers.